Energy prices.

[addjunkie]

I have wondered this - surely growing food instead of importing it - would be more eco?

Yes But isnt rape also used in human feed too. Margarine and cooking oils. Also indirectly the bits used to feed live stock are effectively growing human food as we eat the meat. Locally grown field to fork is very eco, but its not so efficient.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Yes But isnt rape also used in human feed too. Margarine and cooking oils. Also indirectly the bits used to feed live stock are effectively growing human food as we eat the meat. Locally grown field to fork is very eco, but its not so efficient.

Yes it is. Rapeseed oil is very good quality cooking oil.

 

[reb78]

Yes it is. Rapeseed oil is very good quality cooking oil.

It also makes my land rover run well..

 

[fizzy]

Yes it is. Rapeseed oil is very good quality cooking oil.

It is indeed but much of the crop in Britain is used for bio fuels.
I am lucky I don't get hayfever. I am sure the stink must really get to some people.
It's a wonder they don't use gorse for fuel. Have you seen it burn

 

[julianthegypsy]

It is indeed but much of the crop in Britain is used for bio fuels.
I am lucky I don't get hayfever. I am sure the stink must really get to some people.
It's a wonder they don't use gorse for fuel. Have you seen it burn

It used to be used to fire bakers ovens, under it's other name, Furze. It blazes!

 

[julianthegypsy]

The thing is though, rapeseed isn't "everywhere". Around us, in the Cotswolds, I actually counted how many fields I could see from a local viewing point. It was less than a dozen. Compared to literally hundreds of other fields that weren't rapeseed. It just seems like it because it stands out so much being such a bright colour.

 

[Maker]

I've never heard anyone complain about the smell of rape seed before, I don't think I've even noticed it has much of a smell.


I've been meaning to pinch some next time I see a field, the plant (greens/leaves) are apparently quite commonly eaten in China, called "yu choi" I'm really curious what it's like.

 

[fizzy]

The thing is though, rapeseed isn't "everywhere". Around us, in the Cotswolds, I actually counted how many fields I could see from a local viewing point. It was less than a dozen. Compared to literally hundreds of other fields that weren't rapeseed. It just seems like it because it stands out so much being such a bright colour.

East Anglia is full of the stuff. As are many fields around Hereford.

 

[fizzy]

I've never heard anyone complain about the smell of rape seed before, I don't think I've even noticed it has much of a smell.


I've been meaning to pinch some next time I see a field, the plant (greens/leaves) are apparently quite commonly eaten in China, called "yu choi" I'm really curious what it's like.

Maybe you don't have a strong sense of smell or are used to it?
To me it totally reeks - very similar to fibreglass resin!

 

[500e]

Stuff running rampant in Verges on the levels

 

[DanZac]

There's been a big reduction in the amount of Rape seed grown over the last few years. Which I think is due in part to one of the pesticides which made the crop viable in this country being banned.

Shortage of UK-grown oilseed rape looms as yields slump

The crop has seen an 18%-26% drop in yield against the five-year average

www.thegrocer.co.uk

 

[premmington]

East Anglia is full of the stuff. As are many fields around Hereford.

Confirm Norfolk is full of yellow fields.

 

[atomant48]

And wiltshire. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed the smell (probably because I flash past them with the windows up) but maybe the pig farm drowns it out :-) my hay fever does seem off the clock this year though.

 

[DAPPH]

I used to be a big fan of tidal power - until I realised the damage done to the marine environment outweighs any benefits.
They are now talking of giant underwater turbines. What will they do to seals and dolphins I wonder?
And IF there was a way of storing the excess energy I would be all in favour of wind power - but there isn't despite what people think or claim.

Provide chum for other fish & the crabs .
So what's all this about using wind power Fizzy ?
To make electricity , then use the electricity to make hydrogen then use limestone ( IIRC?? ) to turn the hydrogen into a safe easily storable substance that can be made back into hydrogen when needed then ? I think it's the essence of the hydrolysis work up being done on one of the outer Scottish islands ( Good security ? )

It might not be as efficient or cost effective to produce initially as a fuel but even if it is only 40 % effective and within a reasonable cost range it's better than nothing if it can be done on a big enough scale surely .

 

[DAPPH]

Why do you think our leccy is so expensive?
If renewables were so brilliant why are we so reliant on gas?
Is it REALLY a good idea to cover prime arable land with solar panels?
In countries like Portugal or parts of Spain they work very well - and they cover areas of arid scrub where there is nothing growing. And yet there are more solar farms in Wales than Spain

We have had 50 or so years setting things to run on North Sea gas & 100 or more on coal gas . Solar farm energy is a mere new born baby in that respect . Putting panels on all buildings no matter how their roof aspect faces is the next big step with the new any angle film panels . You might then see ground arrays being taken off quality agricultural land . Perhaps putting them on motorway embankments where weed ,grass , scrub some trees are the norm .

 

[DAPPH]

My brother has a really powerful computer with a high end graphics card. When gaming it can use 1kw. But having said that the energy isn't wasted. Today I had to light the woodburner. Its nearly June. So basically his "fan heater" as he calls it is only wasting heat for say 3 months a year.
Compressors take quite a bit of power but how often does it run?
The garage near my warehouse never turn theirs off. Madness it kicks in every 30 minutes or so all night long.

Tell them about time clocks and that they can save a fortune if fitting one with a manual over ride .

 

[Edward Teach]

My brother has a really powerful computer with a high end graphics card. When gaming it can use 1kw. But having said that the energy isn't wasted. Today I had to light the woodburner. Its nearly June. So basically his "fan heater" as he calls it is only wasting heat for say 3 months a year.
Compressors take quite a bit of power but how often does it run?
The garage near my warehouse never turn theirs off. Madness it kicks in every 30 minutes or so all night long.

The garage a friend worked at, never turned their compressor off,
Until a hose let go,
The compressor ran all night, eventually beating itself to death, when the mains or ends gave up
I think they switch it off every night now

 

[fizzy]

Provide chum for other fish & the crabs .
So what's all this about using wind power Fizzy ?
To make electricity , then use the electricity to make hydrogen then use limestone ( IIRC?? ) to turn the hydrogen into a safe easily storable substance that can be made back into hydrogen when needed then ? I think it's the essence of the hydrolysis work up being done on one of the outer Scottish islands ( Good security ? )

It might not be as efficient or cost effective to produce initially as a fuel but even if it is only 40 % effective and within a reasonable cost range it's better than nothing if it can be done on a big enough scale surely .

I am actually a big fan of hydrogen power.
I would be all in favour of wind power IF we could store it.
Hydrogen seems the perfect solution but the efficiency is awful. You say even if only 40% effective which I suspect is about right. Sadly the wind companies will not get paid only 40%. They can't afford to build windfarms if they aren't getting top whack for the electric.
Which basically means we are paying 100% for only 40% of the leccy!

 

[fizzy]

We have had 50 or so years setting things to run on North Sea gas & 100 or more on coal gas . Solar farm energy is a mere new born baby in that respect . Putting panels on all buildings no matter how their roof aspect faces is the next big step with the new any angle film panels . You might then see ground arrays being taken off quality agricultural land . Perhaps putting them on motorway embankments where weed ,grass , scrub some trees are the norm .

As to solar power I am NOT against people fitting it themselves and using the electricity themselves.
It would be very hard to lose money with today's electricity prices.
What I am against are the subsidies involved and using them for mass power generation.
Before the Ukraine war and everything going nuts a gas power station would only get about 4p per kw/h. There is no way solar could ever compete with that which is why I am against it and why our electric bills are so high. Same with wind.

 

[daleyd]

Energy security strategy: How would moving to renewables save us money on fuel bills?

It's now cheaper to produce energy from wind than gas. As the government announces its energy security strategy, how might speeding up the change to net zero save us all money? And what's holding us back?

news.sky.com