Energy crisis

StarTrekkie007

Hello,

Regarding the energy crisis, several years ago UK government gave FREE cavity wall & loft installation to home owners. Could they give FREE solar panel installation (and battery storage) to homes so people generate a large proportion of energy they use from collected light & use less of the expensive energy that we import ?

thinking that in the short term the price of energy we import will continue to be high. So we should generate the energy ourselves domestically.

[Deleted User]

StarTrekkie007 said:

Hello,

Regarding the energy crisis, several years ago UK government gave FREE cavity wall & loft installation to home owners. Could they give FREE solar panel installation (and battery storage) to homes so people generate a large proportion of energy they use from collected light & use less of the expensive energy that we import ?

thinking that in the short term the price of energy we import will continue to be high. So we should generate the energy ourselves domestically.

It was never ‘free’ as such as green schemes are part of every consumer’s bill. The problem is that these schemes are often badly administered and they have a habit of attracting industry ‘cowboys’. Battery storage is considerably more expensive than just a few rolls of insulation. The PV Solar FIT Scheme was closed in 2019 to new entrants. I installed PV solar in 2019 and with today’s prices I am looking at an 8 to 10 year RoI.

The Government would argue that it is increasing home-grown energy: the problem is that large wind farms in Scotland have to be turned off in very strong winds as the National Grid infrastructure is unable to transfer the electrons to where they are needed.

QrizB

That scheme already exists for low-income households with electrical heating, under the ECO3 umbrella:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/energy-company-obligation-eco/support-improving-your-home

There was a thread it recently:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6324209/how-do-i-know-which-warmer-homes-grants-solar-panels-to-trust

StarTrekkie007

another question on this topic. Why are we getting energy from Russia (that is so far away).
There are many counties that have sunny whether that are closer to us. For example, Spain. 
I know alot of the county's income comes from visiting tourist who come to Spain for the sun.
But now, due to covid, the people are stuggling due to the deminished tourist industry.
Couldn't Spain get income from Solar panel energy and sell it to counties close by ?

QrizB

According to offical information, Russia supplies less than 5% of our gas:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58637094
Spain is connected to the European energy grid, and we already buy electricity from there via interconnector cables.

StarTrekkie007

if Russia supplies less than 5% of our gas why is there such a price hike 
because the news seems to suggest it is Russia that is hiking up the prices?

Verdigris

StarTrekkie007 said:

if Russia supplies less than 5% of our gas why is there such a price hike 
because the news seems to suggest it is Russia that is hiking up the prices?

Because fossil fuels and energy are international markets. If demand exceeds supply then short-term prices rise everywhere.

The sun doesn't shine at night, even in Spain.

MattMattMattUK

StarTrekkie007 said:

Hello,

Regarding the energy crisis, several years ago UK government gave FREE cavity wall & loft installation to home owners. Could they give FREE solar panel installation (and battery storage) to homes so people generate a large proportion of energy they use from collected light & use less of the expensive energy that we import ?

They could, but they will not. Firstly there is no such thing as "free", so that money would need to be raised via tax rises, as there was major opposition to the 1.25% NI rise I can only imagine the tantrums if they put 5-10% on all income tax bands to pay for that as a project, especially as some people are vehemently against anything environmentally friendly. 

StarTrekkie007 said:

thinking that in the short term the price of energy we import will continue to be high. So we should generate the energy ourselves domestically.

Generation and storage will be the long term way out of higher prices and dependency on other countries, but that is always going to be a medium to long term project, rather than a long term fix. More large nuclear, SMRs, solar, on and off-shore wind and gas will need to factor in to that.

StarTrekkie007

couldn't the government create initiative for in-country energy. Have job creation scheme for UK industry to invest in home-grown energy supply rather than rely on external sources.

With regard to solar panels, if not going via home owners installation strategy. If government could install solar panels strategically around  (e.g. edges of roads and public buildings etc...) couldn't this be another source of energy?

What ideas does the rest of the community have for the UK to generate its own energy?

QrizB

StarTrekkie007 said:

With regard to solar panels, if not going via home owners installation strategy. If government could install solar panels strategically around  (e.g. edges of roads and public buildings etc...) couldn't this be another source of energy?

Given the typical success rate of large infrastructure projects, I'm not sure why you want the government to be involved in any of this?

MattMattMattUK

StarTrekkie007 said:

couldn't the government create initiative for in-country energy. Have job creation scheme for UK industry to invest in home-grown energy supply rather than rely on external sources.

They could, but that would cost money and it might take many years to see a return, likely longer than the electoral cycle, so not hugely likely. Note that I am not saying a long term energy strategy would not be sensible, just that it is not politically expedient. 

StarTrekkie007 said:

With regard to solar panels, if not going via home owners installation strategy. If government could install solar panels strategically around  (e.g. edges of roads and public buildings etc...) couldn't this be another source of energy?

It could be, as QrizB says the government does not have a good record of delivering projects, let alone on time and in most cases 2-3 times over budget is viewed as a bargain. In many places solar panels are already being installed on public buildings as departments view this as a way to reduce long term budgets (departments that get to plan long term budgets). Private individuals and businesses are also doing this, but that is based on their individual circumstances, rather than a government policy position.

StarTrekkie007 said:

What ideas does the rest of the community have for the UK to generate its own energy?

Building several large nuclear reactors (4,500MWe or bigger), probably 8-12, building dozens of SMRs (Small Modular Reactors 400-1,000MWe), building more off-shore and on-shore wind. Legislating that all new build houses must have solar panels fitted to the roof covering at least 40% of the total roof area, that all roof replacements must be fitted with solar panels, that all new build commercial premises must cover at least 80% of the roof space with solar panels. Removing the VAT from solar panels and installations, as well as battery power storage solutions.