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A "smart energy" revolution could help ensure that the UK does not suffer blackouts, according to National Grid's new UK chief.
Nicola Shaw, its executive director, said technological advances will reduce the need to build new conventional power stations in the UK.
An "internet of energy" will allow fridges, washers and dishwashers to help balance energy demand.
Some commentators say the UK needs more gas-fired power to prevent blackouts.
Ms Shaw agreed that more investment in gas-fired power was needed, but argued that between 30% and 50% of fluctuations on the electricity grid could be smoothed by households and businesses adjusting their demand at peak times.
The gas company executive says more gas-fired power is necessary to prevent blackouts in the future. Also, smart appliances could help balance energy demand across a smart grid.
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Thursday September 22 2016, @08:58AM
Those commonly occur in the summer in areas where a lot of people have AC running that places stress on the system.
This is the UK. People do not have air conditioning on any significant scale.
My point was that the person saying we need more large scale gas generation was the large scale gas generator
salesman. Perhaps you can see a pattern here (involving his personal bank balance)?
I am not saying we don't need more energy, or even gas based energy just that this is the wrong person to listen to for advice.
Personally, I have been saying for almost 40 years that we do not need to build centralised gas generating plants which are 10%
more efficient but waste 30% of the energy in the distribution network when we could build small scale generation* at a local level
(the 10% less efficient solution) and use 60% if the waste heat to heat homes - total solution is 10% MORE efficient.
Note I am still advocating gas for energy generation, I just don't sell large scale gas generating plants. Or anything else.
* Something similar to a truck engine converted to use the piped gas network with its radiator replaced by connection to your
central heating (Its called CHP and is widely used elsewhere in Europe).
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 2) by Zz9zZ on Friday September 23 2016, @07:56PM
"Thwup thwup thwup" was the sound he heard slowly getting louder, but then it stayed steady. Dr. Spin was walking down one of his community's streets since it was a hot night and he didn't have AC, so he figured it was the sound of a small fan in someone's window. He kept walking but the sound stayed the same, he glanced around but saw nothing unusual. "Maybe its a night owl," he thought to himself. As he looked upwards to see the beat of white wings he noticed a strange shadow as the thwup noise got louder. Something sprang out of the night, a weird creature that terrified him as only a giant spider crashing falling from the sky can. He recoiled in horror, but found himself tightly bound. It was then he realized he was actually in a net, being carried over the ocean by what he could only assume was a black helicopter he always mocked those nutters for talking about...
As he hovered over the ocean miles from shore he heard a voice coming from the net's handle, "Sorry for the inconvenience but your efficiency gains are cutting into our profits."
Fade to black.
Wait, just freezing cold and drowning... with a steak tied to the side of the net. "Cruel bastards," he thought to himself...
~Tilting at windmills~