Brits Are Future Proofing Their Homes, Increasingly Valuing Sustainable Elements
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from Centrica.
These are the first two paragraphs.
It may still be true that for many, their home is their ‘castle’ but if so, it better be a well-insulated castle, as new research shows that Brits increasingly value energy efficient and environmentally friendly houses.
A survey from Hive revealed that the top selling points on a dream home for modern Brits are related to sustainability, with solar panels (68 percent) and good roof insulation (67 percent) valued more than design features such as natural lighting (53 percent), wooden flooring (22 per cent) and reclaimed woodwork (21 percent). Smart home technology such as a smart heating system (62 percent), a smart energy meter (48 percent) and an EV charger on the driveway (39 percent) were also top considerations.
As I fitted solar panels and good roof insulation to my house, their research could fit me.
I haven’t fitted an EB charger as I don’t drive.
Centrica Bolsters UK’s Energy Security By Doubling Rough Storage Capacity
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from Centrica.
These are the first three paragraphs.
Following further engineering work and investment, Centrica has announced increased gas storage capacity at Rough, the UK’s largest gas storage facility.
The facility, which is 18 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire, stopped storing gas in 2017 but was re-opened for gas storage in October 2022. Rough now provides half of the UK’s total gas storage.
At the time of reopening Rough for gas storage it was able to store approximately 30 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas for UK homes and businesses. Further investment in the facility means Rough will now be able to store up to 54 bcf of gas, boosting the UK’s energy resilience for the coming winter – this would provide the equivalent volume of gas to heat 2.4 million homes over winter.
This work and investment has increased the storage capacity by a massive eighty percent.
The news item finishes with this quote from Centrica Group Chief Executive, Chris O’Shea.
We stand ready to invest £2 billion to repurpose the Rough field into the world’s biggest methane and hydrogen storage facility, bolstering the UK’s energy security, delivering a net zero electricity system by 2035, creating 5,000 skilled jobs and decarbonising the UK’s industrial clusters by 2040. But to do this we need the right regulatory support framework. This world class North Sea asset has the potential to help the UK economy return to a position of being a net exporter of energy once again.
As East Yorkshire also boasts the Aldbrough Gas Storage in the salt formations under Hull, the area will have plenty of gas to keep them warm in the winter.
World’s First Offshore Hydrogen Production Project Yields First Kilograms Of Green Hydrogen
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
The offshore hydrogen production platform that Lhyfe is testing in France, named Sealhyfe, began producing its first kilograms of hydrogen on 20 June after it was towed last month to the SEM-REV offshore test site which is connected to BW Ideol’s floating wind turbine Floatgen.
These two paragraphs introduce the article.
Sealhyfe is capable of producing up to 400 kilograms of hydrogen per day.
With the start-of-production milestone now reached, the platform has entered the second phase of testing, which focuses on producing hydrogen in offshore conditions, after eight months of being tested at a quay in the Port of Saint-Nazaire, starting in September 2022.
The setup features a 1 MW electrolyser.
This may only be a small start, but I do feel that we’ll see more offshore hydrogen production.
According to Lhyfe And Centrica To Develop Offshore Renewable Green Hydrogen In The UK, Centrica and Lhyfe seem to be co-operating.
It should be noted that this year, I’ve written seven posts involving Offshore Hydrogen Production.
Swan On The Tracks Halts Trains On London’s Elizabeth Line
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Guardian.
This is the sub-heading.
Passengers held on trains for up to hour as services suspended between Heathrow and Abbey Wood
These paragraphs outline the story.
Services on a major section of London’s new £19bn Elizabeth line have been suspended because of a swan blocking the tracks.
Transport for London (TfL) said there were no services between Heathrow airport in west London and Abbey Wood in south-east London – via the centre of the capital – due to “an obstruction on the track”. It said there were severe delays on the rest of the line.
I actually got delayed by this, as I was trying to get my shopping home from Moorgate.
The 141 bus, that I took as an alternative was also severely delayed. But not by swans, but by the policies of a Mayor who can’t do sums!
The Anonymous Widower 