iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-22--Germany’s climate consensus cracks as costs mount

Fretting over costs , Merkel ’ s Christian Democrats and her Economy and Energy Minister are unwilling to increase renewable energy targets , creating an impasse for the climate bill due to be passed next week .
Germany is revamping expansion plans for wind and solar power over the coming decade , exposing differences within the government over just how much is needed to meet Europe ’ s carbon reduction goals .
A bill now in parliament aims to set new targets and financial support for clean power to accommodate Europe ’ s plan to bump up carbon emission cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Chancellor Angela Merkel ’ s coalition are divided over the targets ’ scope , with Social Democrats backing energy think tanks and utilities calling for a much faster build out of renewables than earmarked in the bill .
Led by Environment Minister Svenja Schulze , critics of the bill said the EU ’ s carbon reduction target entails Germany cutting pollution 65 % by 2030 , not by 55 % as set out in the legislation .
The higher target is the result of EU burden-sharing rules linked to the size of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs , Merkel ’ s Christian Democrats and her Economy and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier are unwilling to increase green power targets , creating an impasse for the bill due to be passed next week , and an unresolved fight over how wind and solar will grow this decade .
Germany isn ’ t alone among the EU-27 to struggle with digesting the implications of the sweeping climate plans .
EU leaders may delay a decision on the carbon targets slated for Dec. 10-11 amid divisions , a report said Thursday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as costs mount appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum ( GWPF ) .

Fretting over costs, Merkel’s Christian Democrats and her Economy and Energy Minister are unwilling to increase renewable energy targets, creating an impasse for the climate bill due to be passed next week.
Germany is revamping expansion plans for wind and solar power over the coming decade, exposing differences within the government over just how much is needed to meet Europe’s carbon reduction goals.
A bill now in parliament aims to set new targets and financial support for clean power to accommodate Europe’s plan to bump up carbon emission cuts to 55% by 2030. Lawmakers from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition are divided over the targets’ scope, with Social Democrats backing energy think tanks and utilities calling for a much faster build out of renewables than earmarked in the bill.
Led by Environment Minister Svenja Schulze, critics of the bill said the EU’s carbon reduction target entails Germany cutting pollution 65% by 2030, not by 55% as set out in the legislation. The higher target is the result of EU burden-sharing rules linked to the size of member states’ economies.
Fretting over costs, Merkel’s Christian Democrats and her Economy and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier are unwilling to increase green power targets, creating an impasse for the bill due to be passed next week, and an unresolved fight over how wind and solar will grow this decade.
Germany isn’t alone among the EU-27 to struggle with digesting the implications of the sweeping climate plans. EU leaders may delay a decision on the carbon targets slated for Dec. 10-11 amid divisions, a report said Thursday.
The post Germany’s climate consensus cracks as costs mount appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF).
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November 22, 2020 at 12:06PM


Heat Pump Update.

As promised , back to those heat pumps !
According to the Tradesmen Costs website , heat pumps would range from 6 KW for a terraced house to 9 KW for a typical detached .
If we take 8 KW as the norm , 25 million homes would potentially need 200 GW of grid capacity , purely for heating alone .
In fact , the energy ratings of 6 to 9 KW referred Energy Output , not input , so my figure of 200 GW is overstated .
I have therefore investigated further , and needless to say the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s start with the Committee on Climate Change .
In their Net Zero report , they concluded that peak demand would rise from 50 GW to 150 GW by 2050 : This increase included 40 GW for electric cars .
Although there will be other small increases in power consumption in other areas , these tend to be offset by better energy efficiency and demand side response .
We can reasonably assume that heat pumps therefore account for about 60 GW .
However , they also tell us that this assumes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heat pumps .
The hydrogen of course aims to meet peak demand in cold periods , instead of overloading the grid , but more on this later .
They also assume 19 million homes will have heat pumps fitted , whereas my calculations assumed 25 million – the CCC plan that most of the rest are part of district heat networks .
Given the above , it is not unreasonable to project we would need about 100 GW , based on full heat pumps ( with no hydrogen ) and 25 million homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit more .
The CCC relied heavily on a 146 page study by Element Energy for their heating calculations .
Below is perhaps the most relevant chart , based on a large trial in Manchester : Based on a relatively small 5 KW heat pump ( typically for a terraced house or flat ) , the chart show the average daily half hour peak demand for three different heat pumps over a three year period .
The Peak Day in the final column is the peak demand on the coldest day in those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for themselves , whilst the standard heat pumps are split between those supplying hot water and those not .
My calculations assumed hot water would be supplied separately , so ignoring the hybrid option we are looking at around 2 GW of peak demand for each unit .
As a typical heat pump would be 8 GW , we can increase the 2GW to 3.2 GW .
There is one other important factor here though .
Element Energy ’ s figures are based on continuous working , which obviously reduces peak loading .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not want to heat their homes at night , as it may make sleep difficult .
( We have our bedroom window wide open in the middle of winter ! )
Equally they may not want to heat the house all day if they are out .
However , heat pumps are totally unsuited to this sort of intermittent operation , as Element explain : Fig 9-10 shows the difference that “ twice a day ” operation can make to peak demand , typically increasing continuous heating by a factor of five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million heat pumps would require extra capacity of 66 GW , based on the typical semi detached .
Potential twice a day working would raise this figure considerable .
Which brings us back to hybrid heat pumps !
To meet winter peak loads , not to mention the demands of twice a day , an additional source of heat is vital .
In the long run , the CCC propose the use of hydrogen , either in stand alone boilers , or as part of hybrid heat pump systems , where the hydrogen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperature .
These hybrid heat pumps can cost about £1000 more .
But , of course , we have no hydrogen supply , nor are likely to before 2040 .
So what will we do ?
There is only one answer – continue using natural gas , either through conventional boilers , or with hybrids ( which would then need to be converted to hydrogen at a later date . )
In short , we can spend £6 billion a year installing air heat pumps up and down the country , but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural gas .
Given the fact that the latter is much cheaper , we may leave our heat pumps switched off all year and carry on using our boilers !
I should point out that none of the above affects my original costings , which showed that heating bills could triple with the introduction of heat pumps .
Some have queried my calculations , but they are all from reputable , expert sources .
For instance , the Green Match website , set up to provide quotes and information on renewable energy sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Performance ( COP ) .
This measures the efficiency of a heat pump and it does this by measuring the amount of power input compared to the amount of power output produced by the considered system .
Hence , the higher the value , the more efficient the system is .
The crucial determinant of COP is the outside temperature .
Given that electricity costs five times as much as natural gas , a COP of 2.8 is poor value for money .
Worse still , their costings assume good insulation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both cost a lot extra to install : One further consideration is the supply of hot water .
If this comes from a stand alone electric water heater , this would be considerably dearer than that supplied by a gas combi boiler .
In a much milder climate , heat pumps might make more sense .
But in Britain they are pretty useless for anybody who is on the gas grid .
via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

By Paul Homewood
As promised, back to those heat pumps!
Yesterday I wrongly wrote:
According to the Tradesmen Costs website, heat pumps would range from 6 KW for a terraced house to 9 KW for a typical detached. If we take 8 KW as the norm, 25 million homes would potentially need 200 GW of grid capacity, purely for heating alone.
In fact, the energy ratings of 6 to 9 KW referred Energy Output, not input, so my figure of 200 GW is overstated.
I have therefore investigated further, and needless to say the situation is complex to say the least!
Let’s start with the Committee on Climate Change. In their Net Zero report, they concluded that peak demand would rise from 50 GW to 150 GW by 2050:
https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/net-zero-technical-report/
This increase included 40 GW for electric cars. Although there will be other small increases in power consumption in other areas, these tend to be offset by better energy efficiency and demand side response.
We can reasonably assume that heat pumps therefore account for about 60 GW. However, they also tell us that this assumes a large role for hydrogen via hybrid heat pumps. The hydrogen of course aims to meet peak demand in cold periods, instead of overloading the grid, but more on this later.
They also assume 19 million homes will have heat pumps fitted, whereas my calculations assumed 25 million – the CCC plan that most of the rest are part of district heat networks.
Given the above, it is not unreasonable to project we would need about 100 GW, based on full heat pumps (with no hydrogen) and 25 million homes.
But we can drill down a bit more. The CCC relied heavily on a 146 page study by Element Energy for their heating calculations.
Below is perhaps the most relevant chart, based on a large trial in Manchester:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hybrid-heat-pumps-study
Based on a relatively small 5 KW heat pump (typically for a terraced house or flat), the chart show the average daily half hour peak demand for three different heat pumps over a three year period. The Peak Day in the final column is the peak demand on the coldest day in those three years.
Hybrid heat pumps speak for themselves, whilst the standard heat pumps are split between those supplying hot water and those not.
My calculations assumed hot water would be supplied separately, so ignoring the hybrid option we are looking at around 2 GW of peak demand for each unit. As a typical heat pump would be 8 GW, we can increase the 2GW to 3.2 GW.
There is one other important factor here though. Element Energy’s figures are based on continuous working, which obviously reduces peak loading. It may well be that some people will not want to heat their homes at night, as it may make sleep difficult. (We have our bedroom window wide open in the middle of winter!) Equally they may not want to heat the house all day if they are out.
However, heat pumps are totally unsuited to this sort of intermittent operation, as Element explain:
Fig 9-10 shows the difference that “twice a day” operation can make to peak demand, typically increasing continuous heating by a factor of five:
Even assuming continuous operation, 19 million heat pumps would require extra capacity of 66 GW, based on the typical semi detached. Potential twice a day working would raise this figure considerable.
Hydrogen Hybrids
Which brings us back to hybrid heat pumps!
To meet winter peak loads, not to mention the demands of twice a day, an additional source of heat is vital. In the long run, the CCC propose the use of hydrogen, either in stand alone boilers, or as part of hybrid heat pump systems, where the hydrogen is piped in to boost the water temperature.
These hybrid heat pumps can cost about £1000 more.
But, of course, we have no hydrogen supply, nor are likely to before 2040. So what will we do?
There is only one answer – continue using natural gas, either through conventional boilers, or with hybrids (which would then need to be converted to hydrogen at a later date.)
In short, we can spend £6 billion a year installing air heat pumps up and down the country, but we will all still be using lots of natural gas. Given the fact that the latter is much cheaper, we may leave our heat pumps switched off all year and carry on using our boilers!
Costings
I should point out that none of the above affects my original costings, which showed that heating bills could triple with the introduction of heat pumps.
Some have queried my calculations, but they are all from reputable, expert sources. For instance, the Green Match website, set up to provide quotes and information on renewable energy sources.
The key factor is the Coefficient of Performance (COP). This measures the efficiency of a heat pump and it does this by measuring the amount of power input compared to the amount of power output produced by the considered system. Hence, the higher the value, the more efficient the system is.
The crucial determinant of COP is the outside temperature.
According to Green Match:
Given that electricity costs five times as much as natural gas, a COP of 2.8 is poor value for money.
Worse still, their costings assume good insulation and an underfloor heating system, which will both cost a lot extra to install:
One further consideration is the supply of hot water. If this comes from a stand alone electric water heater, this would be considerably dearer than that supplied by a gas combi boiler.
In a much milder climate, heat pumps might make more sense. But in Britain they are pretty useless for anybody who is on the gas grid.
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November 22, 2020 at 11:45AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-22--Past Climate More Complex Than Previously Thought, Says Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute

Atmospheric CO2 just doesn ’ t change on a whim and cause global temperature to follow along in response .
Press release from The Alfred Wegener Institute ( AWI ) : During the last 2.6 million years of Earth ’ s climate has altered between glacial and interglacial states .
As such , there have been times in which the transition between the two climate states appeared with either regular or irregular periodicity .
AWI researcher Peter Köhler has now discovered that the irregular appearance of interglacials has been more frequent than previously thought .
In order to understand human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our current climate , we have to look back a long way , since there has always been climate change – albeit over vastly different timescales than the anthropogenic climate change , which is mainly due to the use of fossil fuels over the past 200 years .
Without humans , for millions of years , climate altered between glacial and interglacial states over periods of many thousands of years , mainly because of the Earth ’ s tilt which changes by a few degrees with a periodicity of 41,000 years .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sun ’ s rays strike Earth – and as such the energy that reaches the planet , especially at high latitudes in summer .
However , there is strong evidence that during the course of the last 2.6 million years , interglacials have repeatedly been ‘ skipped ’ .
The Northern Hemisphere – particularly North America – remained frozen for long periods , despite the angle of the axial tilt changing to such an extent that more solar energy once again reached Earth during the summer , which should have melted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s tilt can ’ t be the sole reason for Earth ’ s climate to alter between glacial and interglacial states .

Atmospheric CO2 just doesn’t change on a whim and cause global temperature to follow along in response.
Press release from The Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI):
During the last 2.6 million years of Earth’s climate has altered between glacial and interglacial states. As such, there have been times in which the transition between the two climate states appeared with either regular or irregular periodicity. AWI researcher Peter Köhler has now discovered that the irregular appearance of interglacials has been more frequent than previously thought.
In order to understand human beings’ role in the development of our current climate, we have to look back a long way, since there has always been climate change – albeit over vastly different timescales than the anthropogenic climate change, which is mainly due to the use of fossil fuels over the past 200 years. Without humans, for millions of years, climate altered between glacial and interglacial states over periods of many thousands of years, mainly because of the Earth’s tilt which changes by a few degrees with a periodicity of 41,000 years. This in turn changes the angle at which the sun’s rays strike Earth – and as such the energy that reaches the planet, especially at high latitudes in summer. However, there is strong evidence that during the course of the last 2.6 million years, interglacials have repeatedly been ‘skipped’. The Northern Hemisphere – particularly North America – remained frozen for long periods, despite the angle of the axial tilt changing to such an extent that more solar energy once again reached Earth during the summer, which should have melted the inland ice masses. This means Earth’s tilt can’t be the sole reason for Earth’s climate to alter between glacial and interglacial states.
Aerial view of the Beyond EPICA camp (Photo: Beyond EPICA, AWI) In order to solve the puzzle, climate researchers are investigating more closely at what points in Earth’s history irregularities occurred. Together with colleagues at Utrecht University, physicist Peter Köhler from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) has now made a significant contribution towards providing a clearer picture of the sequence of glacial and interglacial periods over the last 2.6 million years. Until now, experts thought that, especially over the past 1.0 million years, glacial and interglacial periods deviated from their 41,000- year cycle, and that interglacial periods were skipped, as a result of which some glacial periods lasted for 80,0000 or even 120,000 years. “For the period between 2.6 and 1.0 million years ago, it was assumed that the rhythm was 41,000 years,” says Peter Köhler. But as his study, which has now been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, shows, there were also repeated irregularities during the period between 2.6 and 1.0 million years ago.
Köhler’s study is particularly interesting because he re-evaluated a well-known dataset that researchers have been using for several years – the LR04 climate dataset – yet arrived at completely different conclusions. This dataset consists of a global evaluation of core samples from deep-sea sediments that are millions of years old, and includes measurements from the ancient shells of microscopic, single-celled marine organisms – foraminifera – that were deposited on the ocean floor. Foraminifera incorporate oxygen from the seawater into their calcium shells. But over millennia, the level of specific oxygen isotopes – oxygen atoms that have differing numbers of neutrons and therefore different masses – varies in seawater. 18O reveals what the world was like in the past The LR04 dataset contains measurements of the ratio of the heavy oxygen isotope 18O to the lighter 16O. The ratio of 18O/16O stored in the foraminifera’s shells depends on the water temperature. But there is also another effect that leads to relatively large amounts of 18O being found in the foraminifera’s shells in glacial periods: when, during the course of a glacial period, there is heavy snowfall on land, which leads to the formation of thick ice sheets, the sea level falls – in the period studied, by as much as 120 m. Since 18O is heavier than 16O, water molecules containing this heavy isotope evaporate less readily than molecules containing the lighter isotope. As such, comparatively more 18O remains in the ocean and the 18O content of the foraminifera shells increases. “If you take the LR04 dataset at face value, it means you blur two effects – the influence of ocean temperature and that of land ice, or rather that of sea level change,” says Peter Köhler. “This makes statements regarding the alternation of the glacial periods uncertain.” And there is an additional factor: climate researchers mainly determine the sequence of glacial periods on the basis of glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere. But using 18O values doesn’t allow us to say whether prehistoric glaciation chiefly occurred in the Northern Hemisphere or in Antarctica.
Computer model separates the influencing parameters In an attempt to solve this problem, Köhler and his team evaluated the LR04 dataset in a completely different way. The data was fed into a computer model that simulates the growth and melting of the large continental ice sheets. What sets it apart: the model is capable of separating the influence of temperature and that of sea level change on the 18O concentration. Furthermore, it can accurately analyse where and when snow falls and the ice increases – more in the Northern Hemisphere or in Antarctica. “Mathematicians call this separation a deconvolution,” Köhler explains, “which our model is capable of delivering.” The results show that the sequence of glacials and interglacials was irregular even in the period 2.6 to 1.0 million years ago – a finding that could be crucial in the coming years. As part of the ongoing major EU project ‘BE-OIC (Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice Core)’, researchers are drilling deeper than ever before into the Antarctic ice. With the oldest ice core recovered to date, ‘EPICA’, they have ‘only’ travelled back roughly 800,000 years into the past. The ancient ice provides, among other things, information on how much carbon dioxide Earth’s atmosphere contained at that time. With ‘Beyond EPICA’ they will delve circa 1.5 million years into the past. By combining the carbon dioxide measurements with Köhler’s analyses, valuable insights can be gained into the relation between these two factors – the fluctuations in the sequence of glacials and the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere. And this can help us understand the fundamental relationship between greenhouse gases and climate changes in Earth’s glacial history.
Original publication
The study has now been released in Nature Communications: Köhler, P., van de Wal, R.S.W., Interglacials of the Quaternary defined by northern hemispheric land ice distribution outside of Greenland. Nat Commun 11, 5124 (2020). DOI:10.1038/s41467-020-18897-5
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November 22, 2020 at 11:04AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-22--Not Paranoia If They Really Are Out to Get You

There is zero doubt the entrenched establishment is out to get Trump banished .
Their animus is not a figment of anyone ’ s imagination , as evidenced by four long years of odious behavior by political , media and academic elites , including a fake Russia collusion investigation ( against Trump instead of Clinton ) and a fake impeachment ( against Trump instead of Biden ) .
There were also numerous district judges blocking perfectly legal federal orders , just because it was the Trump administration .
So a mountain of salt must be added to all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results .
Presently TDS victims are claiming there is no evidence of voter fraud , as if journalists are the judge and jury who must be persuaded a crime has been committed .
That denial is absurd , since there are always some illegal votes cast , the issue being how many and it the amount is material to the result .
It is no stretch to suspect Trump ’ s enemies of conspiring to deny him a second term by any means necessary .
What we await is to see if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pre-meditated , national organized criminal project to overturn the 2020 US presidential election .
If proven that will be the logical conclusion to the crescendo of attempts to remove him from office .
See also The Trapdoor US Election

There is zero doubt the entrenched establishment is out to get Trump banished. Their animus is not a figment of anyone’s imagination, as evidenced by four long years of odious behavior by political, media and academic elites, including a fake Russia collusion investigation (against Trump instead of Clinton) and a fake impeachment (against Trump instead of Biden). There were also numerous district judges blocking perfectly legal federal orders, just because it was the Trump administration.
So a mountain of salt must be added to all of the caterwauling over challenges to the recent election results. Presently TDS victims are claiming there is no evidence of voter fraud, as if journalists are the judge and jury who must be persuaded a crime has been committed. That denial is absurd, since there are always some illegal votes cast, the issue being how many and it the amount is material to the result.
It is no stretch to suspect Trump’s enemies of conspiring to deny him a second term by any means necessary. What we await is to see if they have been well and truly caught in a pre-meditated, national organized criminal project to overturn the 2020 US presidential election. If proven that will be the logical conclusion to the crescendo of attempts to remove him from office.
See also The Trapdoor US Election
#political-foibles
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November 22, 2020 at 10:40AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-23--Recent Drop in Solar Activity Portends a Much Colder Time Ahead – Video

I highly recommend that you watch this video by Peter Temple , who warns “ just when we need more energy and warmth , we have politicians trying to tax it out of existence.
” “ The sun and the planets are the main driver of climate change on our tiny little planet , ” says Temple , who pretty much says what I ’ ve been saying all along , namely that “ it ’ s a cycle , it ’ s a cycle , it ’ s a cycle !
” The difference is that Temple doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength into account , which I fear will make things even worse .
You can see by the above graph that temperature has been trending down for the past 5,000 years .
Perhaps this next graph , beginning about 9,000 years ago , will make that trend even more visible .
Notice that temperatures were warmer than today when Ancient Egypt flourished .
Temperatures were also warmer than today during the Roman Empire , the Grecian Empire , during the time the Maya were flourishing , and during the Medieval Warm Period .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here ’ s a little hint of what you will see in the video : • Periods of warming correlate with the rise of major civilizations , ie : Egypt , Greece , Rome , The Mayans .
• When the climate cools , civilizations collapse into ruin .
Those periods get labeled as dark ages , because there usually great declines in living standards .
• Social mood always turns negative with colder climate , which brings about riots and wars .
• One of the other features of the 172-year cycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just when we ’ re going to need more energy and warmth , our politicians want to tax it out of existence .
Peter also refers to the Russian astrophysicist Habibullo Abdusamatov , who warns that we are now headed into a little ice age .
I have posted about Dr Abdusamatov many times .
Here is one of those posts : A New Little Ice Age has already begun , says Russian astrophysicist If for some reason this video does not display , you can also view it on Peter Temple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if that doesn ’ t work , you can view it on YouTube https : //www.youtube.com/watch ?
v=lZw4DdocxN0 & feature=youtu.be & fbclid=IwAR0FtoKR_OhGRccuY3-v2DqT7s0fmHSzXmXNVK9wl1GajAyEGBtq0oLFkkw Thanks to Mike McEvoy for this video The post Recent Drop in Solar Activity Portends a Much Colder Time Ahead – Video appeared first on Ice Age Now .

I highly recommend that you watch this video by Peter Temple, who warns “just when we need more energy and warmth, we have politicians trying to tax it out of existence.”
“The sun and the planets are the main driver of climate change on our tiny little planet,” says Temple, who pretty much says what I’ve been saying all along, namely that “it’s a cycle, it’s a cycle, it’s a cycle!”
The difference is that Temple doesn’t take our rapidly declining magnetic field strength into account, which I fear will make things even worse.
You can see by the above graph that temperature has been trending down for the past 5,000 years.
Perhaps this next graph, beginning about 9,000 years ago, will make that trend even more visible.
Notice that temperatures were warmer than today when Ancient Egypt flourished. Temperatures were also warmer than today during the Roman Empire, the Grecian Empire, during the time the Maya were flourishing, and during the Medieval Warm Period.
So much for unprecedented global warming!
Here’s a little hint of what you will see in the video:
• Periods of warming correlate with the rise of major civilizations, ie: Egypt, Greece, Rome, The Mayans.
• When the climate cools, civilizations collapse into ruin. Those periods get labeled as dark ages, because there usually great declines in living standards.
• Social mood always turns negative with colder climate, which brings about riots and wars.
• One of the other features of the 172-year cycle is financial collapse.
• And now, just when we’re going to need more energy and warmth, our politicians want to tax it out of existence.
Peter also refers to the Russian astrophysicist Habibullo Abdusamatov, who warns that we are now headed into a little ice age. I have posted about Dr Abdusamatov many times. Here is one of those posts: A New Little Ice Age has already begun, says Russian astrophysicist
If for some reason this video does not display, you can also view it on Peter Temple’s website:
https://worldcyclesinstitute.com/global-cooling/
And if that doesn’t work, you can view it on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZw4DdocxN0&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0FtoKR_OhGRccuY3-v2DqT7s0fmHSzXmXNVK9wl1GajAyEGBtq0oLFkkw
Thanks to Mike McEvoy for this video
The post Recent Drop in Solar Activity Portends a Much Colder Time Ahead – Video appeared first on Ice Age Now.
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November 23, 2020 at 06:09AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-23--Media Finally Wakes Up To Ruinous Climate Policies

For a long time I have believed that there would be a pushback against climate policies , once the public began to see the real impact .
Successive governments have kicked the can down the road , but sooner or later one someone would have to pick it up , and that has now happened .
And the public reaction is already apparent , for instance : A third of motorists are unable to afford even the cheapest electric car , experts warn .
The figure – equivalent to ten million households – highlights how many ordinary families will struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diesel cars being pushed by ministers .
Even middle-earning households will have difficulty paying for one of the cheapest leased electric vehicles – the £170-a-month Skoda Citigo .
The findings are a blow to Government plans to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 .
Motor groups have described the £12billion plan as ‘ incredibly ambitious ’ when plug-ins account for just 0.3 per cent of vehicles .
High up-front costs and a lack of road chargers have been blamed for stagnating demand .
Entry-level electric vehicles are around £5,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howard Cox , founder of the FairFuelUK pressure group , said the plans risk ‘ demonising ’ petrol and diesel drivers unable to afford the switch to electric .
He added : ‘ Has the Government asked low income households , families and hard-pressed small businesses if they have signed up to their inequitable green revolution ?
’ Former Ofgem boss Dermot Nolan warns consumers will face higher energy bills over next decade to fund vital upgrades to the electricity grid Millions of consumers could be stung with higher electricity bills to fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars are banned in 2030 , Britain ’ s former top energy regulator has warned .
Dermot Nolan , who stepped down as head of Ofgem earlier this year , said that a £2.4bn Government funding package `` isn ’ t going to cut it ” as the grid is retooled to cope with surging demand from millions of drivers charging up their vehicles .
He said that bill-paying households are likely to be forced to fill the gap .
It came as Vauxhall ’ s boss suggested that subsidies could be needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expensive electric cars , and former Chancellor Nigel Lawson dismissed the Government ’ s proposals as an economic disaster .
Ministers have announced a £12bn raft of measures to make the UK a leader in green energy , from developing mini nuclear reactors to using hydrogen gas for heating homes .
The scheme includes a ban on petrol and diesel cars in 2030 , followed by hybrids five years later , forcing the country to embrace more environmentally friendly electric alternatives .
But Mr Nolan said the £2.4bn set aside for this part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said : “ To be blunt , there ’ s going to be a lot more than £2bn involved over the next 10 years – a lot , lot more . ''
Car bosses are also worried that consumers may resist pressure to switch to electric vehicles that are more expensive to buy than traditional cars .
Stephen Norman , Vauxhall managing director , called for “ clear long-term fiscal incentives to provide customers certainty in their purchasing decisions and ensuring that low emission vehicles are affordable for all ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs £26,400 , some £10,000 more than its cheapest petrol model .
The Prime Minister announced £12bn of funding for the wider greene energy scheme , but only £2.4bn of this is directed towards the automotive industry .
Ministers are providing £1.3bn to accelerate building a charging infrastructure , £582m for subsidies to make electric vehicles cheaper and almost £500m on developing and scaling up production batteries for vehicles .
The spending pledge led former Chancellor and noted climate change sceptic Lord Lawson to accuse Boris Johnson of being “ economically illiterate.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were trying to damage the economy they couldn ’ t be doing it better .
“ A programme to erect statues of Boris in every town and village in the land would also ‘ create jobs ’ but that doesn ’ t make it a sensible thing to do.
” Millions of charging points will be needed by 2030 as Britons ditch petrol , and this will require huge upgrades to the power network as a whole so it can handle changing patterns of energy use .
This overhaul of the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increases that will force Brits to pay for electric car infrastructure while still using their petrol vehicles , Mr Nolan said .
The former watchdog , who now works at consultant Fingleton , said : “ The question for Ofgem is how much are consumers prepared to pay ?
That is going to drive bill changes over time .
According to Claire Perry , the Government ’ s former Climate Czar , Dominic Cummings doesn ’ t “ get ” the green stuff , seeing it as an obsession of southern posh boys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters in the Red Wall seats .
One of those posh boys is undoubtedly the Prime Minister , whose plan for a “ Green Industrial Revolution ” was launched this week .
While long on vision , the presentation was very short on detail , but there was plenty to make the humble taxpayer very nervous indeed .
For example , item one on the agenda of Boris Johnson ’ s revolution will be to bring about a quadrupling of offshore windfarm capacity .
To call this a major blunder would be to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Westminster groupthink is a recipe for poor policies that will harm consumers and do little for the planet This week , Boris Johnson promised a Green Industrial Revolution and an end to new petrol cars by 2030 .
He is not the first .
In the Labour manifesto at the last election , on which his party went crashing to defeat , Jeremy Corbyn promised a “ Green Industrial Revolution ” and an end to new petrol cars by 2030 .
In current mainstream politics , everyone is Green , with the Left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to be Greener than thou .
Obviously , this is a better situation than if all parties agreed they couldn ’ t care less about the future of the planet , but not as much of an improvement as you might imagine .
The problem when all parties agree is that they stop thinking .
The public suffers .
Critics have already observed that the compulsory switch to electric cars will be an expensive purchase for the consumer and a physical problem for the millions of motorists who lack the space to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live .
It will also vastly increase the demand for electricity .
In recent years , energy prices have not shot up , because shale has reduced the price of oil and gas .
If those options are phased out , green energy becomes nakedly expensive , and consumers have no way out of it .
Fuel poverty is one of the great political horrors that politicians seek to avoid .
We now have policies which will impose it .
I inhabit an old , detached house in the country with elderly gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boiler expert , Jeremy , about what we should do to replace them .
Well , he says , we could buy air-source heat pumps , but they cost four or more times replacement boilers ( between £10,000 and £20,000 ) .
They do not produce nearly such high temperatures as gas .
The pieces of kit have to be located outside the dwelling .
Air-source heat pumps demand so much more electricity that we might need a new feed of supply from the road .
Jeremy adds that Britain is anyway in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the supply might not even be there in ten years .
Or we could install ground-source heat pumps , but they have even lower temperature yield than air-source ones .
To put the required underfloor heating in a house like ours would create “ carnage ” , or we could “ grossly oversize ” all the radiators .
There is also a looming doubt about what will actually happen when an entire country fairly quickly discards gas boilers .
There is currently gas central heating in more than 22 million homes .
Can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be available for all when we all need it – or will it be “ world-beating ” , like Test and Trace ?
None of the above impugns the need to search for low-carbon energy .
The problem is Government , urged on by pseudo-religious fanaticism .
In the Middle Ages , it was common for rulers to summon up crusades to the Holy Land to prove their piety .
Always these were bloody and time-consuming .
( Richard the Lionheart spent more of his reign fighting them than ruling in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But they could raise a king ’ s reputation .
Climate change is the 21st-century equivalent , and so Boris wants , as reporters put it , to “ burnish his Green credentials ” .
Given that two thirds of the world are not even trying to follow the rules towards Net Zero , his sacrifice of our money is futile .
This is governmental vanity .
The Prime Minister wants a Green Industrial Revolution .
Look at the real Industrial Revolution – the one which made Britain rich .
It was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thereabouts saying , “ Let ’ s have an industrial revolution ” and taxing everyone to make it happen .
It started for almost the opposite reason – that inventive people were free to get on inventing , and Government kept its distance .
via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

By Paul Homewood
For a long time I have believed that there would be a pushback against climate policies, once the public began to see the real impact.
Successive governments have kicked the can down the road, but sooner or later one someone would have to pick it up, and that has now happened.
And the public reaction is already apparent, for instance:
A third of motorists are unable to afford even the cheapest electric car, experts warn.
The figure – equivalent to ten million households – highlights how many ordinary families will struggle to finance the switch from petrol and diesel cars being pushed by ministers.
Even middle-earning households will have difficulty paying for one of the cheapest leased electric vehicles – the £170-a-month Skoda Citigo.
The findings are a blow to Government plans to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Motor groups have described the £12billion plan as ‘incredibly ambitious’ when plug-ins account for just 0.3 per cent of vehicles.
High up-front costs and a lack of road chargers have been blamed for stagnating demand.
Entry-level electric vehicles are around £5,000 more expensive than equivalent fuel models.
Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK pressure group, said the plans risk ‘demonising’ petrol and diesel drivers unable to afford the switch to electric.
He added: ‘Has the Government asked low income households, families and hard-pressed small businesses if they have signed up to their inequitable green revolution?’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8971487/One-three-motorists-afford-cheapest-electric-car-warn-experts.html.
Former Ofgem boss Dermot Nolan warns consumers will face higher energy bills over next decade to fund vital upgrades to the electricity grid
Millions of consumers could be stung with higher electricity bills to fund a massive power network overhaul before petrol cars are banned in 2030, Britain’s former top energy regulator has warned.
Dermot Nolan, who stepped down as head of Ofgem earlier this year, said that a £2.4bn Government funding package "isn’t going to cut it” as the grid is retooled to cope with surging demand from millions of drivers charging up their vehicles.
He said that bill-paying households are likely to be forced to fill the gap.
It came as Vauxhall’s boss suggested that subsidies could be needed to persuade consumers to switch to more expensive electric cars, and former Chancellor Nigel Lawson dismissed the Government’s proposals as an economic disaster.
Ministers have announced a £12bn raft of measures to make the UK a leader in green energy, from developing mini nuclear reactors to using hydrogen gas for heating homes.
The scheme includes a ban on petrol and diesel cars in 2030, followed by hybrids five years later, forcing the country to embrace more environmentally friendly electric alternatives. But Mr Nolan said the £2.4bn set aside for this part of the scheme is nowhere near enough.
He said: “To be blunt, there’s going to be a lot more than £2bn involved over the next 10 years – a lot, lot more."
Car bosses are also worried that consumers may resist pressure to switch to electric vehicles that are more expensive to buy than traditional cars.
Stephen Norman, Vauxhall managing director, called for “clear long-term fiscal incentives to provide customers certainty in their purchasing decisions and ensuring that low emission vehicles are affordable for all”.
Vauxhall’s Corsa E electric car costs £26,400, some £10,000 more than its cheapest petrol model.
The Prime Minister announced £12bn of funding for the wider greene energy scheme, but only £2.4bn of this is directed towards the automotive industry.
Ministers are providing £1.3bn to accelerate building a charging infrastructure, £582m for subsidies to make electric vehicles cheaper and almost £500m on developing and scaling up production batteries for vehicles.
The spending pledge led former Chancellor and noted climate change sceptic Lord Lawson to accuse Boris Johnson of being “economically illiterate.”
He said: “If the Government were trying to damage the economy they couldn’t be doing it better.
“A programme to erect statues of Boris in every town and village in the land would also ‘create jobs’ but that doesn’t make it a sensible thing to do.”
Millions of charging points will be needed by 2030 as Britons ditch petrol, and this will require huge upgrades to the power network as a whole so it can handle changing patterns of energy use.
This overhaul of the country’s energy infrastructure will result in bill increases that will force Brits to pay for electric car infrastructure while still using their petrol vehicles, Mr Nolan said.
The former watchdog, who now works at consultant Fingleton, said: “The question for Ofgem is how much are consumers prepared to pay? That is going to drive bill changes over time.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/11/18/billions-subsidies-needed-electric-car-switch-industry-warns/
According to Claire Perry, the Government’s former Climate Czar, Dominic Cummings doesn’t “get” the green stuff, seeing it as an obsession of southern posh boys that is of little interest to key voters in the Red Wall seats. One of those posh boys is undoubtedly the Prime Minister, whose plan for a “Green Industrial Revolution” was launched this week.
While long on vision, the presentation was very short on detail, but there was plenty to make the humble taxpayer very nervous indeed. For example, item one on the agenda of Boris Johnson’s revolution will be to bring about a quadrupling of offshore windfarm capacity. To call this a major blunder would be to take British understatement to an extreme.
https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2020/11/andrew-montford-johnsons-green-industrial-plan-is-a-recipe-for-soaring-prices-new-consumer-costs-and-more-pain-for-taxpayers.html
Westminster groupthink is a recipe for poor policies that will harm consumers and do little for the planet
This week, Boris Johnson promised a Green Industrial Revolution and an end to new petrol cars by 2030. He is not the first. In the Labour manifesto at the last election, on which his party went crashing to defeat, Jeremy Corbyn promised a “Green Industrial Revolution” and an end to new petrol cars by 2030.
In current mainstream politics, everyone is Green, with the Left setting the pace. The only competition is to be Greener than thou. Obviously, this is a better situation than if all parties agreed they couldn’t care less about the future of the planet, but not as much of an improvement as you might imagine. The problem when all parties agree is that they stop thinking. The public suffers.
Critics have already observed that the compulsory switch to electric cars will be an expensive purchase for the consumer and a physical problem for the millions of motorists who lack the space to install a convenient charging point where they live. It will also vastly increase the demand for electricity. In recent years, energy prices have not shot up, because shale has reduced the price of oil and gas. If those options are phased out, green energy becomes nakedly expensive, and consumers have no way out of it. Fuel poverty is one of the great political horrors that politicians seek to avoid. We now have policies which will impose it.
I inhabit an old, detached house in the country with elderly gas boilers. I am consulting our wise boiler expert, Jeremy, about what we should do to replace them.
Well, he says, we could buy air-source heat pumps, but they cost four or more times replacement boilers (between £10,000 and £20,000). They do not produce nearly such high temperatures as gas. The pieces of kit have to be located outside the dwelling. Air-source heat pumps demand so much more electricity that we might need a new feed of supply from the road. Jeremy adds that Britain is anyway in “an electricity-impoverished state”, so the supply might not even be there in ten years.
Or we could install ground-source heat pumps, but they have even lower temperature yield than air-source ones. To put the required underfloor heating in a house like ours would create “carnage”, or we could “grossly oversize” all the radiators.
There is also a looming doubt about what will actually happen when an entire country fairly quickly discards gas boilers. There is currently gas central heating in more than 22 million homes. Can we believe that a Government-inspired replacement technology will be available for all when we all need it – or will it be “world-beating”, like Test and Trace?
None of the above impugns the need to search for low-carbon energy. The problem is Government, urged on by pseudo-religious fanaticism. In the Middle Ages, it was common for rulers to summon up crusades to the Holy Land to prove their piety. Always these were bloody and time-consuming. (Richard the Lionheart spent more of his reign fighting them than ruling in England.) Frequently they were futile. But they could raise a king’s reputation. Climate change is the 21st-century equivalent, and so Boris wants, as reporters put it, to “burnish his Green credentials”. Given that two thirds of the world are not even trying to follow the rules towards Net Zero, his sacrifice of our money is futile.
This is governmental vanity. The Prime Minister wants a Green Industrial Revolution. Look at the real Industrial Revolution – the one which made Britain rich. It was not started by a politician in 1760 or thereabouts saying, “Let’s have an industrial revolution” and taxing everyone to make it happen. It started for almost the opposite reason – that inventive people were free to get on inventing, and Government kept its distance.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/11/20/lack-opposition-boris-johnsons-green-crusade-sure-sign-trouble/
via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
https://ift.tt/35SwTIa
November 23, 2020 at 05:57AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-23--Climate pledge on gas boilers for 2023 ‘vanishes’

The prime minister ’ s pledge to ban gas boilers from new homes by 2023 has been withdrawn .
The promise first appeared on the Downing Street website this week attached to Mr Johnson ’ s climate plan .
But the date was later amended , with the PM ’ s office claiming a “ mix-up ” .
The original statement from Number 10 announced this goal ; `` 2023 – Implement a Future Homes Standard for new homes , with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency.
” That means no room for gas central heating , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emissions over-heating the climate .
The latest version of the 10-point climate plan on the Number 10 website includes the line : `` Homes built to Future Homes Standard will be ‘ zero carbon ready ’ and have 70-80 % lower carbon emissions than those built to current standards . ''
Crucially there ’ s no target attached to the new version of the policy – the 2023 date has disappeared .
A Downing Street spokesperson told BBC News there had been a “ mix-up ” , saying : “ The government wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homes Standard in the shortest possible timeline .
“ We ’ ve consulted on introducing this by 2025 and will set out further details in due course.
” But Andrew Warren from the British Energy Efficiency Federation said : “ It ’ s unbelievable to think there would have been a ‘ mix-up ’ on a really important prime minister ’ s document like this .
“ Are we expected to believe they can ’ t tell the difference between a 3 and a 5 ?
Here we go again.
” Mr Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government was preparing to introduce a zero-carbon home standard .
At the last minute , the home-builder Persimmon lobbied the Chancellor George Osborne to get the measure scrapped .
Persimmon said the standard would make homes unaffordable , but engineers said better-insulated homes saved money on bills .
If homes are well insulated they can also use low-energy electric heat pumps , which suck warmth from the surrounding ground or air – a bit like a fridge in reverse .
Hydrogen will also be used to heat some low-carbon homes , although it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not ideal for poorly insulated houses .
Again , this is just another thinly disguised attack on the Tories , which we see every day from the BBC .
After all , why even mention what George Osborn did in 2015 ?
As for the “ 2023 pledge ” , as Harrabin himself already wrote last week this was not even in the PM ’ s 10-Point Plan , published last week .
The plan was much less specific : The only mention of 2023 was on the No 10 website , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not unusual .
But beyond all of this , Harrabin in typical fashion fails to give his readers the full facts – only his green tinted version .
• Why is there no mention of how much extra heat pumps cost to install ?
• Why is there no mention that they can cost three times the cost of a gas boiler to run ?
• Why is there no mention of the cost of all of this extra insulation Harrabin is so keen to see added to the price of new houses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eco-nutters , such as the Architects Climate Action Network , whoever they might be .
Just another shoddy article from Roger Harrabin , which we are so accustomed to seeing .
via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

By Paul Homewood
Another blatantly biased article from Harrabin:
The prime minister’s pledge to ban gas boilers from new homes by 2023 has been withdrawn.
The promise first appeared on the Downing Street website this week attached to Mr Johnson’s climate plan.
But the date was later amended, with the PM’s office claiming a “mix-up”.
The original statement from Number 10 announced this goal; "2023 – Implement a Future Homes Standard for new homes, with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency.”
That means no room for gas central heating, which is a major contributor to the emissions over-heating the climate.
The latest version of the 10-point climate plan on the Number 10 website includes the line: "Homes built to Future Homes Standard will be ‘zero carbon ready’ and have 70-80% lower carbon emissions than those built to current standards."
Crucially there’s no target attached to the new version of the policy – the 2023 date has disappeared.
A Downing Street spokesperson told BBC News there had been a “mix-up”, saying: “The government wants to implement the measures under the Future Homes Standard in the shortest possible timeline.
“We’ve consulted on introducing this by 2025 and will set out further details in due course.”
But Andrew Warren from the British Energy Efficiency Federation said: “It’s unbelievable to think there would have been a ‘mix-up’ on a really important prime minister’s document like this.
“Are we expected to believe they can’t tell the difference between a 3 and a 5? Here we go again.”
Mr Warren harked back to 2015, when the government was preparing to introduce a zero-carbon home standard.
At the last minute, the home-builder Persimmon lobbied the Chancellor George Osborne to get the measure scrapped.
Persimmon said the standard would make homes unaffordable, but engineers said better-insulated homes saved money on bills.
If homes are well insulated they can also use low-energy electric heat pumps, which suck warmth from the surrounding ground or air – a bit like a fridge in reverse.
Hydrogen will also be used to heat some low-carbon homes, although it’s expensive, so it’s not ideal for poorly insulated houses.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55020558
Again, this is just another thinly disguised attack on the Tories, which we see every day from the BBC. After all, why even mention what George Osborn did in 2015?
As for the “2023 pledge”, as Harrabin himself already wrote last week this was not even in the PM’s 10-Point Plan, published last week. The plan was much less specific:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54981425
The only mention of 2023 was on the No 10 website, and these sort of mix ups are not unusual.
But beyond all of this, Harrabin in typical fashion fails to give his readers the full facts – only his green tinted version.
For instance:
Why is there no mention of how much extra heat pumps cost to install?
Why is there no mention that they can cost three times the cost of a gas boiler to run?
Why is there no mention of the cost of all of this extra insulation Harrabin is so keen to see added to the price of new houses?
Instead he includes the opinions of eco-nutters, such as the Architects Climate Action Network, whoever they might be.
Just another shoddy article from Roger Harrabin, which we are so accustomed to seeing.
via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
https://ift.tt/2UQjCcC
November 23, 2020 at 05:03AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-23--£2.5M Wasted On Solar Powered Railway

£2.5M Wasted On Solar Powered Railway

Who let the loonies out ?
Riding Sunbeams project aims to shuttle power from a community solar plant to the London to Eastbourne railway line Plans to run a stretch of railway line in southern England on solar power have taken a major step forward , after the social enterprise behind the pioneering project snapped up £2.5m of government funding .
The Riding Sunbeams project , developed by climate charity Possible and Community Energy South , wants to make the London to Eastbourne mainline the world ’ s first railway directly powered by solar electricity .
The developers of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , awarded from the government ’ s Getting Building Fund , would go towards building a 3.75MW community solar project in Berwick , East Sussex , that would be subsequently connected to the railway .
It comes after trials managed by Riding Sunbeams and Network Rail last year demonstrated the feasibility of piping electricity generated by solar power directly to lineside equipment , bypassing the main grid .
Riding Sunbeams executive director Ollie Pendered celebrated the funding boost , stressing the project could accelerate the decarbonisation of the UK ’ s railways by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines .
`` It will enable us to work together to prove that MW-scale solar can be directly connected to the railways and open up the market for region-wide solar connections , '' he said .
`` It ’ s a fantastic opportunity to show the UK rail sector that commercial innovation can help power us all to the zero carbon future we need . ''
Riding Sunbeams is in talks with Transport for Wales and Transport for London about rolling out of similar schemes elsewhere in the country , it said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lease of life to the Cuckmere Community Solar project , which received planning permission in 2017 but had failed to get off the ground after the government ’ s Feed-in Tariff subsidy scheme for smaller scale renewables projects was axed .
`` We ’ re very pleased that this government funding will allow us to get the solar farm built at last , '' said Cuckmere Community Solar Dr Alister Scott .
The solar plant is now expected to be finished by March 2022 , when rail commuters and local community members will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the project , according to the partners .
`` By connecting community-owned renewable energy sites like Cuckmere Community Solar to the rail network , Riding Sunbeams can inspire rail users to travel in a really low carbon way with a genuine sense of ownership over the solution , '' Dr Scott added .
`` This is a really important next stage on that journey . ''
Note that the solar project failed to get off the ground , after FIT subsidies were withdrawn , which hardly says much for its viability .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 32,000 MWh , making the £2.5m grant equivalent to £78/MWh .
But what happens at night ?
Are commuters expected to wait till dawn for a train to arrive ?
Of course not .
The railway will still be powered by reliable power supplied from the grid , meaning that Riding Sunbeams is just another highly expensive bit of green virtue signalling .
via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

By Paul Homewood
Who let the loonies out?
Riding Sunbeams project aims to shuttle power from a community solar plant to the London to Eastbourne railway line
Plans to run a stretch of railway line in southern England on solar power have taken a major step forward, after the social enterprise behind the pioneering project snapped up £2.5m of government funding.
The Riding Sunbeams project, developed by climate charity Possible and Community Energy South, wants to make the London to Eastbourne mainline the world’s first railway directly powered by solar electricity.
The developers of the scheme said that the fresh investment boost, awarded from the government’s Getting Building Fund, would go towards building a 3.75MW community solar project in Berwick, East Sussex, that would be subsequently connected to the railway.
It comes after trials managed by Riding Sunbeams and Network Rail last year demonstrated the feasibility of piping electricity generated by solar power directly to lineside equipment, bypassing the main grid.
Riding Sunbeams executive director Ollie Pendered celebrated the funding boost, stressing the project could accelerate the decarbonisation of the UK’s railways by proving the commercial viability of solar-powered train lines. "It will enable us to work together to prove that MW-scale solar can be directly connected to the railways and open up the market for region-wide solar connections," he said. "It’s a fantastic opportunity to show the UK rail sector that commercial innovation can help power us all to the zero carbon future we need."
Riding Sunbeams is in talks with Transport for Wales and Transport for London about rolling out of similar schemes elsewhere in the country, it said.
The funding announcement has given a fresh lease of life to the Cuckmere Community Solar project, which received planning permission in 2017 but had failed to get off the ground after the government’s Feed-in Tariff subsidy scheme for smaller scale renewables projects was axed. "We’re very pleased that this government funding will allow us to get the solar farm built at last," said Cuckmere Community Solar Dr Alister Scott.
The solar plant is now expected to be finished by March 2022, when rail commuters and local community members will be offered the chance to invest in the project, according to the partners.
"By connecting community-owned renewable energy sites like Cuckmere Community Solar to the rail network, Riding Sunbeams can inspire rail users to travel in a really low carbon way with a genuine sense of ownership over the solution," Dr Scott added. "This is a really important next stage on that journey."
https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4023762/solar-powered-railway-scheme-steams-ahead-gbp-government-grant
Note that the solar project failed to get off the ground, after FIT subsidies were withdrawn, which hardly says much for its viability.
Over 10 years, the project could generate about 32,000 MWh, making the £2.5m grant equivalent to £78/MWh.
But what happens at night? Are commuters expected to wait till dawn for a train to arrive?
Of course not. The railway will still be powered by reliable power supplied from the grid, meaning that Riding Sunbeams is just another highly expensive bit of green virtue signalling.
via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
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November 23, 2020 at 04:39AM