richardlowes.bsky.social
Energy policy obsessive on clean/decarb, mostly clean heating and gas. Surfer, dog lover, live in Cornwall. Work for Exeter Uni and the Regulatory Assistance Project. Fellow of the Energy Institute. Co-chair of Clean Heat Forum.
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My view www.rechargenews.com/energy-trans...
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Indeed and that is mentioned a lot in the report. But you don't need to run an HP all the time. I turn min off at peak periods and there was a study years ago which said around half of installed HPs in GB were used intermittently with time control.
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Very kind. Thanks Deb
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😁 Lots to say!
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Let me know when you are back in the homeland!
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This is probably a conversation that needs to happen over a few drinks....
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No, positive sum game. That's the whole point. Makes the whole system more efficient with better siting of generation and demand (in theory). www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications...
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The modelling suggests cheaper prices IN ALL REGIONS but, some areas end up having higher costs than others. So the gas/electricity cost-differential should be better everywhere.
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Well it might help get the storage built rather than just relying on constraint payments. I share the concern on network capacity but that is not a market issue... Led by NESO
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Proper time of use pricing doesn't really work under this current set up because marginal generation sets the price across the whole country. The introduction of more locational pricing however needs to happen in an integrated way, ensuring continued network and generation investment. (2/2)
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Worse than coal reference here: scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
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And every year, the UK becomes more reliant on imported gas and increasingly volatile prices while our climate targets become more out of reach.
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And still, getting off gas heating, the UK's largest sector of gas demand, doesn't seem viewed as a policy priority. The gas industry continues to lobby against change, the respective trade unions (who are closely aligned with the government) tend to work with industry.
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Boilers have a life of up to 15 years hence the 2035 date. Market mechanisms could play a part but that seems unlikely seeing how much it's been watered down. Looking way off-track now.
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Role for heat networks has always been dense urban areas where they help with space constraints and pipework makes economic sense at scale, like gas. Efficiencies will depend on flow temps, just like building level. HNs add significant storage and flex potential and can use waste heat sources.
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I'm pretty sure such an outcome was not what Thatcher et Al had in mind. Requiring listing of companies may help a bit but ultimately there are some big decisions coming up, particularly for gas.
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Quite a lot has changed since I wrote this, particularly for gas, where SSE and National Grid (UK listed) sold their stakes meaning gas grids now fully foreign owned fully including by Qatar. Eek.
richardlowes.com/2017/05/25/w...
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RESP needs to actively help local authorities and independent and coordinated analysis is needed. A long read from us in the Green Alliance blog. (2/2)
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If a typical install is 11.5k but 4k after BUS and a boiler is 3k the £500 fine is lower than the difference so why not just take the hit, unless you cared about appearances. This is undoubtedly some progress but very limited teeth. Further reform needed.