for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

Energy Bills

54 watchers

jda Mar 2024 7:14am, 27 Mar 2024 16,755 posts	Quote Pin jda I think "fossil fuel" in the above may refer more to coal power which we basically don't use any more but used to run continuously. Gas is the bulk of the variable demand: energydashboard.co.uk
HappyG(rrr) Mar 2024 7:22am, 27 Mar 2024 49,675 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) Yeah, gas turbines (like huge jet engines) are the main quick reacting top ups at peak demand. Both expensive and bad for planet. We need to create more storage to even out supply and demand. Supply side is the huge hydro stores or the weights in the ground or even big battery farms. Demand side is home batteries and home generation. We basically only draw from grid 2-5 most of the year. Need to subsidise all houses to have something similar.
Shades Mar 2024 8:07am, 27 Mar 2024 2,073 posts	Quote Pin Shades Switched on my smart meter device this morning, it's a while since I've done that. First time I've had a message on there, I didn't know there was a message facility. Message just said 'Welcome to Octopus Energy'
Muttley Mar 2024 8:13am, 27 Mar 2024 3,088 posts	Quote Pin Muttley I wonder why tidal generation hasn't taken off. Unlike wind and sun the tides are predictable and constant. There's a big tidal flow in St Ives Bay and some outfit tried to make a go of it a while back but was unable to. I don't know if the issue is technology or economics but I can't help thinking that if they'd ploughed into tidal the sums they've ploughed into nuclear they would have cracked it by now. Without the waste disposal and decommissioning costs too. (Can you tell I'm not a fan of nuclear?)
jda Mar 2024 8:37am, 27 Mar 2024 16,756 posts	Quote Pin jda Big environmental impact of filling in major birding areas. You need to dredge regularly so it’s not as cheap as you might think. It certainly could be done though if you’re prepared to sacrifice the Severn estuary.
Muttley Mar 2024 8:45am, 27 Mar 2024 3,090 posts	Quote Pin Muttley There's been stuff in Private Eye lately about a tidal energy scheme, in south Wales, I think. The gist of their reports though was that the company pushing the scheme are con men.
HappyG(rrr) Mar 2024 9:24am, 27 Mar 2024 49,678 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) johnogroat-journal.co.uk Pentland Firth has a big tidal power plant. I agree, it could / should be bigger, but only in suitable sites that don't trash the environment, I guess. G
rf_fozzy Mar 2024 11:21am, 27 Mar 2024 21,849 posts	Quote Pin rf_fozzy 1. Storage. Yes, no major storage at present, but that's coming on line fast. Battery storage prices are still plummeting. New chemistries are being developed. But more work needed. 2. Even CCGT can be cycled up pretty fast as I understand. The OGT that Happy indicates have not been used in years I understand. Gas is ok at filling in the gaps in wind/solar for the time being. But wind/solar intermittency less problematic than some make out - because with modern weather forecasting we have good estimates several days ahead of what generation we get. And wind/solar is spread, which means it is unlikely that all generation is off at the same time. 3. Tidal. The Swansea bay scheme was scrapped by Cameron/Osborne. Big schemes like the one in northern France (Rance?) difficult because of environmental aspects as jda points out. Also french tidal barrage struggled last few years due to climate change....
HappyG(rrr) Mar 2024 11:26am, 27 Mar 2024 49,681 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) Gas turbines described to me as like "jet engines" were in use when I worked for a large energy generator and supplier back in 2010 - 2013, so may be obsolete now. Not sure how CCGT is any better! Still gas powered turbine of some sort! G
rf_fozzy Mar 2024 11:34am, 27 Mar 2024 21,850 posts	Quote Pin rf_fozzy OGT (jet engines!) are far less efficient than CCGT.