Energy Matters Global and Domestic

[white exec]

Wise thoughts, Neil.
OPEC should be obliged to publicly make their position clear, and COP26 would be an ideal time for them to be platformed.
Bad enough being an internationally tolerated cartel (normally an illegal activity), let alone operating from the shadows.

[Gibbo2286]

If fuel was the only product coming from the OPEC countries they would not see the future as rosy but it's not, oil is the basis of many many everyday products and there will be a need for it for many years to come.

[bobins]

If COP26 achieves anything, it'll merely kick the (environmental) can a couple more inches down the road. If you want real environmental change then you need to be looking for the global population to reduce by somewhere between half a billion and a billion people within the next fortnight or so, then remain static or go into a gentle decline. That'll have a meaningful impact on the long term environmental future of the planet. I don't think most people can grasp the real long term issue.

[NewcastleFalcon]

If fuel was the only product coming from the OPEC countries they would not see the future as rosy but it's not, oil is the basis of many many everyday products and there will be a need for it for many years to come.

OPEC acknowledged that more electric vehicles on the road and the push for alternative and renewable energy will indeed usher in an era of declining demand for oil in rich countries. Where they see "rosy-ness" most is in the energy needs of expanding economies in other parts of world.

Alternatives to the use of oil-derived materials/chemicals in everyday products will be developed (I do have several pairs of bamboo socks....totally mainstream too from sock shop ), but your many years to come timescale for transition is probably about right. Yes and bitumen has been the go-to material for roads for over 100 years, and there are a fair few miles of road laid in the in the world since the car became king

Regards Neil

[bobins]

As Neil's mate Dave would say : "Just have a think" about this........

The current World population is, give or take the odd person, about 7.9 billion people. If it were to decline by half a billion people, what year would that take the level back to ? Sometime in the 1950s when we were getting back on our feet after WW2 ? Early 1970s after the Summer of Love ? The 1980s due to the the great boom ?
Try......

Spoiler: show

.........At some point during 2015

[NewcastleFalcon]

SMETS2 use in Scotland and the North of England Long-Range Radio communications (LRR) is used by Arqiva Limited in Scotland and the North of England. The LRR system uses infrastructure and technology similar to that already used for other important national communications networks, such as those for emergency services and keeping lifeboat stations connected. Communication towers communicate directly with smart meter Communications Hubs in homes. By 2021 Arqiva Limited will have achieved their contracted coverage of at least 99.5%.

Looking for something else on the NCC "planning portal", I thought I had come across the name Arqiva somewhere before. A crop of what are described as "Prior Notification of Arqiva Smart Metering Antenna and equipment installations." at various locations.

Undoubtedly if it isn't there already, its surreptitiously coming to a location near you.

Well I think this is one of those Smart Metering Antenna things. Not that obtrusive.

taller than the lampost, taller than the telegraph pole, but not that noticable in the streetscape.

Regards Neil

[myglaren]

The world's longest under-sea electricity cable, transferring green power between Norway and the UK, has begun operation.

The 450-mile (725km) cable connects Blyth in Northumberland with the Norwegian village of Kvilldal.

At full 1,400 megawatt capacity it will import enough hydro-power to supply 1.4 million homes, National Grid said.

OK, we have reindeer power now. Hard luck the rest of you.

Full power ahead for UK to Norway under-sea power cable

[NewcastleFalcon]

Excellent! Don't think the pages of this thread have covered that story either at the start or as work in progress. I would put it on News at Ten, they could save the wasted footage of cars in queues at petrol stations and shoving microphones in the face of the drivers to create a small window for the story.

If anyone can ferret around and come up with more detail, worth having a look.




Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Wiki has a bit additional info here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea_Link


The Cable was made in Naples! and laid by this Italian Registered Ship the Guilio
Verne.

Norway United Kingdom North Sea Link
SBarnes, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Regards Neil

[white exec]

Interesting details, Neil, in that Wiki entry.
I did not know that UK had anything other than the Channel interconnector.
I guess the UK will be a net importer...

[NewcastleFalcon]

The next one due to be completed in 2023 is the Viking Interconnector between the UK and Denmark. ( Lincolnshire to South Jutland.)

https://viking-link.com/

Viking Link is a 1400 MW high voltage direct current (DC) electricity link between the British and Danish transmission systems connecting at Bicker Fen substation in Lincolnshire and Revsing substation in southern Jutland, Denmark.

The project involves the construction of converter sites and installation of onshore and offshore cable in each country. These are then connected to the substations.

Viking Link will be approximately 765 km long and will allow electricity to be exchanged between Great Britain and Denmark.

The interconnector will enable the more effective use of renewable energy, access to sustainable electricity generation and improved security of electricity supplies.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

The consultation on proposals for a new impartial Future System Operator (FSO) ended 28th September 2021 to take over the role of NationalGrid plc in relation to electricity and gas.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultat ... rator-role

BEIS and Ofgem are jointly consulting on proposals for an expert, impartial Future System Operator (FSO) with responsibilities across both the electricity and gas systems, to drive progress towards net zero while maintaining energy security and minimising costs for consumers.

Our proposal is for all the current National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) roles and functions to be carried out by the FSO, and that the FSO should undertake strategic network planning, long-term forecasting, and market strategy functions in gas. We also consider:

• the new roles and functions an independent FSO could potentially fulfil in gas and electricity, including in network planning and independent advice.

• the options for organisational models where we explore a standalone privately owned model independent of energy sector interests and a highly independent corporate body model classified within the public sector, but with operational independence from government

• implementation where we have proposed a phased implementation of the FSO, founded on the existing capabilities of National Grid ESO and where appropriate National Grid Gas

Regards Neil

[white exec]

Obfuscational twaddle, almost impenetrable.
" . . . a privately owned model independent of energy sector interests . . . "
Who do they think they are they kidding?

[Gibbo2286]

Obfuscational twaddle, almost impenetrable.
" . . . a privately owned model independent of energy sector interests . . . "
Who do they think they are they kidding?

That's only one of the options the other is a public sector one but away from government, not sure if either would be independent in the long run.

[NewcastleFalcon]

As the gas price "spot price" charts rise ( and fall back on the back of a major producer's "sign long term contracts with us, rather than buy on the spot market"), the mainstream reporting has begun to catch up with the Greek City Times.

Not that keen on the BBC's output on such matters so I've had a brief delve into the Greek City Times see what they have to say.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/09/16/e ... rice-hike/

I'm sure better analyses are available. Post a link up if you can find one.

Regards Neil