Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

mmmmikey

As you say, makes cheery reading

At a personal level, I was absolutely determined not to connect to the gas main when I moved a couple of years back. The decision to stay on electricity, supplemented by a woodstove, wasn't just about economics, it was also a matter of conviction and I would have stayed electric even if gas looked cheaper.

For me, this forum is about reducing CO2 emmisions in the most moneysaving way, not about using green technology to reduce energy bills. But the fantastic news is that these two things are becoming more and more the same. I'm personally convinced that there really is a way forward, and looking forward to Brexit and Trump mania falling off the political agenda and focus returning to green issues.

Coastalwatch

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Sometimes we need cheering up, so here's a study explaining how we can meet 2050 Paris targets (even achieve it sooner), and how it will mean cheaper energy costs. So it's all doable ...... if we want to do it.
Also, and just a personal thought, but as we hit the 2020's, I'd suggest that whilst still new, the idea of RE, EV's and heat pumps, is no longer 'new' news, just the direction of travel which we are staring to get used to already. I think 'normalizing' is the word I'm looking for.
Want To Limit Global Warming? Electrify Everything, Finds Study

Can news get any better!

NigeWick

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Sometimes we need cheering up

My electricity from the grid is costing me about 40p per day, including the 30p "connection fee." The 10p is because the shower takes 9.8kW and the Tesla PW2 will only dish out 5kW and I don't get peak generation until about 11:00. If I had two PW2s...

JKenH

Interesting article in the Daily Telegraph which is not noted for such strong views on ACC. The author is not an eco warrior but a very well respected economics/business commentator.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/04/18/extinction-rebels-right-risk-losing-livable-planet-green-technology/

1961Nick

NigeWick wrote: »

My electricity from the grid is costing me about 40p per day, including the 30p "connection fee." The 10p is because the shower takes 9.8kW and the Tesla PW2 will only dish out 5kW and I don't get peak generation until about 11:00. If I had two PW2s...

You could easily pay for another PW2 in 150 years.:rotfl:

NigeWick

1961Nick wrote: »

You could easily pay for another PW2 in 150 years.

I could pay for one now but it would take about 30 years to recoup the cost.

Martyn1981

Not just energy production, but energy consumption too.

World's First Solar Train - Byron Bay Railroad Company | Fully Charged

This Aussie train runs entirely off solar power, and they actually export excess to the grid. 6kWp on the train, and 30kWp at the main station.

It's only a very short route using a heritage train, of ~3km's, and they admit it's made easier by being a straight and flat route, and an aluminium train.

But I was impressed that a return trip of ~6km/4 miles only uses 5kWh. For comparison a decent BEV car can do 4 miles on 1kWh, but the train weighs 70 tonnes. And the train has a 77kWh battery (in place of a diesel engine),

And whilst a round trip is only 4 miles, I'd have thought that compares well to a multi stop longer route with the potential for a quick top up at each stop.

Further duplication possible by adding more carriages, each with more PV, more batts and more electric motors, then another train, and another train.

The potential here seems vast, given the shockingly small amount of energy needed to move a large mass when you have steel wheels on steel track and very little friction.

Martyn1981

Short article, and basically says that new coal generation might not be economically viable going forward in China. Now that is/would be great news.

Lower Prices For Renewables Mean Fewer Coal-Powered Generating Stations In China

China has a moratorium on building new coal-fired generating stations in ten regions of that vast country because they have more electricity available than there is demand for it. That moratorium is will end soon, but analysts believe the plummeting cost of renewables will dampen the enthusiasm for new coal plants. Just because they could be built doesn’t mean they will be.

EricMears

Martyn1981 wrote: »

The potential here seems vast, given the shockingly small amount of energy needed to move a large mass when you have steel wheels on steel track and very little friction.

I believe George Stephenson noticed a very similar effect a few years ago (approx. 200 )

Martyn1981

EricMears wrote: »

I believe George Stephenson noticed a very similar effect a few years ago (approx. 200 )

I'm most likely overthinking this, but if that two carriage train can do 1.25kWh/mile, then perhaps a good rule of thumb is approx 1kWh/mile/carriage, which is very promising I think.

Each carriage you add (like today's overhead leccy trains) brings it's own power (electric motor), and if it had a battery too, then very interesting. Add carriages (up to max length) during peaks, and recharge carriage batts during quiet periods.

Perhaps charging at stations when stopped, or short lengths of overhead cables (to reduce cost) before/after stations to charge up trains when they are slower.

I'm sure none of this is new, but nice to have a ponder.