250,000 Seats A Day On The WCML?
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Engineer.
These are the first three paragraphs.
In the Parliamentary debate on the cancellation of HS2 phase 2, Transport Minister Mark Harper claimed that what remains of HS2 will deliver “a massive increase in capacity to the West Coast Main Line (WCML)” by providing 250,000 seats a day. This figure was subsequently repeated by the Prime Minister and Rail Minister who advised that it applies “across the primary long-distance operator on the West Coast.”
Yet without HS2 phase 2a, there is to be no WCML capacity increase north of Lichfield. Furthermore, with no HS2 station in Manchester it will not be possible to run the planned two-unit 400-metre HS2 trains to the city. Instead, there can only be single 200-metre unit HS2 trains which are shorter than the current 265-metre Pendolino trains.
Furthermore, 250,000 seats a day is equivalent to running 17 x 605-seat Pendolinos an hour, 24 hours a day. This is clearly not credible.
Note.
- The writer’s assumptions about Manchester are correct.
- Liverpool Lime Street is already is already HS2-ready for trains between Crewe and London, after the recent upgrade.
- Liverpool Lime Street will certainly be able to take two London trains per hour (tph), which can only be single 200-metre unit HS2 trains.
- Liverpool Lime Street may be able to take a third London train per hour.
These are my thoughts.
Current Services
Current services include.
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Blackpool North via Birmingham New Street – 2 trains per day (tpd)
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Glasgow Central via Birmingham New Street – 5 tpd
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley via Birmingham New Street – 7 tpd
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Birmingham New Street – 1 tph
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Holyhead – 10 tpd
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street – 1 tph – Increasing to 2 tph.
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly via Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield and Stockport – 1 tph
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly via Stoke-on-Trent and Stockport – 1 tph
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly via Crewe, Wilmslow and Stockport – 1 tph
- Avanti West Coast – London Euston and Glasgow Central – 1 tph.
- West Midlands Trains – London and Birmingham New Street – 2 tph
- West Midlands Trains – London and Crewe – 1 tph
- West Midlands Trains – Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street – 1 tph
It looks like there are eight Avanti West Coast tph and two West Midlands Trains tph between Stafford and Crewe.
High Speed Two Services
This diagram shows High Speed Two services, as they were originally envisaged before Phase 2 was discontinued.
Note.
- Trains to the left of the vertical black line are Phase 1 and those to the right are Phase 2.
- Full-Size trains are shown in blue.
- Classic-Compatible trains are shown in yellow.
- The dotted circles are where trains split and join.
- In the red boxes routes alternate every hour.
- Was Lancaster chosen as it’s close to the new Eden Project Morecambe?
Click on the diagram to enlarge it.
The Author’s Assumption
The author has made these assumptions.
- Current West Coast Main Line capacity North of Lichfield; Avanti West Coast – 8 tph, West Midlands – 1 tph and freight trains – 4 tph
- HS2 offers no extra capacity North of Lichfield.
- Max capacity ; Old Oak Common – 8 tph and London Euston – 10 tph.
- 400-metre long trains North of Birmingham ; Min – 1 tph to Edinburgh/Glasgow
- 400-metre long trains North of Birmingham ; Max – plus 3 tph to Liverpool/Manchester
- Trains operate a maximum of 14 hours per day.
I would add.
- All pairs of 200-metre long trains split and join at Crewe.
- Birmingham Curzon Street has seven platforms.
- Lancaster and Macclesfield have long bay platforms, that can handle 200-metre trains
- Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly have two platforms, that can handle 200-metre trains.
- I suspect
- Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly could both handle four 200-metre trains tph hour – Three for London and one for Birmingham.
There is a surprising amount of capacity in the North.
The Author’s Minimum Plan For HS1 – Phase 1
I think his minimum plan is as follows.
- Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street – 400-metre long trains – 3 tph
- Old Oak Common and Liverpool Lime Street/Lancaster – 400-metre long trains – 1 tph – Splits at Crewe.
- Old Oak Common and Liverpool Lime Street – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- Old Oak Common and Macclesfield via Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- Old Oak Common and Manchester Piccadilly – 200-metre long trains – 2 tph
- Old Oak Common and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central – 400-metre long trains – 1 tph – Splits at Crewe.
Note.
- 400-metre long trains are a pair of 200-metre long trains, that can split and join.
- This fulfils all the requirements of the original HS2 timetable for Phase 1.
- The total is nine tph and Old Oak Common can only handle 8 tph.
- Perhaps, the Liverpool Lime Street service could be a Liverpool Lime Street/Manchester Piccadilly service, that splits at Crewe?
I think it could work with London having the following services.
- Birmingham Curzon Street – 400-metre long trains – 3 tph
- Birmingham International – 400-metre long trains – 4 tph
- Carlisle – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- Crewe – 400-metre long trains – 3 tph
- Edinburgh Waverley – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- Glasgow Central – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- Lancaster – 200 metre long trains – 1 tph
- Liverpool Lime Street – 200-metre long trains – 2 tph
- Macclesfield – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- Manchester Piccadilly – 200-metre long trains – 2/3 tph
- Preston – 200-metre long trains – 2 tph
- Stafford – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- Stoke-on-Trent – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- Warrington Bank Quay – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- Wigan North Western – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
Services care as good or better than the current services.
The Author’s Maximum Plan For HS1 – Phase 1
I think his maximum plan is as follows.
- London Euston and Birmingham Curzon Street – 400-metre long trains – 3 tph
- London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street/Lancaster – 400-metre long trains – 1 tph – Splits at Crewe.
- London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street/Manchester Piccadilly – 400-metre long trains – 1 tph – Splits at Crewe.
- London Euston and Macclesfield via Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent – 200-metre long trains – 1 tph
- London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly – 200-metre long trains – 2 tph
- London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central – 400-metre long trains – 1 tph – Splits at Crewe.
Note.
- 400-metre long trains are a pair of 200-metre long trains, that can split and join.
- This fulfils all the requirements of the original HS2 timetable for Phase 1.
- That is nine tph and London Euston can handle 10 tph.
- Perhaps, a tenth train could serve Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central with a split at Crewe.
It should work.
Could High Speed Birmingham Curzon Street and Liverpool Lime Street And Manchester Piccadilly Services Be Provided With A Reverse At Birmingham Curzon Street?
A train would take this route.
- A 400 metre long train would leave London and go to Birmingham Curzon Street.
- At Birmingham Curzon Street the train would reverse and travel to Crewe.
- At Crewe the train would split with separate trains going to Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly.
Note.
- Automation could be used extensively to do the joining and splitting.
- The train would have an onboard team of drivers, so all joins, reverses and splits are performed as fast as possible.
- A local service could be paired with each train, so that intermediate stations on the Liverpool and Manchester branches had excellent connections to Birmingham and the South.
Suppose the maximum plan is now as follows.
- London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street/Manchester Piccadilly via Birmingham Curzon Street – 400 metre long trains – 3 tph – Reverses at Birmingham Curzon Street – Splits at Crewe.
- London Euston and Birmingham Curzon Street – 400 metre long trains – 1 tph
- London Euston and Lancaster – 200 metre long trains – 1 tph
- London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street – 200 metre long trains – 1 tph
- London Euston and Macclesfield via Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent – 200 metre long trains – 1 tph
- London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly – 200 metre long trains – 1 tph
- London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central – 400 metre long trains – 2 tph – Splits at Crewe.
Note.
- Birmingham Curzon Street, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly would all get four tph to and from London.
- Birmingham Curzon Street, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly would all get one tph to and from London, that could be non-stop and didn’t join, reverse or split.
- Birmingham Curzon Street and Liverpool Lime Street would have a three tph service.
- Birmingham Curzon Street and Manchester Piccadilly would have a three tph service.
- Lancaster, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central and other stations would get the originally-promised service to and from London.
- That is ten tph to and from London Euston and the station can handle that number of trains.
It should work.
Could High Speed Birmingham Curzon Street and Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central Services Be Provided With A Reverse At Birmingham Curzon Street?
In the previous section, I showed how, three tph between London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street/Manchester Piccadilly could be provided with a reverse at Birmingham Curzon Street.
So could the fourth train between London and Birmingham Curzon Street take this route?
- A 400 metre long train would leave London and go to Birmingham Curzon Street.
- At Birmingham Curzon Street the train would reverse and travel to Crewe, or another station, where the split can be performed.
- The train would split with separate trains going to Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central.
Note.
- They would use the current paths used by Avanti West Coast Birmingham and Scotland services along the West Coast Main Line.
- This would give a third train to both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central.
It certainly appears that by using a reverse at Birmingham Curzon Street, more capacity can be created on the West Coast Main Line/HS2 route.
Could High Speed Two Serve North Wales?
It finally looks like the North Wales Coast Lines will finally be electrified.
- Would this allow a 200 metre long train to run all the way to Holyhead for the boats to Ireland?
- There could be a join and split at Crewe with another train.
- Chester would also be served by HS2.
It would create a zero-carbon route to Ireland.
What Would Be The Daily Number Of Passengers Carried?
The maximum plan could now be as follows.
- London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street/Manchester Piccadilly via Birmingham Curzon Street – 400 metre long trains – 3 tph – Splits at Crewe.
- London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central via Birmingham Curzon Street – 400 metre long trains – 1 tph – Splits at Crewe.
- London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street/Lancaster – 400 metre long trains – 1 tph – Splits at Crewe.
- London Euston and Macclesfield via Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent – 200 metre long trains – 1 tph
- London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly/Holyhead – 400 metre long trains – 1 tph – Splits at Crewe.
- London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central – 400 metre long trains – 2 tph – Splits at Crewe.
Note.
- There are eight 400 metre long trains and one 200 metre long trains in both directions.
- A 200 metre long train hold 550 passengers.
- There are seventeen 200 metre long tph in both directions.
- Trains operate a maximum of 14 hours per day.
The number of passengers per day is 261,800.
Minding The Gap: ‘It’s A Scandal, It’s A Death Trap’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
The announcement “mind the gap” is almost as much a part of travelling in London as the Tube sign or a red bus. But when is the gap between the train and the platform too far and too dangerous?
These are the first two paragraphs.
Eric Leach thinks he has the answer to that, and it is 30cm, or 12 inches. He knows this because while lying on the platform in agony having fallen over while getting off a train, he had time to look at the vertical drop between the train and the platform.
In February, at Ealing Broadway station in west London, he stepped off an Elizabeth line train onto the platform. Such was the force from the drop, that he broke a bone in his foot. He collapsed on the platform.
I went to Ealing Broadway station and took these pictures.
The gap is quite large, but not larger than many of the suburban trains in London.
These pictures are from Greater Anglia and Merseyrail.
Note the gap-fillers below the door.
Conclusion
The Elizabeth Line can do better.
Huge Boost To UK Supply Chain As National Grid Launches The Great Grid Partnership With Seven New Industry Partners, All United In The Drive To Deliver The Great Grid Upgrade
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from National Grid.
These five bullet points act as sub-headings.
- National Grid launches pioneering ‘enterprise model’ as response to UK supply chain and skills shortage, announcing the first seven supply chain partners to form the Great Grid Partnership.
- The Partnership, which will initially focus on the network design and construction work required by the end of the decade for nine major infrastructure projects across England and Wales, forms part of a £9bn supply chain framework which will also support infrastructure projects beyond 2030.
- The Partnership will support supply chain capacity and foster collaboration across best practice and skills, delivering benefits for consumers and the wider UK economy.
- This investment further underlines National Grid’s commitment to the people, jobs and skills required to help deliver the energy transition.
- Investment in the UK’s electricity network industry will contribute an average of £18.4bn to GDP and support around 220,000 jobs each year between 2024 and 2035.
These three paragraphs introduce the Great Grid Partnership.
In a major boost to the UK supply chain, National Grid has today launched the Great Grid Partnership. The company, which sits at the heart of the UK energy transition, has named the seven partners who will support the delivery of an initial nine Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) projects.
The ASTI projects form a key part of The Great Grid Upgrade, which is building the significant new electricity network infrastructure required to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels by connecting 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.
This new ‘enterprise model’ is a collaborative partnership, bringing together National Grid’s supply chain partners. Two design and consenting service partners [AECOM Arup (JV); WSP], and five construction partners [Laing O’Rourke; Morgan Sindall Infrastructure; Morrison Energy Services; Murphy; Omexom / Taylor Woodrow (OTW)] are joining National Grid in the newly formed Great Grid Partnership.
I very much feel that the Great Grid Upgrade will be on time, but will the Great Grid Partnership, mean that other important projects will be late, as much of the UK’s competent infrastructure companies will be working for National Grid?
Electricity Networks Accelerate Potential Connection Dates Of Over 200 Clean Energy Projects
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from National Grid.
This is the sub-heading.
7.8GW of clean energy projects, more than double the output of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, have had their connection offer dates brought forward by up to 10 years through the Technical Limits programme, which is allowing projects to connect to lower voltage distribution networks prior to reinforcement of the high voltage transmission network.
These are the first two paragraphs.
Networks have so far sent offers to 203 projects totalling 7.8GW with an average connection acceleration of 6.5 years. In total 393 projects are eligible for the programme with the further 190 projects able to receive accelerated offers once they have progressed through the connection offer process. Last month a solar farm near Bridgwater in Somerset became the first project to be energised under this scheme. Horsey Levels solar farm, which will provide clean energy for 10,000 homes annually, connected to National Grid’s electricity distribution network significantly ahead of its original planned connection date. This initial acceleration has been delivered in the first phase of the Technical Limits programme, with further phases and analysis planned.
Technical Limits, a collaborative project from National Grid Electricity Transmission, Energy Networks Association, the Electricity System Operator and the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) forms part of the ongoing collaborative industry efforts, together with Ofgem and government, to speed up and reform connections to the grid. Scottish Transmission and Distribution network owners have been involved in developing the Technical Limits programme and are in the process of rolling out the programme in their license areas also.
Note.
- National Grid seem to measure large amounts of power, with respect to Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, which will have an output of 3.26 GW.
- The Technical Limits programme seems to be a sensible idea.
- Was the idea thought up by National Grid or is it an idea borrowed from another country?
- If it allows another 7.8 GW of clean electricity projects to be connected an average of 6.5 years earlier, then there can’t be much wrong with the idea.
- Horsey Levels solar farm is to the East of the M5, just to the North of Bridgwater.
I shall be following the roll-out of National Grid’s Technical Limits programme, as more clean power projects are connected to the grid.
National Grid And Innovation
This is another post about innovation at National Grid.
Others include.
- £9.2m Electricity Research Project To Save 39,000 Tonnes Of C02 Gets Go-Ahead, which talks about modifying transmission lines to carry more electricity. This means, that theoretically, we’ll need less and smaller transmission lines.
- £400k For National Grid Innovation Projects As Part Of Ofgem Fund To Help Shape Britain’s Net Zero Transition, which talks about Ofgem grants to fund innovation.
- National Grid Fast-Tracks Overhead Line Upgrade Project To Help Accelerate Connection Dates Of 175 Clean Energy Projects, which describes acceleration of projects.
- National Grid To Accelerate Up To 20GW Of Grid Connections Across Its Transmission And Distribution Networks, which also describes acceleration of projects.
- National Grid Goes Carbon-Free With Hydrogen-Powered Substation Trial, which describes work to use hydrogen as back-up power for substations.
- University Of Manchester And National Grid Team Up To Develop SF6-Free Retrofill Solution For Electricity Network, which describes a project to remove SF6 from the grid. SF6 is a greenhouse gas.
- National Grid Installs LineVision Sensors To Expand The Capacity Of Existing Power Lines, which describes an interesting idea from the United States.
- National Grid ESO And Reactive Technologies Launch Flagship Inertia System To Measure Grid Stability, which describes an innovative Spanish way to measure grid stability.
Note.
- I have included projects, that accelerate connection of new projects to the grid.
- Does National Grid benefit from operating grids in the UK and US, as it gets offered the best technology from both sides of the Pond?
National Grid seem to be big innovators.
Mercia Power Response & RheEnergise Working Together To Build Long Duration Energy Storage Projects In The UK
The title of this post, is the same as that as this news item from Mercia PR.
As it is from the 16th of August last year, I wonder why my Google Alert didn’t pick it up.
This is the sub-heading.
Mercia Power Response, a key provider of flexible power response services to the UK grid, has signed an agreement with RheEnergise to explore the potential deployment of RheEnergise’s new and innovative form of long-duration hydro-energy storage, known as High-Density Hydro® (HD Hydro).
These are the first three paragraphs.
Mercia Power Response, a key provider of flexible power response services to the UK grid, has signed an agreement with RheEnergise to explore the potential deployment of RheEnergise’s new and innovative form of long-duration hydro-energy storage, known as High-Density Hydro® (HD Hydro). Mercia Power Response (“Mercia PR”) and RheEnergise will work together to identify suitable sites for additional HD Hydro storage projects. The two companies’ initial focus will be the feasibility of getting 100MW of HD Hydro in commercial operation by 2030 by utilising Mercia PR’s existing grid connections.
With 40 sites having a combined capacity of 263MW and a number of sites under development and construction over the next 5-10 years, Mercia PR believes that RheEnergise’s HD Hydro storage technology would be a complementary, low carbon solution to its operating portfolio.
Additionally, Mercia PR’s industry partners bring market expertise in energy trading and forecasting, helping RheEnergise to optimise grid-connected energy storage projects.
Note.
- The average size of Mercia PR’s batteries would appear to be 6.5 MW.
- Working on the often-used two-hour duration, that would be a storage capacity of 13 MWh.
- I suspect some of Mercia PR’s sites will be more suitable for lithium-ion batteries and some will be more suitable for RheEnergise’s HD Hydro systems.
- I have witnessed local Nimbys objecting to lithium-ion systems on grounds of the fire risk.
- I am fairly sure, that the National Grid will be able to cope with both lithium-ion batteries and RheEnergise’s HD Hydro systems.
- I suspect Mercia PR’s industry partners, with their market expertise in energy trading and forecasting, could turn a small wind or solar farm into a nice little earner.
This looks to be a good fit between two innovative companies.
Ireland Charts Course For 37 GW Offshore Wind Development
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Irish Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has launched the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy, which provides a roadmap for Ireland to deliver 37 GW of offshore wind by 2050.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The framework sets out the pathway Ireland will take to deliver 20 GW of offshore wind by 2040 and at least 37 GW in total by 2050. Critically, it also provides the evidence base for Ireland’s offshore renewable energy (ORE) targets.
This document from the UK Government, which is called Offshore Wind Net Zero Investment Roadmap, says this.
With the highest deployment in Europe, we have proved that offshore
wind can be delivered at ever increasing scale whilst decreasing the
costs to consumers.
The UK has a world-leading ambition to deploy up to 50GW by 2030,
with up to 5GW coming from floating offshore wind.
Irish ambitions look to be more or less in line with the UK’s.
These are some further thoughts.
Ireland Interconnectors
These are interconnectors connecting Ireland to the UK and Europe.
- Celtic Interconnector – 700 MW – Between the southern coast of Ireland and the north-west coast of France.
- East-West Interconnector – 500 MW – Between Portan in Ireland to Shotton in Wales.
- Green Link – 500 MW – Between County Wexford and Pembrokeshire.
- Moyle Interconnector – 500 MW – Between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
If Ireland is going to install 37 GW of offshore wind, as opposed to about 4.7 GW in total generation now, I suspect Ireland will need more interconnectors or industries, that need a lot of GWs.
RheEnergise To Build First-Of-A-Kind Hydro Storage System
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Power Technology.
This is the sub-heading.
A demonstrator of the company’s long-duration hydro-energy storage system will be constructed at Sibelco’s Devon mine.
These are the first two paragraphs.
UK hydro-energy storage company RheEnergise is to build a first-of-a-kind demonstrator of its long-duration hydro-energy storage system at Sibelco’s mining operations at Cornwood, near Plymouth, Devon. The construction of the demonstrator will start soon, with commissioning scheduled in September.
The power generated by RheEnergise’s HD Hydro demonstrator, which has a peak power production of 500kW, will support Sibelco’s mining operations at times of high energy demand and help the company decarbonise its operations. The Cornwood site produces kaolin, mainly for sanitary ware, ceramics, tiles and industrial applications.
I have some thoughts.
A Short Construction Time
If RheEnergise’s timescale is correct and it is the same in RheEnergise’s original press release, then I can draw the following conclusions.
- Five months is a short construction time.
- I would suspect that the system can be built from readily available components.
- RheEnergise’s HD Hydro system, which uses a fluid with a specific gravity of 2.5 can work with standard pipes and turbines.
I wouldn’t be surprised, that the only difference between RheEnergise’s system and a standard water-based hydro system is the fluid and a few settings on the control system.
It might even be possible to check that the system works by using water as the storage fluid.
But that would of course shorten the testing time.
Could An Existing Pumped Storage System Be Uprated With RheEnergise’s Fluid?
Consider
- There are only a few small pumped hydro systems.
- The RheEnergise system needs to be sealed.
- The storage capacity would be raised by 2.5 times.
It is an interesting idea, but could be possible in some cases.
What Will Be The Storage Capacity Of The Sibelco System?
This is not stated, but typically a battery system has a duration of two hours.
So that would give a capacity of 1 MWh.
Could RheEnergise’s HD Hydro System Back Up A Wind Or Solar Farm?
Consider.
- Batteries are always a good addition to a wind or solar farm, as they stabilise the output.
- A lot would depend on the possible size of the RheEnergise system battery.
- The location of the wind farm is probably important.
An onshore wind farm on top of a hill might be an ideal candidate.
Conclusion
RheEnergise could be installed in a lot of sites.
Octopus Energy Invests In Floating Offshore Wind Tech Company
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Octopus Energy’s generation arm has invested in US-headquartered Ocergy to boost the development of floating offshore wind farms globally.
These are the first three paragraphs.
According to Octopus, Ocergy has an innovative approach to designing and manufacturing floating foundations, reducing the time and cost of building them.
Ocergy is pioneering a hyper-local supply chain approach, working with local manufacturers and creating green jobs in the areas where the wind turbines are installed, said the company.
Further efficiencies are unlocked through Ocergy’s lighter and modular designs which make the turbine foundations easy to transport and assemble at their final destination, according to the press release.
This page on the Ocergy web site contains the press release, mentioned in the article.
These are some sentences from the press release.
- Ocergy, which is headquartered in the US and has operations in France, is pioneering a hyper-local supply chain approach, working with local manufacturers and creating green jobs in the areas where the turbines are installed.
- Further efficiencies are unlocked through Ocergy’s lighter and modular designs which make the turbine foundations easy to transport and assemble at their final destination.
- Floating foundations are used in areas with coastlines that are too deep for foundations that are fixed to the seabed. Around 80% of global offshore wind resources are located in deep waters, underscoring this technology’s vast untapped potential.
- It comes as governments across the globe have set ambitious targets for floating offshore wind. The UK alone is targeting 5 GW of floating offshore wind capacity by 2030.
I certainly like their approach.
believe that innovative designs and streamlined manufacturing will play a large part in installing the large amount of floating wind, that is planned by governments worldwide.
I also believe that because of the repetitive nature of the building of these floating structures, innovative project management software and systems will be developed.
I certainly have my own ideas for that!
The Problem Of Waste Plastic And Why Pyrolysis Oil Might Just Contain The Answer
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Chemical Engineer.
These three paragraphs introduce the article.
One of the few technologies that can break down unrecyclable post-consumer waste plastic, pyrolysis is fast becoming a potential recycling route for companies trying to reduce their waste output.
The world produces around 450m t/y of plastic, but only 9% is recycled, with most waste ending up in landfill. Pyrolysis, which involves heating the plastic at extremely high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, breaks down the molecules to produce pyrolysis oil or gas. The oil can then be used to develop new products.
George Huber, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is leading a research team that is investigating the chemistry of pyrolysis oil and its use in polyolefin recycling.
This is a quote from George Huber
Waste plastic should be viewed as a resource we can use to make plastics and other chemicals. We should not be landfilling or burning it, we should be reusing the carbon in waste plastics.
I very much agree with what he said.
These are my thoughts.
Pyrolysis
The Wikipedia entry for pyrolysis starts with this paragraph.
The pyrolysis (or devolatilization) process is the thermal decomposition of materials at elevated temperatures, often in an inert atmosphere.
This paragraph describes the technique’s use in the chemical industry.
The process is used heavily in the chemical industry, for example, to produce ethylene, many forms of carbon, and other chemicals from petroleum, coal, and even wood, or to produce coke from coal. It is used also in the conversion of natural gas (primarily methane) into hydrogen gas and solid carbon char, recently introduced on an industrial scale. Aspirational applications of pyrolysis would convert biomass into syngas and biochar, waste plastics back into usable oil, or waste into safely disposable substances.
I came across pyrolysis in my first job after graduating, when I worked at ICI Runcorn.
ICI were trying to make acetylene in a process plant they had bought from BASF. Ethylene was burned in an atmosphere, that didn’t have much oxygen and then quenched in naphtha. This should have produced acetylene , but all it produced was tonnes of black soot, that it spread all over Runcorn.
I shared an office with a guy, who was using a purpose-built instrument to measure acetylene in the off-gas from the burners.
When he discovered that the gas could be in explosive limits, ICI shut the plant down. The Germans didn’t believe this and said, that anyway it was impossible to do the measurement.
ICI gave up on the process and demolished their plant, but sadly the German plant blew up.
I would assume we have progressed with pyrolysis in the intervening fifty years.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a top-ranked American University and is part of my daily life, as the Warfarin, that stops me having another stroke was developed at the University in the 1940s.
Conclusion
The article is a must-read and I feel that my past experience says, that George Huber and his team could be on to something.
I wish them the best of luck.
National Grid Shares Proposals For Green Electricity Projects In Lincolnshire And West Norfolk, Needed To Boost Home-Grown Energy Supplies And Progress Towards Net Zero
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from National Grid.
These four bullet points, act as sub-headings.
- National Grid is inviting communities in East Lindsey, Boston and South Holland in Lincolnshire, and King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, to view proposals for two new primarily offshore electricity infrastructure projects.
- National Grid will consult communities from 23 April – 17 June to introduce the proposed project and ask for local peoples’ opinions.
- Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL 3) and Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL 4) will be able to transport enough clean energy generated in Scotland to power up to four million homes in the Midlands and South of England.
- The projects form part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of the grid in generations, with new infrastructure across England and Wales helping the UK to meet its net zero ambitions, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to lower energy bills over the long-term.
These five paragraphs outline the two projects.
National Grid is inviting communities to comment on early proposals for two green electricity infrastructure projects which will help deliver the UK’s energy security strategy and net zero targets.
The eight-week initial consultation, which begins on 23 April, shares proposals for Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL 3) and Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL 4) projects – two new, primarily subsea high voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity links, with associated infrastructure, between Scotland and England.
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is jointly developing EGL 3 with SSEN Transmission (SSEN) and EGL 4 with SP Energy Networks (SPEN).
EGL 3 would run from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, under the North Sea via marine cables to a potential landfall location on the Lincolnshire coastline, either at Theddlethorpe or Anderby Creek. EGL 4 would run from Westfield, Fife, also via marine cables under the North Sea to the same landfall location as EGL 3.
After making landfall, both projects’ cables will run underground for approximately 100km to two proposed converter stations in the Walpole, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, area. Underground cables would then connect the converter stations to the transmission network via a new proposed substation, also within the Walpole area.
Note.
- These would appear to be early proposals.
- National Grid appear to be planning and consulting on two interconnectors at once.
- There would appear to be a lot of underground cable on land. But then the cables will be dug into good Fenland soil.
- All the electrical gubbins seem to be in the Walpole area.
These paragraphs invite people to comment.
Throughout our initial consultation, we are holding a series of face-to-face events to consult on the electrical infrastructure required in England.
Our consultation events are being held across the project area. Information about our proposals will be on display and copies of maps and technical documents will be available to view. Members of the project team will be available to talk through our proposals and answer any questions.
National Grid have also announced dates of when public information events are being held.
- Tuesday 30 April 2024 – 2pm-7pm – Dunes Complex, Central Promenade, Mablethorpe, LN12 1RG
- Wednesday 1 May 2024 – 2pm-7pm – Anderby Village Hall, Sea Road, Anderby, Skegness, PE24 5YD
- Thursday 9 May 2024 – 12:30pm – 6pm – Alford Corn Exchange, 9 Market Place, Alford, LN13 9EB
- Monday 13 May 2024 – 2pm-7pm – Leverington Village Hall, Gorefield Rd, Leverington, Wisbech, PE13 5AT
- Wednesday 15 May 2024 – 2pm-7pm – Eastville, Midville and New Leake Village Hall, Station Rd, Eastville, PE22 8LS
- Thursday 16 May 2024 – 2pm-7pm – Poachers Country Hotel, Swineshead Road, Kirton Holme, PE20 1SQ
- Monday 20 May 2024 – 2pm-7pm – Walpole Community Centre, Summer Close, Walpole St Andrew, PE14 7JW
- Wednesday 29 May 2024 – 2pm-7pm – The Holbeach Hub, Boston Rd South, Holbeach, PE12 7LR
- Wednesday 5 June 2024 – 2pm-7pm – Burgh le Marsh Village Hall, Jacksons Lane, Burgh le Marsh, Skegness, PE24 5LA
I would have hoped, that some of the venues would have been easier to get to by public transport.
I have some thoughts and observations.
What Will Be The Capacity Of Green Link 3 And Green Link 4?
I can find references to the capacity of Eastern Green Links 1-4 and it appears that all four have a capacity of 2 GW.
A Map Of Green Link 3 And Green Link 4
I have found this map of Green Link 3 and Green Link 4.
National Grid are going to be busy, as they’re also building Green Link 1 and Green Link 2.
Will Green Link 3 And Green Link 4 Share A Route Between The Coast And Walpole?
There is only one green HVDC onshore cable on the map. But surely laying two 2 GW cables in the same trench will cost less, than digging two cable routes.
Looking at the three converter stations would appear to confirm that Green Link 3 and Green Link 4 share a route.
Will Landfall Be At Theddlethorpe Or Anderby Creek?
This Google Map shows the coast between Theddlethorpe and Anderby Creek.
Note.
- The decommissioned Theddlethorpe gas terminal is indicated by the red arrow.
- The seaside resort of Mablethorpe lies between the two possible landing sites.
- Anderby Creek is in the South-East corner of the map.
This second Google Map shows the Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal and the North of Mablethorpe.
Note.
- The decommissioned Theddlethorpe gas terminal is indicated by the red arrow.
- Mablethorpe beach appears to be on a high quality.
Both sites would appear to be strong possibilities.
Both sites have plenty of space, but the Theddlethorpe gas terminal is a large brownfield site.
The Anderby Creek site would probably be a shorter underground cable across Lincolnshire.
The Triton Knoll Wind Farm
The Wikipedia entry for the Triton Knoll wind farm starts with these two paragraphs.
Triton Knoll Wind Farm is an 857 MW round 2 offshore wind farm 33 kilometres (21 mi) off the coast of Lincolnshire, in the North Sea, England.
RWE Npower Renewables were awarded the lease to the development area in 2003. The offshore elements of the wind farm of up to 1200MW power gained planning consent in 2013; RWE reduced the scope of the wind farm to 900MW or under in 2014, to reduce cost per MW.
Note.
- The wind farm was commissioned in January 2022.
- The wind farm cables make landfall at Anderby Creek.
- They then travel underground to Bicker Fen substation.
This Google Map shows Bicker Fen and Anderby Creek.
Note.
- Bicker Fen substation is in the South-West corner of the map and is indicated by a red arrow.
- Anderby Creek is in the North-East corner of the map.
- The cable is underground.
- This page on the Murphy Group website, describes the work the company did to install the cables.
- It appears from the Murphy document, that there are six cables between Anderby Creek and Bicker Fen.
This Google Map shows Anderby Creek.
Could the scar across the land to the West of Anderby Creek, be the connection to the offshore Triton Knoll wind farm?
I think it is! And I also think that it can carry more than just the 857 MW Triton Knoll wind farm!
I am suspicious, that one of Baldrick’s ancestors has been at work and the Triton Knoll export cable system could be used to connect Green Link 3 and Green Link 4 to Bicker Fen and Walpole substations.
This would surely allow Scottish wind power to be sold to Denmark and then sold onward to Germany.
The VikingCCS Project
The VikingCCS project is a carbon capture and storage project, that is proposed to be based at the decommissioned Theddlethorpe gas terminal.
The VikingCCS project has a web site.
Would the use of the Theddlethorpe gas terminal mean that it is more likely that Green Link 3 and Green Link 4 will make a Southern landfall at Anderby Creek?
Will There Be A Connection To Viking Link?
The Viking Link is a 1400 MW at 525 KV electricity interconnector between Bicker Fen in Lincolnshire and Revsing in Jutland, Denmark.
This Google Map, shows the location of Bicker Fen, about halfway between Boston and Sleaford.
This second map shows the position of the current Walpole substation with respect to the Wash.
Note.
- Bicker Fen is in the North-West corner of the map.
- The current Walpole substation is marked by the red arrow.
- King’s Lynn is in the South-East corner of the map.
I suspect, if National Grid wanted to connect Green Link 3 and Green Link 4 to the Viking Link, then this would be possible.
If the Viking Link were to be connected to Green Link 3 and Green Link 4, this would allow surplus Scottish renewable energy to be sent to Denmark and on to Germany.
Green Link 3, Green Link 4 And Viking Link Appear To Be Underground In Lincolnshire
I can’t find any trace of overhead cables for the Viking Line in Lincolnshire and the press release says this about Green Link 3 and Green Link 4.
After making landfall, both projects’ cables will run underground for approximately 100km to two proposed converter stations in the Walpole, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, area.
The connection to the Triton Knoll wuind farm is also underground.
It does appear that National Grid, are going for a Nimby-friendly approach for cables between Walpole and the coast.
Hopefully putting the cables underground will save money in legal arguments and fees.
The Anonymous Widower 