British Politics
Been on holiday for a few weeks, surprised to find no general discussion of British politics so though I'd kick one off.
Tory leadership contest is quickly turning into farce. Trump has backed Boris, which should be reason enough for anyone with half a brain to exclude him.
Of the other candidates Rory Stewart looks the best of the outsiders. Surprised to see Cleverly and Javid not further up the betting, but not sure the Tory membership are ready for a brown PM.
https://www.oddschecker.com/politics/bri...
Regarding the LD leadership contest, Jo Swinson is miles ahead of any other candidate (and indeed any of the Tory lot). Should be a shoe in.
Finally, it's Groundhog Day in Labour - the more serious the anti-Semitism claims get, the more Corbyn's cronies write their own obituary by blaming it on outlandish conspiracy theories - this week, it's apparently the Jewish Embassy's fault...
Sue Gray,
Will get her way.
I haven't seen Mad Max but I've read The Road. I guess so though it will vary from place to place.
Some countries will close their borders to people desperately fleeing but food shortages will probably mean widespread panic anyway. Better check up on your allotment.
Back in the present day
You have to allow for the fact that Sunak's government is gone and people don't have to put up with it any more, which automatically makes it better. Even so, that's another remarkable negative achievement. You do begin to wonder what depths the talent-free Labour front bench can go on to plumb. I don't really want to find out, but I suppose we're all going to have to find out anyway.
You have to allow for the fact that Sunak's government is gone and people don't have to put up with it any more, which automatically makes it better. Even so, that's another remarkable negative achievement. You do begin to wonder what depths the talent-free Labour front bench can go on to plumb. I don't really want to find out, but I suppose we're all going to have to find out anyway.
Maybe voters will grow up and understand that there is no money, or won't, and will keep complaining, but there is no money anyway.
Not that long ago that people were scoffing at the prospect of renewable energy being significant.
The UK is about to stop producing any electricity from burning coal - ending its 142-year reliance on the fossil fuel.
The country's last coal power station, at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, finishes operations on Monday after running since 1967.
This marks a major milestone in the country's ambitions to reduce its contribution to climate change. Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel producing the most greenhouse gases when burnt.
....
In 2010, renewables generated just 7% of the UK’s power. By the first half of 2024, this had grown to more than 50% - a new record.
It will get better and cheaper fast. The future isn't all doom & gloom
Not that long ago that people were scoffing at the prospect of renewable energy being significant.
They scoffed at it being a reasonable plan, energy coats should go down per unit every year because of technology, with your "bright plan" this is what happened
It will come down.
A huge mistake of relying on markets is it can't get past these humps until after it's too late. That's why we need planning/ government who in the uk idespite all the faults have managed a too slow but ok job on this.
My 'bright plan' fwiw would have at us least 10 years further ahead.
It will come down.
A huge mistake of relying on markets is it can't get past these humps until after it's too late. That's why we need planning/ government who in the uk idespite all the faults have managed a too slow but ok job on this.
My 'bright plan' fwiw would have at us least 10 years further ahead.
Ok so if in 2034 energy prices per unit in the UK are higher in real terms than in 2010 will you admit it was all insane and change route completely and join the fight against climate maniacs with us, for the sake of your family?
Maybe voters will grow up and understand that there is no money, or won't, and will keep complaining, but there is no money anyway.
If you only have enough flour and eggs for a small cake then harvest more of your wheat and collect more eggs from your hens.
In Italy because you share wheat fields and hens with other countries you're reliant on the shared bank of wheat and hens to increase the amount available to all countries when you alone need a bigger cake. This is unlikely to happen. In the UK we have full control of our own wheat fields and hen coops.
Ok so if in 2034 energy prices per unit in the UK are higher in real terms than in 2010 will you admit it was all insane and change route completely and join the fight against climate maniacs with us, for the sake of your family?
I'll at least be suprised. Very suprised if it's not heading very fast in the right direction
It's not a climate change point at all. Just that tech improves so fast once it's in mass use.
That would depend on what you call a woman, but there’s another thread where you can rail against trans rights if you want.
This woman is nuts.
Not that long ago that people were scoffing at the prospect of renewable energy being significant.
It will get better and cheaper fast. The future isn't all doom & gloom
Renewables are expensive, per chargeable unit of energy, because the capital equipment is sitting there the entire time but the power source is intermittent. We might as well use them, but they're not a complete solution. The future remains quite doomy and gloomy because the Chinese are still burning coal like there's no tomorrow, which, the rate they're going, there soon won't be. UK emissions are not a very important global factor.
Renewables are expensive, per chargeable unit of energy, because the capital equipment is sitting there the entire time but the power source is intermittent. We might as well use them, but they're not a complete solution. The future remains quite doomy and gloomy because the Chinese are still burning coal like there's no tomorrow, which, the rate they're going, there soon won't be. UK emissions are not a very important global factor.
the intermittence is expensive because you need other not intermitting sources that you don't use to the max (24/7) to fill gaps but the capital is the same for those sources, at least until we get massively cheaper storage options (and then you still need to install excess capacity to fill that storage when things go well).
and anyway solar panels and turbines production and maintenance isn't emission free
Renewables are expensive, per chargeable unit of energy, because the capital equipment is sitting there the entire time but the power source is intermittent. We might as well use them, but they're not a complete solution. The future remains quite doomy and gloomy because the Chinese are still burning coal like there's no tomorrow, which, the rate they're going, there soon won't be. UK emissions are not a very important global factor.
China is the world's leader in electricity production from renewable energy sources, with over triple the generation of the second-ranking country, the United States. China's renewable energy sector is growing faster than its fossil fuels and nuclear power capacity, and is expected to contribute 43% of global renewable capacity growth.[1] China's total renewable energy capacity exceeded 1,000 GW in 2021, accounting for 43.5 per cent of the country's total power generation capacity, 10.2 percentage points higher than in 2015. The country aims to have 80 per cent of its total energy mix come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2060, and achieve a combined 1,200 GW of solar and wind capacity by 2030.[1] In 2023, it was reported that China was on track to reach 1,371 gigawatts of wind and solar by 2025, five years ahead of target due to new renewables installations breaking records.[2] In 2024, it was reported that China would reach its target by the end of July 2024, six years ahead of target.[3
Some will still be explaining why it can't be done when when we all reach 70%. Some still maybe when it's 90%
The improvements in tech will help everyone.
Some will still be explaining why it can't be done when when we all reach 70%. Some still maybe when it's 90%
The improvements in tech will help everyone.
Because you need the guarantee of electricity 24/7/365 for some stuff (until we are able to store days of nationwide electric consumption).
So you either build 5-10x the capacity needed, kn order to fulfill all demand even the day solar and wind produce their yearly minimum, or you need stuff that GUARANTEES electricity will be produced when needed.
And if you go full electric for heating in a cold country the needed guaranteed production shots up a lot unless you want people to freeze and die, and try to imagine when solar is going to risk producing the minimum
Indeed 100% is along way off
It will still be along way off when we hit 70% renewables. And when we hit 90%
100% renewables might require fusion although battery and non-battery storage develop apace.
