Suck That Naim Juice Baby!

Posted by: J.N. on 21 November 2015

The first part of a series of three programmes on BBC4 about power generation in the UK got me looking at the Grid-Watch web site here.

 

Fascinating, Captain!

 

John.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by winkyincanada

That IS fascinating. I had no idea that the UK was already at around 1/3 non-carbon electricity sources. The future direction of UK power generation is an interesting one, for sure. Click through to the French statistics. They're also interesting.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Mike-B

Nice find  ........ Fascinating

 Mrs-Mike surprisingly showed no enthusiasm whatsoever muttering about it confirming I had lost the plot or something like that.  She got really angry when I said it was far more interesting than that dancing program on TV.  Must be one of those women things.

I shall look forward to watching it all evening & will have Peter Paul & Mary playing on continuous repeat to save the interruptions fiddling with the iPad.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Southweststokie

John,

 

Can you tell me when it was on? Being a retired engineer from the power generation industry I would like to watch it on Youview 'catch up' if I can.

 

Thanks,

 

Ken

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by J.N.
Hi Ken,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b06q4yqv

John.
Posted on: 21 November 2015 by dayjay

I'm with Mrs Mike on this one, you lot worry me sometimes 

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Southweststokie
Originally Posted by J.N.:

Thanks John

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Mike-B

It is a worry dayjay ........  the UK reserve capacity I mean

As it is at the moment we have little or no real reserve

Coal is starting to be phased out & its well under way now,  but no short term plans to replace it.

CCGT will be provide the same amount of power as coal by 2020,  but I not aware of any plans to expand new plant build. Then we will need more gas & that brings in the fracking issues,  personally I'm really enthusiastic about maximizing this resource but it will probably need the lights to go out before the country see's common sense.  

The old nuclear plants are getting towards end of life & its going to be a while before the much publicised new French plant with its Chinese investment is running,  but that's only one plant,  we will need another 6 or 7 new ones in operation or build by 2035. 

The plans for wind seem to be in stall/limbo at the moment,  I hate those ugly view polluting wind turbines, but reality is they are needed.  To avoid further environmental pollution I would advocate to add turbines to existing farms rather than plan for farms in new areas.

The fringe stuff like solar & hydro is niether here nor there in percentage of UK capacity terms,  solar farms can be visually intrusive but the impact is very localised, unlike a hilltop wind farm.

 

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Derek Wright

The problems of the this decade re lack of power was discussed and forecast in 2003 to 2005, but the government did nothing about it. If nuclear power stations had been ordered then they would be getting close to being on stream. Instead the government of the day committed to all types of pollution reductions which are now having to be implemented but without the replacement power generation systems being available.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by J.N.
Originally Posted by Mike-B:

Nice find  ........ Fascinating

 Mrs-Mike surprisingly showed no enthusiasm whatsoever muttering about it confirming I had lost the plot or something like that.  She got really angry when I said it was far more interesting than that dancing program on TV.  Must be one of those women things.

I shall look forward to watching it all evening & will have Peter Paul & Mary playing on continuous repeat to save the interruptions fiddling with the iPad.

Deliverance is at hand Mike. Series three of 'The Bridge' gives us something actually worth watching on TV on a Saturday evening.

 

I'm looking forward to the next iteration of the popular show - 'I'm a vacuous celebrity, put me up against a wall and shoot me'. Post watershed transmission of course because there will be plenty of spurting claret.

 

Hopefully Ant and Dec will be participating, as opposed to presenting the show.

 

John.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by Derek Wright:

The problems of the this decade re lack of power was discussed and forecast in 2003 to 2005, but the government did nothing about it. If nuclear power stations had been ordered then they would be getting close to being on stream. Instead the government of the day committed to all types of pollution reductions which are now having to be implemented but without the replacement power generation systems being available.

+1   ........  another Blair FU

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by joerand

This being in the padded cell, have to admit that upon reading the thread title I was expecting completely different subject matter ....

 

... however, I did learn three things looking at the grid status;

  1. the French are more demanding than the Brits,
  2. the 1.21 gigawatts required to transport Marty 'Back to the Future' truly is a substantial amount of energy,
  3. reading all those gages, Homer Simpson has a much more complicated job than I ever gave him credit for.

Posted on: 22 November 2015 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
Originally Posted by Derek Wright:

The problems of the this decade re lack of power was discussed and forecast in 2003 to 2005, but the government did nothing about it. If nuclear power stations had been ordered then they would be getting close to being on stream. Instead the government of the day committed to all types of pollution reductions which are now having to be implemented but without the replacement power generation systems being available.

+1   ........  another Blair FU

Yes, there was a complete paralysis of policy through that period. I can imgaine the politicians running around in their offices in a panic when presented with the forecasts of power shortages. But then realising that they would be long gone by then, and could simply relocate to their second homes on the continent when the reality hit.