A Busy Saturday Lunchtime At Victoria Coach Station
I went to Victoria Coach station at lunchtime today and took these pictures.
These are my thoughts.
Where Are The British Coaches?
The nearest I saw were the smart coaches of the Oxford Tube, which were built by Plaxtons on a Volvo chassis.
The National Express coaches were made by Caetano in Spain.
I can certainly understand, why Wrightbus’s first product of a new era of British coach-building is an affordable Chinese-built coach, that is fitted with a Cummins engine, that possibly can be converted to hydrogen, as is the case, with some Cummins diesel engines.
As the coach will have a delivery time of six months, I think we’ll see them on the road fairly soon.
There Were Several Three Axle Coaches
In fact, I didn’t know they were very common.
- I suspect that three axles is better for the weight.
- But then you don’t see too many coaches in Central London unless you go to Victoria.
Wrightbus are saying that their hydrogen coach will have three axles.
The Wrightbus Effect
This article on Route One, says of the new Wrightbus Contour coach.
- It will be released this year.
- It will be an affordable product and Chinese-built.
- It will be a 55-seat diesel coach.
- It will have a Cummins engine.
In Wrightbus StreetDeck Ultroliner Next-Gen To Get Cummins Power, I describe how Wrightbus’s new Cummins-powered double-deck bus will be able to be converted to hydrogen-power. I suspect the same option will be available with the Contour diesel coaches.
The article on Route One, says this about the availability of the new coaches.
The Contour’s “competitive price” and lead time of six months promises an edge over some current industry norms, the business says.
That fits with what my finance company found forty years ago, when it was leasing coaches. If there were more coaches, you could lease more.
It looks to me, that the Cummins-powered, Chinese-built Wrightbus Contour coach will be affordable, available and convertible to zero-carbon hydrogen power.
If the quality and reliability of the coaches are high, then these coaches should sell and more coach operators will be wanting to run services from Victoria coach station, with their new affordable Wrightbus Contour coaches.
After what I saw on Saturday, will Victoria coach station have the space to accommodate them?
Coaches To Attractions
I saw coaches to Harry Potter, Legoland and other attractions.
Will this be an area that develops, if there were to be a greater availability of coaches, which Wrightbus, appears to be offering?
FLiXBUS
This is the first paragraph of the Wikipedia entry for FLiXBUS.
FlixBus (styled FLiXBUS) is a German brand that offers low-cost intercity coach services in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. It is owned by Flix SE , which also operates FlixTrain, FlixCar, Kâmil Koç, and Greyhound Lines. FlixBus operates buses or, in many cases, just handles marketing, pricing, and customer service for a commission, on behalf of bus operators. In 2023, FlixBus had revenues of €2 billion and carried 81 million passengers of which 55 million were in Europe, 14 million were in Turkey, and 12 million were in North America.
They certainly seem to be an ambitious low-cost company, who serve a lot of places in the UK.
As they are a German company and Wrightbus have sold scores of zero-carbon buses to Germany could Wrightbus and FLiXBUS have been talking about affordable, quality coaches?
Wrightbus Goes Back To The Future As It Relaunches The Contour Coach
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Wrightbus.
This is the detail of the press release.
Wrightbus is entering the coach market for the first time in more than 30 years with the launch of two new vehicles in the next 18 months.
The first vehicle to hit the market is the Contour, a low-emission 55-seater coach that was launched at a customer showcase event today (March 5).
It’s a case of back to the future for Wrightbus, which last produced a Contour coach in 1987 before retiring the vehicle.
The second vehicle, a zero-emission hydrogen coach – which is under development in Ballymena, Northern Ireland – will be added to the Wrightbus coach range within the next 18 months to help drive decarbonisation of the sector.
The low emission Contour has a lead time of just six months from order, which is considerably faster than the current one-to-two-year average wait customers have come to expect from the sector. Featuring a Cummins Euro 6 400BHP X11 engine and a ZF automatic gearbox, the modern-day Contour has been built with comfort in mind, with up to 55 reclining seats – each with its own USB port – alongside other modern safety features. Competitively priced and available with or without PSVAR compliance, there is also the option of the vehicle being ‘pre-prepared’, protecting the vehicle’s ‘second life’ and flexibility.
The coach has a range of bespoke options for customers to choose from and is designed to maximise luggage space and functionality.
It will be supported by a full Wrightbus warranty, alongside an unparalleled service and maintenance package from AllServiceOne, the Wrightbus repair and maintenance arm.
With the largest fleet of mobile technicians throughout the UK and Northern Ireland, AllServiceOne is the ultimate one-stop-shop for fleet support and service.
Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales, said bringing the Contour to market was a pivotal move.
“The coach market has changed over the last few years and it’s the right time for a new player to come to the market.
We have long spoken about broadening our portfolio to offer customers an even greater range of Wrightbus vehicles.
Our first entry into the coach sector after an absence of more than three decades is another significant step in our expansion plans,” said Mr Gales.
“We know there are gaps in the market and the demand for coaches is growing.
This partnership allows us to bring high-quality low-emission vehicles to market almost immediately.
Throughout the process of readying the vehicle for our UK market, we have worked alongside our partner closely to ensure the Contour meets the exacting Wrightbus high quality standards that customers have come to expect.
Our AllServiceOne technicians have embarked on an extensive training programme and have a full working knowledge of the coach to ensure excellent fleet support. “At the same time as the launch of the Contour, our world-leading engineers are continuing to develop our own zero-emission hydrogen coach from our factory in Northern Ireland. We expect the hydrogen coach to be ready for launch in the next 18 months, which is a hugely exciting prospect.” The hydrogen coach concept was first revealed in 2024 as a prototype vehicle.
When launched, it will be a tri-axle hydrogen fuel cell electric coach capable of a 1,000km range, putting it on a par with traditional diesel-fuelled coaches.
These are my thoughts.
The Coach Has A Cummins Engine
Cummins will probably build the engines in their UK factory in Darlington.
Thirty years ago, I did a small data analysis consultancy for Cummins in Darlington and I was impressed by the operation and the company’s attitude.
One of their policies was that if the customer wants a special engine, then the company, is prepared to give the customer what they need.
So you can be sure, that the Cummins X11 engine to be supplied for the Contour coach, will be exactly what Wrightbus want.
The Cummins X15 Engine Is Convertible To A X15 Hydrogen Engine
Some of Cummins diesel engines are convertible to hydrogenfuel, by changing the cylinder head and the fuel system.
This can be done with a Cummins X15 engine and I wouldn’t be surprised if the X11 engine fitted to the Contour coach can be converted to hydrogen.
So an operator can buy a diesel coach and if they need, they could convert it to hydrogen.
USB Ports
This is stated in the press release.
Contour has been built with comfort in mind, with up to 55 reclining seats – each with its own USB port.
When I rode recently in a Irizar coach, there were no USB ports.
There Is A Promised Delivery Time Of Six Months
In the 1990s, I used to part-own a finance company, that leased vehicles.
One of the vehicles we used to loan money for was upmarket coaches like the Wrightbus Contour.
- They were a relatively large loan of about £50,000.
- The borrower was often very reputable with a good credit history.
- The repossession rate was very low.
The press release says, that a two-year delivery time is normal for coaches and, I can remember that we could have financed more coaches, if they had been available.
So it would appear to me, that if Wrightbus can deliver a new coach in six months, they will sell a lot of coaches and I believe from past experience, that finance will be available from trusted sources.
The Hydrogen Coach Will Be A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Tri-Axle Coach
This is stated in the press release.
When launched, it will be a tri-axle hydrogen fuel cell electric coach capable of a 1,000km range, putting it on a par with traditional diesel-fuelled coaches.
I suspect to get the 1,000 km range of the diesel coach and to protect the hydrogen tank, means some extra weight and an extra axle.
But I wouldn’t be surprised to see a reduced range hydrogen coach without the third axle.
Wrightbus Are The Company Who Launched Ballard Hydrogen Fuel Cells In London
I wrote London’s Hydrogen Buses in July 2013 and all Wrightbus buses hydrogen buses have used hydrogen full cells from Ballard Power Systems in Canada.
But there could be a complication in that Cummins make fuel cells in Germany and we are approaching Trumpian Tariff War Territory.
On the other hand in Australian Volgren Rolls Out First Hydrogen Bus Based On Wrightbus Chassis Technology, it shows how Wrightbus are prepared to licence their technology to reputable companies.
So any country, like Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Singapore or the United States, who can build coaches, can licence Wrightbus’s designs and fit the appropriate components to make a complete coach.
Note.
- Wrightbus is owned by the Bamford family, who own JCB.
- Wrightbus have licenced designs to Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore in the past.
- JCB have large manufacturing facilities in India.
I’m certain that the Bamfords and their advisors can work it out!
Norway Drops Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind Plans, Shifts Focus To Floating Wind
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
The Norwegian government has cancelled plans for another fixed-bottom offshore wind tender in the North Sea due to cost concerns, shifting its focus toward developing floating offshore wind projects.
As cost concerns are mentioned in the sub-heading, I suspect that quite a few people are surprised that floating wind is cheaper with all its complications.
But we do know the following.
- Floating wind farms seem to generate electricity with a higher capacity factor.
- Floating wind farms may be cheaper to assemble and service, as this can be carried out in a port with a crane, which may be less susceptible to random disturbance caused by weather.
- Floating wind farms can be placed in deeper waters, which may be better areas for electricity generation.
- Floating wind farms can be placed further out to sea, so Nimbys don’t object to them as much, causing extra costs.
Accountants and financiers will always prefer lower-cost options.
Ørsted’s Earnings from Operational Offshore Wind Farms Up 20 Pct
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Ørsted has reported 2024 earnings from its operational offshore wind farms of DKK 23.8 billion (approximately EUR 3.2 billion), up by 20 per cent compared to 2023.
And this is the introductory paragraph.
The global offshore wind developer said on 6 February the increase was mainly due to the ramp-up of generation at Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind project in Taiwan, South Fork in the US, and Gode Wind 3 in Germany, as well as higher wind speeds, higher pricing of the inflation-indexed CfDs and green certificates. The increase in 2024 was dampened by lower availability, according to the company.
I don’t think Trummkopf would get those sort of returns, if he invested any of his own money in his plan for the “Riviera of the Middle East”.
Although my American friend ; Jack and his family enjoyed themselves in the Lebanon in the 1960s, when he lectured at the American University of Beirut.
On the other hand this article in The Times is entitled Trump’s Gaza Plan Watered Down Amid Backlash From Allies.
Is Internet Security Sometimes Over Secure?
On Friday the 13th December, I received a Purchase Confirmation from eBay by e-mail.
As I get lots of spam e-mails, I decided it was just the usual spam and ignored it.
But then I got thinking.
- I have never bought anything on eBay.
- I sold a lot of surplus things, when I last moved house on eBay and was very satisfied with their service.
- The purchase was for a watch and I don’t wear one.
- It was also an Apple watch and as the company has given me so much grief on their non-standard co9mputer and file formats , when I was a programmer, I never buy or use any Apple products.
- It was also for £650, which is never the sort of sum, I ever would pay for a watch.
So I did all the safety checks on my bank accounts and credit cards and found everything was as it should be.
On the Purchase Confirmation from eBay is a 0204 phone number offering help . So I rang it on the Saturday.
My call was answered by a male operator with a slight accent, but speaking good English.
- After I gave him the Order ID, he said that eBay had closed my account because of inactivity.
- I have since found an e-mail from eBay saying they were closing my account and I remember answering it, but as I felt I didn’t need the account, I took no action.
- The operator, then said that someone had reactivated the account and told me that this needed documents like Council Tax to prove I lived at the house.
- He then asked if anybody lived with me. I told him no, as I’m a widower in perhaps a rather curt manner, as I don’t like being accused of a crime.
- I then realised that this was an inside job, from my experience of working with police forces, banks and consultants in stopping crime.
- I told him my thoughts in a quiet way.
He then said he’d close the account and the conversation ended.
On the Monday, I decided I wanted to go to see the new Northumberland Line on the Wednesday.
- So I decided to book online using Lumo to Newcastle.
- Before entering your bank/credit card number, Lumo ask for your name and address.
- I didn’t get past the name and address entry, probably because, I suspect eBay had put my name and address on a black-list!
In the end, I bought my tickets at the King’s Cross station ticket office using a credit card. At least they were the same as the on-line price.
It was a good trip and I wrote about it in London And Newcastle In A Day By Lumo and My First Trip On The Northumberland Line – 18th December 2024.
Conclusion
I have phoned Lumo, most of my banks and credit cards, Action Fraud, the BBC, the police and I still can’t find out how I get myself off this accursed black-list.
The only good thing, is that I have not had ay money taken out of my bank account.
I have also reported the fraud to the Metropolitan Police and got a crime number for it.
Bord Gáis Energy Acquires Leading Irish Solar PV Installer Swyft Energy
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from Centrica.
This is the sub-heading.
Bord Gáis Energy today announced the acquisition of Swyft Energy, a leading solar PV provider in Ireland for an undisclosed sum.
Note.
- Bord Gáis Energy is a subsidiary of Centrica.
- Swyft Energy has this web site.
These three paragraphs give more details of the acquisition.
Bord Gáis Energy already operates in the solar PV market: directly to residential customers, and through its partnership with Irish Farmer’s Association delivering solar PV to farms across Ireland, helping farmers transition to green energy. The acquisition of Swyft Energy now brings deeper solar PV capability to residential as well as business and farming customers of Bord Gáis Energy, as the company transitions to a green energy business.
Swyft Energy, a technology-led solar PV and boiler installation company, brings over six years of experience in delivering customer-focused solutions using a digital-first platform. This acquisition enhances Bord Gáis Energy’s highly skilled workforce and strengthens its customer proposition.
With a target of 10,000 installations over the next 5 years, this will allow Bord Gáis Energy to compete better for the growing demand for solar energy in residential, commercial and agricultural sectors. Customers can save an average of 50-70% on their electricity bills with the installation of rooftop solar panels.
The deal certainly looks a good fit between two ambitious companies, who are operating in similar areas of the Irish market.
I have my thoughts and observations.
Are Bord Gáis Energy And Swyft Energy Stronger Together?
Do both companies feel, that by working together, they will be stronger from a financial point of view?
It wouldn’t be unusual for this to be a reason behind a deal like this.
Centrica Are Making Lots Of Deals At The Present Time
Centrica are also continuing, the tendency to expand, that they’ve shown in recent weeks.
These are some of the deals I have noted.
- Aberdeen’s Exceed Secures Centrica Rough Contract
- HiiROC Partners With Siemens To Boost Clean Hydrogen Production
- Centrica Strikes 200MW Lithuanian Green Power Deal
- Centrica And Coterra Energy Announce Natural Gas Sale And Purchase Agreements
- Centrica And European Energy Sign Agreement On Måde Green Hydrogen Facility
- Recurrent Energy’s Middle Road Project Sold To Centrica
- Team GB And ParalympicsGB Athletes Find New Career Pathway At Centrica
- UK Infrastructure Bank, Centrica & Partners Invest £300M in Highview Power Clean Energy Storage Programme To Boost UK’s Energy Security
Centrica certainly have been busy expanding.
Energy Storage In The Island Of Ireland
It is generally accepted, that if you have a lot of renewable energy, then you need a lot of energy storage, to bridge the gaps in wind and solar.
In the Wikipedia entry for Energy In Ireland, there is a section called Energy Storage.
It seems to me, that Ireland could be short on energy storage, so is it likely that the enlarged Bord Gáis Energy will look for possibilities for energy storage.
Recently, Centrica formed a business relationship with Highview Power, who are developing environmentally-friendly liquid-air batteries. These smaller and more affordable batteries might be suitable for the island of Ireland.
Conclusion
There’s more to this deal, than at first meets the eye.
Porterbrook Raises £250m Of New Green Private Placements
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the sub-heading.
Porterbrook, the UK’s leading rolling stock financier and asset management company, is delighted to announce the successful closing of its £250m Private Placement.
These are the first two paragraphs.
The transaction, which includes existing and new investors, has enabled the company to extend its debt maturity profile at attractive pricing and further diversify its investor base of US, UK and Swiss institutions.
Porterbrook owns a quarter of the national passenger rail fleet, and in recent years has significantly diversified its portfolio including taking ownership of the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre in Warwickshire, confirming a 49% stake in Brodie Engineering in Kilmarnock, and financing the redevelopment of Bletchley Depot for West Midland Trains.
We must be doing something right on the railways, if US, UK and Swiss institutions are prepared to back them financially.
But then Aviva, who were formerly Norwich Union, backed Greater Anglia’s new Swiss trains.
Conclusion
Despite what some might think, it would appear that green investments aren’t all bad.
SSE Launches £10m Hydro Community Benefit Fund
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Project Scotland.
This is the sub-heading.
SSE has launched a new £10 million hydro community benefit fund aimed at supporting projects within areas that host its existing hydro power infrastructure across Scotland.
These paragraphs fill in some detail.
The launch comes following the 80th anniversary of the hydro-electric development (Scotland) act of 1943, which enabled the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board (NoSHEB) to transform the way people lived and worked through the build of 54 power stations, 78 dams, and over 300km of underground tunnels.
SSE Renewables recently commissioned a report by Biggar Economics which found that the capital investment in hydro over the 80-year period since 1943 is £7.5 billion, supporting over 10,000 jobs annually in Scotland including 5,519 in the Highlands and Islands.
The new hydro community fund will see investment in local communities continue, with SSE Renewables having consulted with community council areas to establish key priorities.
Priorities include improvements to sustainable community transport, affordable housing, growth of small businesses and social enterprises, improvement of community assets and infrastructure, and a focus on community physical and mental well-being through community arts, culture, sports, and recreation.
If the new fund is as successful as the first, I can’t see thee being many complaints.
UK To Fund Hydro Energy Storage Projects
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
New infrastructure aims to help balance the electricity system after the rapid growth in renewables
These three paragraphs infrastructure the article.
Projects that use water to store and release energy are to be given government support, in an attempt to help manage the volatility in supply and demand as more green power enters the grid.
From next year, pumped hydro storage projects will be able to apply for government subsidies, which will be provided via a “cap and floor” mechanism. These would guarantee revenues if prices drop below a certain floor but prevent providers from charging above a ceiling when power prices are high.
Like other government support schemes, any cost will be levied on energy bills, while consumers will be paid back any money generated above the cap. It is yet to be decided precisely how the cap and floor will be set.
I feel it is reasonable to expect the system to be a success, as a similar system is used for interconnectors and this article on Offshore Energy is entitled Over $86 million To Be Split Between UK and Belgium Consumers As 1 GW Subsea Interconnector’s ‘Remarkable’ Revenues Exceed Ofgem’s Cap.
It looks like Ofgem played this right for interconnectors and the Nemo Link is making a substantial payment.
It will be interesting to see what happens when “cap and floor” contracts are assigned.
This move by Ofgem will probably have effects in two areas.
- SSE, Statera and Statkraft, who are typically developing systems at the high end with a size of about 1.5 GW/25 GWh could find money is easier to come by.
- At the lower end, companies like Highview Power, who have systems of 50 MW/300 MWh and 200 MW/2.5 GWh under development, will also benefit.
My Control Engineering thoughts are leaning towards the 200 MW/2.5 GWh systems being the popular ones. Especially as they would appear to be close to the right size to support a 1 GW wind farm for two hours.
A Highview Power Two-Hour Liquid Air Battery could fit nearly with a fleet of Two-Hour BESS.
It should be noted that CAF use a little-and-large approach to theit battery-electric trams in the West Midlands.
A large lithium-ion battery is the main storage device.
A supercapacitor handles the high-frequency response and keeps the power steady.
Pairing a Highview Power Two-Hour Liquid Air Battery and a Two-Hour BESS could achieve the same performance and possibly result in some cost savings.
Equinor Acquires Minority Stake In Ørsted, Becomes Second-Largest Shareholder
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Norway-headquartered Equinor has acquired a 9.8 per cent minority stake in Denmark’s Ørsted, making it the second-largest shareholder behind the Danish state, which holds a controlling stake in the company.
These are the first two paragraphs.
According to Equinor, the company is supportive of Ørsted’s strategy and management and is not seeking board representation.
“Equinor has a long-term perspective and will be a supportive owner in Ørsted. This is a counter-cyclical investment in a leading developer, and a premium portfolio of operating offshore wind assets”, said Anders Opedal, CEO of Equinor.
Could it also be two Scandinavian companies getting together to put up a stronger front to outside interests?
Are they frightened of the actions that might be taken by Great British Energy and by the Germans with their massive thirst for hydrogen?
The Anonymous Widower 