Martin963

Oh don't get me wrong Ken, I agree with you. A reliable power generation national network is vital, and like you I suspect that politicians simply don't "get" how much work is needed to produce a kW, let alone a MW or a GW. I hope I've emphasised that I invested in our system almost entirely for selfishly financial reasons. Batteries used on a national scale could perhaps help to shape the demand ups and downs, but as you imply they are a fat lot of good in a long period of winter anti-cyclonic murk. And yes the recycling aspect of Lithium batteries worries me (what do they do with computer laptop batteries, because AIUI a house battery is just a scaled up version of that...?) Fusion is the answer, but it's remained tantalisingly out of reach for the whole of my lifetime. Thorium fission might be a runner, but again to date it all seems to be promises of "soon" rather than a working reactor. That's why I said we need the best brains to work on the system. Personally I think a world "Manhattan" project would be a boon for humanity, but we don't have a world leader of sufficient stature to bring it all together. @ anotherbanana - no, I don't know whether it's possible in France to have a house battery. Of course you get a lot more sun than we do in Devon!

Had you read my post upthread anotherbanana you'd have seen that I gave the details of my own installation of this very type of battery.

I don't know if you read my post Ken, but certainly I think there is SOME validity in the idea of using storage batteries (not necessarily electric car batteries) to smooth out demand. Suppose ten million homes could have batteries installed (let's come back to how the cost would be borne), that's half the homes in Britain. If each of them were normally demanding 1 kW between 17.00 and 20.00 and the fact that they each now had a battery that had charged up earlier in the day, meaning that they were self-sufficent during those hours, we would at a stroke be removing 10 million x 1000 W from the national demand. That is 10 million kW, or 10 gigawatts. Demand in Britain at its evening peak is about 40 GW and at its lowest during the night is about 25 GW. So - and this is not even with the batteries discharging to the grid at peak times, merely powering the houses that have them - the new peak evening demand would be only a little higher than the night time minimum demand, a huge improvement to the current situation, meaning that inefficient and polluting power stations might not be needed to fill in the bumps in consumption. Now it's a whole different discussion as to how this could be financed or achieved, but the point I'm trying to make is that it is technically feasible. Others on here have mentioned the improvements that we may - I repeat may - see in battery technology; I'm not expecting any breakthroughs, but capacity and efficiency are gradually improving, and although costs are up at the moment it might be expected that once the post pandemic supply problems die down the costs may again start sliding, albeit gradually. I hasten to add that I'm a great believer in countries becoming energy-self-secure, we only have to look East to see what a mess we've got ourselves into. But there are all sorts of things we can do, including sensible use of batteries, and we should be encouraging the best brains to work on these things as a matter of urgency. Yes we need new power stations, but we can also do sensible and reasonable things to smooth out demand. What we certainly shouldn't be doing is allowing Green zealots, many of them who seem to be anything but honourable - bouncing non-scientific politicians into costly inefficient knee-jerk reactions.

I can't speak for the sustainability of such an idea, or whether it's scalable to national level, but I can speak from experience on the small scale, as last autumn we had PV and a Tesla Powerwall (house battery) installed. Here in sunless Devon solar energy on its own is pretty useless, too much for a house in summer (and pitifully low export price rate) and not nearly enough in the winter. However, the addition of a battery to the system transforms the situation, as in summer the surplus is stored rather than exported, and in winter you can instruct the battery to charge up at cheap rates overnight, and then use the stored electricity to power the house during the day. I am a vice-signaller rather than the more fashionable counterpart, and I installed the system to save money rather than in an attempt to be Green. And indeed, paying 5.5 p per kWh rather than 25 p is saving us a great deal. There are also tariffs (to get back on topic) where the supplier takes control of your Powerwall to smooth the demands of the grid, and for which you get a favourable rate for both import and export, although we haven't gone down that avenue. I can see that if even half the houses in Britain had a battery of this sort then the peak demand at 16.00 - 20.00 would be greatly reduced, but I'm not sure whether I think the overall "Green" equation would stack up after taking into account the use of Lithium etc for building, and eventually disposing, of the batteries. As a vice-signaller I leave that to others, but from my own selfish point of view I'm saving a shedload of money. My gripe with the Greens is that they are screaming "disaster" at all times and bouncing politicians into making short term and scientifically stupid choices. Few politicians know anything about science, and sadly the same can be said even more strongly about most Greens. Green on the surface, and pure Red underneath the skin. What we need is a mix of solutions, not a headlong rush in one particular direction. Balancing the grid is a useful part of that, but we need reliable quick-start up power sources as well. Shutting nuclear powerstations - and indeed coal ones - to satisfy a few hysterical Greens isn't the solution, not until we have other sources in place. Yes we need to get on and build those sources, and Macron is absolutely right on nuclear, but a bit more thought and reason, rather than screaming slogans, wouldn't go amiss. Incidentally, amusing to see - after all that little creep Macron's threats to cut off power to Britain - that the interconnector (what's left of it after the fire damage) is being used this winter to keep the lights on in France, not the other way round.

I've just tried it in Britain, I selected TF1 - the symbol came up - but when I pressed play it's showing a film that ISN'T on TF1 at the moment. I tried to change to France 3, and a few other channels, but this film just comes up every time. Thank goodness for trusty old satellite, it isn't just ex pats in France watching the British TV, some of us in Britain would be lost without French TV given how AWFUL the BBC and other main channels have become. And now we no longer have the house in France we don't even pay the redevance..... (although I'd far rather pay that than the BBC tax, for a TV service that I haven't watched for two years now). I'd guess that Marais is in the far south or south east of France, sounds like they lost their channels when Astra 2D/1N was replaced by Astra 2F. There are some places where you just CAN'T get a signal now off the UK footprint, or at least not without a dish nearing 200 cms.

Yes, I was somewhat surprised to hear on TF1 recently that the increased "malus" tax on fossil fuel SUVs doesn't apply to families with three or more children. At least I think that's what they said.

What is the point of your post Noisette?

Absolutely agree Ken. For a man that admitted that a referendum on EU membership would go against him, his utter arrogance is breathtaking. His judgement is woefully poor though, what a goal to give to any person or politician who actually loves France. I feel particularly sad in all this, I love France in spite of the way I was treated (refused residency ten years ago), but even I am now boycotting all French products until Macron is brought down. I think it was "alittlebitoffrench" who said - with great wisdom - that Macron doesn't represent France, but even so I feel I have to do my bit to fight back against Macron over the way he has treated Britain these last few years. As soon as he's gone I shall of course go back to buying French stuff. It's only a tiny thing to do, but I know I'm not the only one.....

Yes, I did know that, it was rhetorical as it were. Personally I think Norman viewed this forum as his fiefdom, and it's reverted to a much more balanced situation without his rather condescending contributions. We are of course all entitled to our views, but I think his over-arching influence had discouraged many of us from posting.

Even though I am not French, no longer have a house there, and was refused residency by my beloved France in flagrant breach of all the laws, I am still totally OUTRAGED at an EU flag flying on its own at one of the spiritual hearts of the French nation. Still, that ghastly little creep Macron does seem to have realised his error and had it taken down under cover of darkness early this morning. I weep for France under that ghastly little man.

I must say I'm finding the overall tone of this forum much more sensible and balanced in these last couple of months, with a wresting of control away from certain self-appointed "leaders" who had ruled the roost for far too long.

Oh where is dear Norman when one needs him to spring to the aid of The Guardian.....

Good to have some figures put to this, which most of us were aware of but couldn't actually quantify. Another example here, breathtaking hypocrisy, but that's the Greens for you, green on the outside and very very red below the surface. Although the guy apologised, as always I suspect that he only apologised because he got caught. Sickening attitude. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19704444.cop26-green-brighton-council-leader-took-hour-long-flight-glasgow-summit/

A few years ago I'd have felt genuinely sorry for the French on this. But with that little creep Macron in charge,   who has made every effort on every occasion to scupper Britain over the last few years,   I've had a couple of days of absolutely gloating over his misfortune. Not just vaccines,   threatening our power supplies around the time of Brexit (twice),   making problems over the Irish border,   difficulties over satellites,   difficulties over financial equivalence,  etc etc.  Then there's Barnier,   who lectured us on all things European and now has the hypocrisy to "bury" most of his EU beliefs now he's on the campaign trail. So sorry,  serves them right.   Great to see them all whining. But the bit that puzzles me is Biden in all this.   It was thought that it would be a case of EU=GOOD,  Britain=BAD after Brexit,   but that seems to have gone.   Another proof that he is indeed completely senile?

Not The Guardian AGAIN NormanH...... You really ought to try and read (and quote) a couple of other sources of news once in a while,   otherwise we'll begin to think you've got an "agenda"......

[quote user="NormanH"]Always ask yourself in whose interest is it that I am  seeing an item in the news?  Someone with an agenda has put it there. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/28/popularity-far-right-topics-france-cnews-election-concern [/quote] Every time I see a link to The Guardian I'm forced to ask myself that very question. And every time I watch the BBC News - again,  for some reason - I find myself wondering whose agenda is being ticked off,   box by box. Curious though,  because I always thought that CNews was considered a bit to the Left,  and that it was BFM that was slightly to the Right.   Maybe that has changed recently...? Incidentally if you want a laugh at The Guardian's expense there's a hilarious article from Spring 2020 predicting doom and gloom for Britain because it wasn't part of the EU's Vaccine Procurement Programme.    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/14/coronavirus-vaccine-delays-brexit-ema-expensive And more recently Polly Toynbee appears to have been driven delusional by her disappointment that Brexit hasn't caused a complete collapse for Britain.

I was very interested to read your original post nomoss,   and in fact following on from your second post it turns out that the emergency brake may well have been deliberately bypassed,   after a problem was found. Looks like three people (managers) have been arrested,   according to latest reports;  (and being reported at this moment on France 3). Dreadful incident.

Indeed,   reported on France 3 and TF1 this lunchtime,   and described as received with cold disdain by the political classes. If they (Macron et al) had any sense they'd be "engaging" with this warning signal,   particularly if it indeed reflects (as was reported last week) the majority view of the French people themselves.....

Indeed.    But what has that got to do with 6/10 people agreeing with the contents of the letter? And perhaps a change from the constant references to articles in The Guardian would give us a more rounded view....?

Going back to the Generals,  TF1 cited a poll this lunchtime which found that six out of ten French people agreed with what they had written in that "letter". Which suggests that for politicians to simply try to suppress this "situation" may not be the best policy.   "Don't shoot the messenger" comes to mind.

You may well be right Judith - not being "on the ground" as it were any more I don't really know what the situation is - other perhaps than being "difficile" or perhaps "sensible".    TF1 suggested it was the panacea for those wanting the best search system for vaccines but maybe they were exaggerating..... Really do feel for those having all this frustration,   and hope that the French vaccination programme gets up a bit of steam soon,   things do seem to be improving slowly.    Bon courage to all of you.

Yesterday this "vitemadose" site https://covidtracker.fr/vitemadose/ was recommended on the lunchtime news on TF1.   I have no idea if it's any good,   but apparently brings all the available sources of vaccination under one roof as it were,  to save having to search all over the place.

Let no one ever forget the appallingly misleading statement from Macron a few weeks ago about AstraZeneca. Had he been Trump he would never have been allowed to get away with it,   and yet in daily watching of the news on France 3 and TF1 I have not once seen anyone dare to call him out for his lie. I really hope those in France - and all on this forum - who need the vaccine get it soon.   I say that as a 61 year old who was vaccinated three days ago as part of a well-organised and efficient national vaccination programme.   I leave you to work out in which country that took place.   I genuinely hope that Macron's petty idiocy does not lead to unnecessary deaths.

[quote user="idun"]Another thing I am curious about is and there are a couple of 'ifs' here, if they own their own home in the UK, which insurance company they use which allows 6 months cover, if ofcourse their home in the UK is left empty.  [/quote] There are specialist British insurance companies that do that sort of extended cover.   Their prices are of course higher than run of the mill household insurers.

It's been said several times,  if Trump had made the same "fake news" claims about Astra Zeneca vaccines as Macron did yesterday afternoon,   he'd have rightly been removed from social media. Where's the difference,  Macron is engaging it seems in "demand management" for the AZ vaccine he can't get his paws on,   and will stoop to anything. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury has now criticised the EU's stance on vaccine export controls. What's that I hear?   Ode to Joy?