Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

thevilla

Still on the subject of fossil shocks (too regular to be shocking).

https://www.euronews.com/2026/03/11/spains-renewables-revolution-likely-to-keep-energy-bills-low-even-as-gas-prices-soar

Martyn1981

I thought folk might enjoy this vid from Everything Electric on gravity batteries, and their use in mineshafts. Lots of info, and far more potential than I'd realised.

Gravity Batteries: Storing Renewable Energy Underground?!

Renewable energy is the cheapest power source on Earth, but we need a way to store it for when the sun sets and the wind stops. While most focus on chemical batteries, Green Gravity is looking "from the ground down" at the power of gravity.

In this episode of the Everything Electric Tech Show, we visit a massive industrial site in Australia to witness a revolutionary storage system. By repurposing millions of abandoned mine shafts, this technology turns heavy weights into "mechanical batteries." Using excess solar or wind power, massive weights are lifted to the top of a deep shaft. When the grid needs electricity, those weights are lowered to spin a regenerative motor.

This mechanical system boasts an impressive 80% efficiency and offers long-duration storage of up to 24 hours, far exceeding standard lithium-ion limits. With 96,000 legacy mines in Australia alone, Green Gravity is utilising "latent assets" that already have existing grid connections. Join Robert as he explores the Gravity Lab to see the pilot in action before it launches at megawatt-scale. Enjoy!

Screwdriva

Tesla is now a legitimate, Ofgem approved energy supplier for domestic and business customers in the UK.

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81920609#Comment_81920609

Lets see how quickly they come to market with a VPP-based offering for Powerwall owners, and how it compares to other offerings on the market.

Screwdriva

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81920742#Comment_81920742

I asked (via one of the installer's I use)

Dear Partner,

I’m writing to you today in relation to articles you may have already seen in the press relating to Tesla Electric in GB. 

We have received approval from OFGEM to become an energy retailer in Great Britain. We’re currently exploring how Tesla Electric can contribute towards innovation in the transition to sustainable energy, and our focus remains on providing value to customers. At this moment we have no further details to share on the product offering or timelines.

Best Regards

UK Energy Team

Coastalwatch

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81914304#Comment_81914304

As a result of the success of the rollout it would appear that gridscale storage returns are being adversely affected. Further confirming the impact home batteries can have nationally.

https://modoenergy.com/research/en/nem-australia-home-battery-subsidy-impact-on-bess-march-2026?utm_campaign=156668130-Australia%20Real-Time%20Dispatch&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8BGS6IlClwCT2krJITwaW1buxQtG-bNZ8REjSXpQkkIslbvgN6B9kxpYPg3APofASDKCIRyNIW4yQqEPsf1V56jv9IMSG_3Gt5RpAxsKft0p_6sx4&_hsmi=130900062&utm_content=130900062&utm_source=hs_email

QrizB

Clickable link:

https://modoenergy.com/research/en/nem-australia-home-battery-subsidy-impact-on-bess-march-2026

Opening paragraph:

Australia’s home battery rollout is no longer marginal to wholesale markets. In the first 6 months of the Federal Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program, installed home battery capacity reached 6.4 GWh, almost tripling the previous 5 years of build-out. This means the distributed fleet is now growing so quickly that it will begin to compress spreads and reduce revenues for grid-scale systems.

The OFGEM median domestic electricity use is 2700 kWh/yr, 7.4 kWh/day. If the UK could do roughly what Australia has done and put 8kWh of storage into 800k homes a year, we could flatten the peak, reduce abatement and cut electricity prices for everyone.

Edit: as a plugin system, that would cost ~£2800 per property based on equipment available today.

https://uk.ecoflow.com/products/stream-ultra-x?variant=51563639374163

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81921313#Comment_81921313

Requiring a solar and battery system to be installed in ALL new build homes would go a long way towards meeting that target.

Martyn1981

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81921313#Comment_81921313

Yep, and just to say, worth waiting for a better deal, as most of last year Ecoflow were offering this pacakge for £2,299, largely as 5day special deals, that seemed to link up almost entirely from Oct through Dec.

I also subscribed to them for news and updates (beforehand), and to earn some points, so got an extra £50 off my order.

Exiled_Tyke

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81920395#Comment_81920395

Really disappointing that the UK company Gravitricity which was pioneering this stuff has now failed .