Energy prices.

[Gareth J]

As I have said many times - I am not against people having their own solar! Makes sense with the current prices.

My home solar is a microcosm of a bigger array. Might as well make hay when the sun shines, whether it's on my little roof, the roof of a big factory or some marginal ground.

If we get to a point where, when it's sunny, the grid is so overstocked, it can't take anymore solar, and by dropping prices to zero, or below zero, we can't soak up oversupply effectively, fair enough. But, grid bottlenecks aside, we're not there yet. I also don't suppose we'll get to that point either or at least not for very long. Ingenious people will see near zero or negative energy prices and do ingenious things with it. Stash it in high energy raw materials, like aluminium, or AN fertilizer. Or even hydrogen. Who knows.

In the mean time, yes, we ought to have better supported standby gas turbines and have invested in nuclear too. But it's not an either or, it's everything and more!

 

[fizzy]

My home solar is a microcosm of a bigger array. Might as well make hay when the sun shines, whether it's on my little roof, the roof of a big factory or some marginal ground.

If we get to a point where, when it's sunny, the grid is so overstocked, it can't take anymore solar, and by dropping prices to zero, or below zero, we can't soak up oversupply effectively, fair enough. But, grid bottlenecks aside, we're not there yet. I also don't suppose we'll get to that point either or at least not for very long. Ingenious people will see near zero or negative energy prices and do ingenious things with it. Stash it in high energy raw materials, like aluminium, or AN fertilizer. Or even hydrogen. Who knows.

In the mean time, yes, we ought to have better supported standby gas turbines and have invested in nuclear too. But it's not an either or, it's everything and more!

We used to have a nice balanced grid back in the 80s to 2010 - and prices weren't so bad - I wonder what changed

 

[Kayos]

That's another thing I hate about all these windmills. Nearly all made abroad

Except the thousands produced in Hull?

 

[daleyd]

We used to have a nice balanced grid back in the 80s to 2010 - and prices weren't so bad - I wonder what changed

Well, for a start we used to get 40% or more of our electric from coal, thats probably the biggest change...

Would you be suggesting we go back to that?

 

[Gareth J]

We used to have a nice balanced grid back in the 80s to 2010 - and prices weren't so bad - I wonder what changed

Lots of things.

 

[fizzy]

Except the thousands produced in Hull?

That is fairly recent. The vast majority are built in Denmark.

 

[fizzy]

Well, for a start we used to get 40% or more of our electric from coal, thats probably the biggest change...

Would you be suggesting we go back to that?

No. Swap the coal for nuclear which doesn't put out co2.
The plants both make steam to generate electricity so work in a similar fashion as far as the grid is concerned.

 

[Kayos]

That is fairly recent. The vast majority are built in Denmark.

I actually give up

 

[fizzy]

I actually give up

Oh in a factory owned by Siemens by the way
Denmark has made umpteen billions out of Britain over the last few years with all these turbines.

 

[R Kraft]

Well, for a start we used to get 40% or more of our electric from coal, thats probably the biggest change...

Would you be suggesting we go back to that?

It works for some people.: https://www.newscientist.com/articl...han-half-of-the-worlds-new-coal-power-plants/

 

[Greeves246]

Go back to town gas, gas works and gasometer in every town. Sell any spare to Germany.

 

[J1nx]

We (the previous company I was at) fitted out wind turbines in Merseyside about ten years ago, was a decent contract for a small firm and kept a good few guys employed. I bet there is a fair few highly skilled jobs over here now involved with those turbines.

 

[DAPPH]

We (the previous company I was at) fitted out wind turbines in Merseyside about ten years ago, was a decent contract for a small firm and kept a good few guys employed. I bet there is a fair few highly skilled jobs over here now involved with those turbines.

Well you've got those super fit guys that sit inside the nacelle , climb up and back every day so they can brake the turbine , change the gears , cant it and stop it working if there is too much wind power .

 

[J1nx]

Well you've got those super fit guys that sit inside the nacelle , climb up and back every day so they can brake the turbine , change the gears , cant it and stop it working if there is too much wind power .

I can imagine a retired old fisherman in a old wooden boat, rowing between turbines, climbing up and turning them on/off. The old Hovis advert music coming from the radio

Not sure that’s how it works in reality, the smart grid taking advantage of cheap rates and a gas knob being turned down is a little less romantic, but that’s progress hey.

 

[DAPPH]

I can imagine a retired old fisherman in a old wooden boat, rowing between turbines, climbing up and turning them on/off. The old Hovis advert music coming from the radio

Not sure that’s how it works in reality, the smart grid taking advantage of cheap rates and a gas knob being turned down is a little less romantic, but that’s progress hey.

That's a bit difficult on our local land based array of 14 or so turbines ... the guys here ride old put to pastures pit ponies to get to work .

 

[fizzy]

Who really cares. It is a means to an end. No nuclear made in UK, either. He’s just plugging away at everything negative he can come up with. As per Kayos, we might as well give up taking amny notice of posters like that. They have no credibility at all.

Only those that cannot do their own maths or read and understand for themselves on the subject - or whatever— will follow him with their heads stuck in the sand!

I care! I would much rather see jobs in Britain! Wouldn't you?
Rolls Royce are already taking on loads of people for the SMRs and they are hoping to have 40,000 workers when production starts. These will be top notch engineering and scientific jobs. Along with lots of skilled welders - quite on topic for a change