The Anonymous Widower

Great Yarmouth Terminal Set For Redevelopment Under Port Of East Anglia Name

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

The UK’s Peel Ports Group has decided to invest a further GBP 10 million (approximately EUR 11.3 million) into its Great Yarmouth site, which is being rebranded as the Port of East Anglia.

These four paragraphs add details to the story.

The newly announced GBP 10 million brings this year’s total investment to GBP 70 million across the site and will be used to redevelop the port’s Northern Terminal, helping to accommodate the next generation of offshore wind projects across the region, according to Peel Ports.

Earlier this year, a substantial investment into its Southern Terminal was announced by the port, which has earmarked GBP 60 million to transform capacity and improve efficiencies.

This involves ensuring the port can support multiple hydrogen, carbon capture, offshore wind, and nuclear projects for decades to come.

Its existing terminals service a variety of construction customers, including infrastructure projects such as Sizewell C and offshore energy projects based in the southern North Sea.

Note.

  1. In Yarmouth Harbour To Be ‘Completed’ In £60m Project, I talk about the work to be done on the Southern Terminal.
  2. The work on the Southern Terminal includes a roll-on roll-off (RORO) lift ramp and a large storage area.
  3. Start on the work on the Southern Terminal will start in 2026.

With all the construction work mentioned in the last two paragraphs, I suspect that the Port of Great Yarmouth will be busy?

These are some further thoughts.

Why Is The Port Of Great Yarmouth Being Renamed?

The article says this.

The new name, which will come into effect in early 2026, also aligns with the creation of a new combined authority for Suffolk and Norfolk, according to Peel Ports.

Peel Ports name change is fairly sensible, but as I was conceived in Suffolk and I’m an Ipswich Town supporter, I don’t feel that the two counties should be merged.

 

Does The Mention Of Hydrogen Mean That The Port Of Great Yarmouth Will Be Hosting A Hydrogen Electrolyser, To Fuel Trucks And Ships?

I asked Google AI, “If A Hydrogen Electrolyser is To Be Built In The Port Of Great Yarmouth?”, and received this answer.

While there are no current public plans for an immediate construction of a large-scale hydrogen electrolyser within the Port of Great Yarmouth, significant port expansion and infrastructure upgrades are underway to ensure it can support future hydrogen projects and related clean energy initiatives.

Note.

  1. If technology to handle hydrogen, is copied from North Sea gas, there is certainly a lot of proven technology that can be used again.
  2. There may even be depleted gas fields, where captured carbon dioxide, hydrogen or North Sea gas can be stored.

I find the most exciting thing, would be to send hydrogen to Germany.

Why Would Anybody Export Hydrogen To Germany?

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this section and received this answer.

Countries would export hydrogen to Germany because Germany has a large, growing demand for hydrogen to power its heavily industrialised economy and achieve its decarbonisation goals, but lacks sufficient domestic renewable energy capacity to produce the required amounts.

Germany also, uses a lot of bloodstained Russian gas and indigenous polluting coal.

How Could Anybody Export Hydrogen To Germany?

  1. Wilhelmshaven is one of the main import ports for hydrogen in North West Germany.
  2. Great Yarmouth is probably the closest larger port to Germany.
  3. Great Yarmouth and Wilhelmshaven are probably about 300 miles apart, by the shortest route.
  4. Great Yarmouth would need to build infrastructure to export hydrogen.

The easiest way to transport the hydrogen from Great Yarmouth to Wilhelmshaven, is probably to use a gas tanker built especially for the route.

This Google Map shows the route between Great Yarmouth and Wilhelmshaven.

 

Note.

  1. The North-East corner of East Anglia with Great Yarmouth to the North of Lowestoft, is in the bottom-left corner of the map.
  2. Wilhelmshaven is a few miles inland in the top-right corner of the map.
  3. Could a coastal tanker go along the Dutch and German coasts to Wilhelmshaven?

I have no skills in boats, but would Great Yarmouth to Wilhelmshaven to take hydrogen to Germany?

RWE Are Developing Three Wind Farms To The North-East of Great Yarmouth

RWE are a large German Electricity company and the UK’s largest generator of electricity.

The company is developing three wind farms to the North-East of Great Yarmouth.

  • Norfolk Boreas – 1.2 GW – 45 miles offshore
  • Norfolk Vanguard West – 1.2 GW – 29 miles offshore
  • Norfolk Vanguard East – 1.2 GW – 28 miles offshore

Note.

  1. The electricity for all three wind farms is to be brought ashore at Happisburgh South, which is about 22 miles North of Great Yarmouth.
  2. The original plan was to take the electricity halfway across Norfolk to the Necton substation to connect to the grid.
  3. The natives will not be happy about a 4.2 GW overhead line between Happisburgh and Necton.
  4. RWE have built offshore electrolysers before in German waters.
  5. Could an electrical cable or a hydrogen pipe be laid in the sea between Happisburgh South and the Port of Great Yarmouth?
  6. The electrolyser could either be offshore at Happisburgh or onshore in the Port of Great Yarmouth.

As I don’t suspect these three wind farms will be the last connected to the Port of Great Yarmouth, I would expect that RWE will put the electrolyser offshore at Happisburgh  and connect it by a hydrogen pipeline to the Port of Great Yarmouth.

Could There Be A Connection To The Bacton Gas Terminal?

Consider.

The Bacton Gas Terminal, which feeds gas into the UK Gas Network, is only 4.2 miles up the coast from Happisburgh South.

Some climate scientists advocate blending hydrogen into the gas supply to reduce carbon emissions.

In Better Than A Kick In The Teeth – As C Would Say!, I disclosed that I now have a new hydrogen-ready boiler, so I’m not bothered, if I get changed to a hydrogen blend.

So could hydrogen from the Norfolk wind farms be fed into the grid to reduce carbon emissions?

Could The Port Of Great Yarmouth Become A Hydrogen Distribution Centre?

Thinking about it, the port could also become a distribution centre for green hydrogen.

Consider.

  • Hydrogen-powered ships, tugs and workboats could be refuelled.
  • Hydrogen-powered trucks could also be refuelled.
  • Tanker-trucks could distribute hydrogen, to truck and bus operators, farms and factories, that need it for their transport and operations.
  • I believe, that construction equipment will be increasingly hydrogen-powered.

In my life, I have lived at times in two country houses, that were heated by propane and there are about 200,000 off-grid houses in the UK, that are heated this way.

The two houses, where I lived would have been a nightmare to convert to heat pumps, but it would have been very easy to convert them to a hydrogen boiler and power it from a tank in the garden.

It should be noted, that the new boiler in my house in London is hydrogen-ready.

So the Port of Great Yarmouth could be the major centre for hydrogen distribution in Norfolk.

In the 1960s, I used to work in ICI’s hydrogen plant at Runcorn. If you ride in a hydrogen bus in England, it is likely that the hydrogen came from the same plant. Handled correctly, hydrogen is no less safe and reliable than natural gas or propane.

 

 

 

 

October 31, 2025 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Energy Storage | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Leads Multi-Million-Pound Micromobility Research Project

The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from the Advanced Propulsion Centre.

These five paragraphs introduce the project.

he Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) has announced the latest project funded through the UK Government’s DRIVE35 Collaborate programme.

Toyota will lead a consortium to research and develop a new lightweight battery electric vehicle in Derbyshire.

The project aims to meet the evolving needs of urban populations while accelerating the shift to zero tailpipe emission transport by validating a novel, lightweight battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the L6e category.

Underlining Toyota’s commitment to investing in the UK’s R&D capabilities, it will be manufactured at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s (TMUK) Burnaston site.

The vehicle addresses the growing demand for sustainable micro-mobility solutions and includes an integrated solar roof, increased connectivity, and lightweight sustainable materials supporting recovery and recycling.

Note.

  1. The vehicle will be light in weight.
  2. Toyota is investing in UK R & D.
  3. The vehicle will be built in Derbyshire at Burnaston.

I asked Google AI, what is an L6e Car and received this reply.

An L6e car is a light quadricycle in the EU vehicle classification system, defined as a light, four-wheeled vehicle with a maximum speed of 45 kph}) (28 mph)) and an unladen mass of no more than 425 kg. (excluding batteries for electric versions). It can be powered by small internal combustion engines or electric motors, and vehicles in this category are often used for urban commuting or small delivery tasks.

Note.

  1. Sir Alec Issigonis’s famous ADO15 Mini, which was launched in 1962, weighed 580 Kg, seated four and had an initial top speed of 75 mph.
  2. Sir Alec also designed racing cars and high performance Mini Coopers.
  3. Another partner in the project specialises in urban delivery vehicles.

 

I always wonder what sort of electric vehicle, the great car designer would have designed.

These are some further thoughts.

Do Toyota Build Microcars In Japan?

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this section and received this answer.

Yes, Toyota builds microcars in Japan, and the Toyota C+pod is one example. While Toyota previously focused on larger vehicles, it now manufactures ultra-compact electric vehicles like the C+pod for the Japanese market to meet customer demand for small city cars.

The Toyota C+Pod has this Wikipedia entry, which gives these details.

  • Two seats.
  • 9.2 KW electric motor.
  • 670-690 Kg weight.
  • 37 mph.
  • 93 mile range.
  • The car has air conditioning, air-bags and heated seats.

The number of seats, speed and range would appear to be ideal for a city-car.

Could The Vehicle Be Hydrogen Powered?

I asked Google AI, if small lightweight hydrogen fuel cells exist and received this answer.

Yes, small, lightweight hydrogen fuel cells do exist and are commercially available for various applications, ranging from educational kits to power sources for drones and portable electronics.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the project needed a hydrogen fuel cell of a particular weight, size and power, someone could built it, by scaling an existing design.

Could The Vehicles Be Self Driving?

Not probably now, but as the technology gets more sophisticated, I suspect that it will happen.

Could The Vehicles Replace The Invacar?

This article in The Times is entitled Bring Back Three-Wheeled Cars For Disabled Drivers, Reform Urges.

I would expect that, if Toyota, the Advanced Propulsion Centre and their partners did a comprehensive job, then Toyota’s new car could serve the same purpose as an Invacar, much better in a zero-carbon manner.

There Is This Video Of A Toyota C-Pod.

Conclusion

I believe this project could come up with something special.

October 31, 2025 Posted by | Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beaulieu Park Station – 30th October 2025

I went to Beaulieu Park station this morning and took these pictures.

Note.

October 30, 2025 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , | Leave a comment

FIRST TO THE FUTURE: Lumo Owner Bids To Turbo-Charge UK Rail With New Routes

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from First Group.

These first three paragraphs introduce FirstGroup’s application for the first phase of three separate applications to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for new and extended open access rail services.

FirstGroup plc plans to expand its open access rail operations through its successful Lumo business, boosting connectivity, improving UK productivity and passenger choice across the UK.

The expansion aims to replicate the success of Lumo’s Edinburgh to London service in driving material growth on the East Coast Main Line. Lumo operates without government subsidy and contributes more per train mile to infrastructure investment than any other long-distance operator – delivering growth on the railway and connectivity to local communities, at a substantial benefit to the taxpayer.

FirstGroup has submitted the first phase of three separate applications to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for new and extended open access rail services, which are described in these bullet points.

  • A revised application to run new services between Rochdale and London Euston via Manchester Victoria from December 2028; 
  • An extension to Lumo’s current Stirling to London Euston track access agreement to operate services beyond 2030;
  • A new route between Cardiff and York via Birmingham, Derby, and Sheffield from December 2028; and
  • Purchase of new trains meaning continued investment in UK manufacturing of c.£300 million, and long-term jobs.

This paragraph from the press release describes the philosophy of the rolling stock.

Should these applications be successful, FirstGroup will make use of its option to commit further investment in new Hitachi trains built in County Durham. This investment will include five battery electric trains for the Stirling route and three battery electric trains for Rochdale, supporting jobs at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe plant. For the services between Cardiff and York, it will deploy refurbished Class 222s.

Note.

  1. The Class 222 trains will run the Euston and Stirling service until the future Hitachi trains are delivered in 2028.
  2. The Class 222 trains will run the Cardiff and York service from 2028.
  3. The Class 222 trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph
  4. Avanti West Coast’s Class 390 trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph.
  5. Avanti West Coast’s Class 805 trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph on electrification.
  6. Avanti West Coast’s Class 807 trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph.
  7. Grand Central Trains’s future Hitachi trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph.
  8. Hull Trains’s Class 802 trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph.
  9. Lumo’s current Class 803 trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph.
  10. LNER’s current Class 800 and 801 trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph.
  11. LNER’s current InterCity 225 trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph.
  12. LNER’s future Class 897 trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph.
  13. All of the trains, with the exception of the Class 222 trains are electric and have been designed for 140 mph running and can do this if there is appropriate 140 mph signalling.

If the Class 222 trains don’t run on the East and West Coast Main Lines, then these lines could introduce 140 mph running in stages to speed up rail travel between London and the North of England and Scotland.

Rochdale And London

These three paragraphs from the press release describe the proposed Rochdale and London service.

The new Lumo service will operate the first direct service since 2000 between Rochdale and London. Services will call at Manchester Victoria, Eccles, Newton-le-Willows and Warrington Bank Quay. Eccles station connects other parts of the city of Salford, including the fast-growing MediaCity area, via the nearby interchange with Metrolink. Services to Newton-le-Willows will deliver greater rail connectivity for St Helens.

There will be three new return services on weekdays and Sundays, and four return services on Saturdays, which will provide 1.6 million people in the north-west with a convenient and competitively priced direct rail service to London, encouraging people to switch from cars to train as well as providing additional rail capacity. It will also deliver material economic benefits for the communities along the route, including regeneration areas such as Atom Valley and the Liverpool City Region Freeport scheme.

The application has been revised to address the ORR’s concerns about network capacity set out in its letter of July 2025 rejecting FirstGroup’s original application. Supported by extensive modelling, the company has identified sufficient space on the network to accommodate the proposed services. Services will also make use of the Government’s recent investment in power supply for the West Coast Mainline (WCML).

In FirstGroup’s Lumo Seeks To Launch Rochdale – London Open Access Service, I gave my thoughts for Lumo’s application last year.

Differences between the two applications include.

  • The service will be run by Lumo’s standard battery-electric Hitachi trains.
  • The original application was for six return journeys per day, whereas the new application is for three return services on weekdays and Sundays, and four return services on Saturdays.

Note.

  1. The battery-electric trains will be able bridge the 10.4 mile gap between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale, and return after charging on the West Coast Main Line.
  2. The battery-electric trains could be useful during engineering works or other disruptions.
  3. The trains would be ready for 140 mph running on the West Coast Main Line, when the digital signalling is installed.
  4. Is the extra return service on a Saturday to cater for football and rugby fans?

I still feel, that with Lumo’s battery-electric trains one or more services could extend across the Pennines to Hebden Bridge, Bradford Interchange or Leeds. Trains would be recharged for return at Leeds.

Stirling And London

This  paragraph from the press release describes the proposed Stirling and London service.

Stirling has a wide catchment area, with an estimated three million people living within an hour’s drive. Extending the current track access agreement for the Stirling route from May 2030 will support the shift from car to rail, and investment in the city, as well as in the service’s intermediate stations which include Larbert, Greenfaulds and Whifflet, thanks to greater connectivity to London. The four return services weekdays and Saturdays, and three on Sundays, on the new route are expected to start early in the company’s 2027 financial year.

In Lumo To Expand Scotland’s Rail Network With New London-Stirling Rail Route From Spring 2026, I gave my thoughts for Lumo’s application in June 2025.

Differences between the two applications include.

  • The service will only be run initially by Class 222 trains.
  • The service will be run by Lumo’s standard battery-electric Hitachi trains after 2028.
  • The original application was for five return journeys per day, whereas the new application is for four return services on weekdays and Saturdays, and three return services on Sundays.
  • In the original application, Lumo’s new route was to link London Euston directly to Stirling, also calling at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet (serving Coatbridge), Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld) and Larbert.

Note.

  1. The battery-electric trains could be useful during engineering works or other disruptions.
  2. The trains would be ready for 140 mph running on the West Coast Main Line, when the digital signalling is installed.
  3. Is the extra return service on a Saturday to cater for football and rugby fans?

It should be noted that there are always more return services per day going to Stirling, than Rochdale.

Could The Rochdale and Stirling Services Share A Path?

Consider.

  • The two services use the West Coast Main Line South of Warrington Bank Quay station.
  • Pairs of Class 803 trains can split and join.
  • A pair of Class 803 trains are shorter than an 11-car Class 390 train.
  • An 11-car Class 390 train can call in Warrington Bank Quay or Crewe stations.

I believe that the Rochdale and Stiring services could share a path.

  • One Weekday service per day would be a single train.
  • Going South, the trains would join at Warrington Bank Quay or Crewe stations.
  • Going North, the trains would split at Warrington Bank Quay or Crewe stations.
  • The pair of trains would share a platform at Euston station.

Operating like this would increase the connectivity and attractiveness of the services, and probably increase the ridership and profitability.

Cardiff And York  via Birmingham, Derby And Sheffield

These four paragraphs from the press release describe the proposed Cardiff and York service.

Lumo’s new route between Cardiff and York will join up the entire Great British Railway network, connecting all four main lines from the Great Western Main Line to the East Coast Main Line. The plans will also deliver more capacity and drive passenger demand on a previously underserved corridor.

The application proposes six return services each weekday – a significant increase from the current single weekly service.

Bringing Lumo’s popular low-cost model to the corridor will support local communities between Cardiff, Birmingham, Derby, Sheffield, and York. These cities alone have a combined population of more than 2.5 million people. The new services will give local communities access to jobs and services along the route, in support of significant investment that has already been committed by the Government and private sector. This investment includes the Cardiff Capital Regional Investment Zone, the £140million proposed refurbishment at Cardiff Central station, the West Midlands Investment Zone which is expected to create £5.5 billion of growth and 30,000 new jobs, as well as investment plans in Derby, Sheffield and York.

The ORR will now carry out a consultation exercise as well as discuss the applications with Network Rail to secure the required approvals.

Note.

  1. Only minimal details are given of the route.
  2. The TransPennine Upgrade will create a new electrified route across the Pennines between York and Huddersfield via Church Fenton, Leeds and Dewsbury.
  3. The Penistone Line is being upgraded, so that it will handle two trains per hour.
  4. In the 1980s, the Penistone Line took InterCity 125s to Barnsley.
  5. The connection with the Penistone Line at Huddersfield has been upgraded.

I am reasonably certain, that FirstGroup intend to route the York and Cardiff service over this partially electrified route.

Sections of the route will be as follows.

  • Cardiff and Westerleigh junction – 38 miles – Electrified
  • Westerleigh junction and Bromsgrove – 65.2 miles – Not Electrified
  • Bromsgrove and Proof House junction – 15 miles – Electrified
  • Proof House junction and Derby – 40.6 miles – Not Electrified
  • Derby and Sheffield – 36.4 miles – Not Electrified
  • Sheffield and Huddersfield – 36.4 miles – Not Electrified
  • Huddersfield and York – 41.9 miles – Electrified

There are only two sections of track, that is not electrified.

  • Westerleigh junction and Bromsgrove – 65.2 miles
  • Proof House junction and Huddersfield – 113.4 miles

Out of a total of 273.5 miles, I believe in a few years, with a small amount of extra electrification or more powerful batteries, Hitachi’s battery-electric high-speed trains will have this route cracked and the Class 222 trains can be sent elsewhere to develop another route.

October 30, 2025 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rolls-Royce Successfully Tests First Pure Methanol Marine Engine – Milestone For More Climate-Friendly Propulsion Solutions

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Rolls-Royce.

These four bullet points act as sub-headings.

  • World first: first high-speed 100 percent methanol engine for ships successfully tested
  • Cooperation: Rolls-Royce, Woodward L’Orange and WTZ Roßlau are developing sustainable propulsion technology in the meOHmare research project
  • Green methanol: CO2-neutral, clean and safe marine fuel
  • Dual-fuel engines as a bridging technology on the road to climate neutrality

Rolls-Royce has successfully tested the world’s first high-speed marine engine powered exclusively by methanol on its test bench in Friedrichshafen. Together with their partners in the meOHmare research project, Rolls-Royce engineers have thus reached an important milestone on the road to climate-neutral and environmentally friendly propulsion solutions for shipping.

“This is a genuine world first,” said Dr. Jörg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG. “To date, there is no other high-speed engine in this performance class that runs purely on methanol. We are investing specifically in future technologies in order to open up efficient ways for our customers to reduce CO2 emissions and further expand our leading role in sustainable propulsion systems.”

Rolls-Royce’s goal is to offer customers efficient ways to reduce their CO2 emissions, in-line with the ‘lower carbon’ strategic pillar of its multi-year transformation programme. The project also aligns with the strategic initiative in Power Systems to grow its marine business.

These are some questions.

Why Methanol?

Rolls-Royce answer this question in the press release.

Green methanol is considered one of the most promising alternative fuels for shipping. If it is produced using electricity from renewable energies in a power-to-X process, its operation is CO2-neutral. Compared to other sustainable fuels, methanol is easy to store, biodegradable, and causes significantly fewer pollutants.

“For us, methanol is the fuel of the future in shipping – clean, efficient, and climate-friendly. It burns with significantly lower emissions than fossil fuels and has a high energy density compared to other sustainable energy sources,” said Denise Kurtulus.

Note that Denise Kurtulus is Senior Vice President Global Marine at Rolls-Royce.

Could Methanol-Powered Engines Be Used In Railway Locomotives?

Given, there are hundreds of railway locomotives, that need to be decarbonised, could this be handled by a change of fuel to methanol?

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this section and received the following answer.

Yes, methanol-powered engines can be used in railway locomotives, but they require a modification like high-pressure direct injection (HPDI) technology to be used in traditional compression ignition (CI) diesel engines. These modified engines typically use methanol as the primary fuel with a small amount of diesel injected to act as a pilot fuel for ignition, a process known as “pilot ignition”. Research and simulations have shown that this approach can achieve performance and thermal efficiencies close to those of standard diesel engines

From the bullet points of this article, it looks like Rolls-Royce have this pilot ignition route covered.

How Easy Is Methanol To Handle?

Google AI gave this answer to the question in the title of this section.

Methanol is not easy to handle safely because it is a highly flammable, toxic liquid that can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or ingested. It requires rigorous safety measures, proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and good ventilation to mitigate risks like fire, explosion, and severe health consequences, including blindness or death.

It sounds that it can be a bit tricky, but then I believe with the right training much more dangerous chemicals than methanol can be safety handled.

How Easy Is Green Methanol To Produce?

Google AI gave this answer to the question in the title of this section.

Producing green methanol is not easy; it is currently more expensive and capital-intensive than traditional methods due to high production costs, feedstock constraints, and the need for specialized infrastructure. However, new technologies are making it more feasible, with methods that combine renewable energy with captured carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen to synthesize methanol.

Production methods certainly appear to be getting better and greener.

Which Companies Produce Methanol In The UK?

Google AI gave this answer to the question in the title of this section.

While there are no major, existing methanol production companies in the UK, Proman is planning to build a green methanol plant in the Scottish Highlands, and other companies like Wood PLC and HyOrc are involved in the engineering and construction of methanol production facilities in the UK. Several UK-based companies also act as distributors or suppliers for products, such as Brenntag, Sunoco (via the Anglo American Oil Company), and JennyChem.

It does appear, that we have the capability to build methanol plants and supply the fuel.

How Is Green Methanol Produced?

Google AI gave this answer to the question in the title of this section.

Green methanol is produced by combining carbon dioxide  and hydrogen under heat and pressure, where the hydrogen is created using renewable electricity and the carbon dioxide is captured from sustainable sources like biomass or industrial emissions. Two main pathways exist e-methanol uses green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, while biomethanol is made from the gasification of biomass and other organic waste. 

Note.

  1. We are extremely good at producing renewable electricity in the UK.
  2. In Rolls-Royce To Be A Partner In Zero-Carbon Gas-Fired Power Station In Rhodesia, I discuss how carbon dioxide is captured from a power station in Rhodesia, which is a suburb of Worksop.

In the Rhodesia application, we have a Rolls-Royce mtu engine running with carbon-capture in a zero-carbon manner, producing electricity and food-grade carbon-dioxide, some of which could be used to make methanol to power the Rolls-Royce mtu engines in a marine application.

I am absolutely sure, that if we need green methanol to power ships, railway locomotives  and other machines currently powered by large diesel engines, we will find the methods to make it.

What Are The Green Alternatives To Methanol For Ships?

This press release from Centrica is entitled Investment in Grain LNG, and it gives hints as to their plans for the future.

This heading is labelled as one of the key highlights.

Opportunities for efficiencies to create additional near-term value, and future development options including a combined heat and power plant, bunkering, hydrogen and ammonia.

Bunkering is defined in the first three paragraphs of its Wikipedia entry like this.

Bunkering is the supplying of fuel for use by ships (such fuel is referred to as bunker), including the logistics of loading and distributing the fuel among available shipboard tanks. A person dealing in trade of bunker (fuel) is called a bunker trader.

The term bunkering originated in the days of steamships, when coal was stored in bunkers. Nowadays, the term bunker is generally applied to the petroleum products stored in tanks, and bunkering to the practice and business of refueling ships. Bunkering operations take place at seaports and include the storage and provision of the bunker (ship fuels) to vessels.

The Port of Singapore is currently the largest bunkering port in the world. In 2023, Singapore recorded bunker fuel sales volume totaling 51,824,000 tonnes, setting a new industry standard.

Note.

  1. After Rolls-Royce’s press release, I suspect that methanol should be added to hydrogen and ammonia.
  2. I don’t think Centrica will be bothered to supply another zero-carbon fuel.
  3. I can see the Isle of Grain providing a lot of fuel to ships as they pass into London and through the English Channel.
  4. Centrica have backed HiiROC technology, that makes hydrogen efficiently.

I can see the four fuels ammonia, hydrogen, LNG and methanol competing with each other.

What Are The Green Alternatives To Methanol For Railway Locomotives?

The same fuels will be competing in the market and also Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) will be used.

October 28, 2025 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Quick High-Fibre Meal

I have been told that because of my uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, I should try to stick to a high-fibre diet.

So how about beans on toast followed by strawberries?

Note.

  1. I use Heinz Snap Pots as it cuts the washing up.
  2. The beans had 7.4 g. of fibre.
  3. The bread had 5.25 g. of fibre.
  4. The yoghurt had  <0.5g. of fibre.
  5. The strawberries had 9.5 g. fibre.
  6. That is a total of 22.2 g. of fibre.

I used a teaspoon to stir the beans, but then I use a lot of teaspoons, when I’m cooking.

October 27, 2025 Posted by | Food, Health | , , , , | Leave a comment

I’ve Just Had An MRI Scan And I’ve Got A Pain In My Foot

I will try and use the AI functions of Google to make some sense of the title of this post.

These are the questions I asked.

Why Is My Left Foot Painful After An MRI Scan Of My Brain?

Google gave this AI Overview.

A foot pain after a brain MRI is likely unrelated to the scan itself. MRI scans are not known to cause pain in extremities, though some patients may experience temporary discomfort from having to lie still for an extended period. It’s more probable that the pain is coincidental, or due to another underlying issue unrelated to the MRI, such as a pre-existing condition or new injury.

Note.

  1. It is a hot day.
  2. I did a fair bit of walking to get to and from the MRI Scan.
  3. I don’t think it was lying still for an extended period.
  4. I felt a bit dehydrated after the scan.

Overall, my left foot is occasionally in pain and red. Certainly more often than my right! It doesn’t appear to be red today.

Can An MRI Scan Make You Dehydrated?

Google gave this AI Overview.

While MRI scans themselves don’t cause dehydration, staying well-hydrated is important, especially if contrast dye is used. Drinking plenty of fluids after an MRI with contrast helps flush the dye out of your system. Though dehydration can occur naturally, it’s not a direct effect of the MRI itself.

I didn’t have any dye.

But I was desperate for a drink, so I went into the first cafe, that I passed and had a coffee and cake.

Can An MRI Scan Stimulate Blood Flow?

Google gave this AI Overview.

While MRI machines don’t directly stimulate blood flow in the sense of causing it to increase, they can visualize and measure blood flow. Functional MRI (fMRI) specifically detects changes in blood flow related to brain activity as the brain uses more oxygen in active areas, leading to increased blood flow to those areas. Standard MRI can also be used to visualize blood vessels and assess blood flow, but it doesn’t directly cause the flow to change.

As I have now changed my shoes and socks to my slippers and the pain has disappeared, I suspect it was the new shoes.

I wrote this post, to show the quality of the answers of artificial intelligence to simple medical questions.

From my knowledge of data analysis, I suspect there’s much more to come with medical diagnosis using AI. Especially, if you login to a medical diagnosis computer system, that has details of your medical history.

I always remember my first B12 injection, after I had been diagnosed with coeliac disease.

October 27, 2025 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Health | , | Leave a comment

UK’s Largest Solar Plant Cleve Hill Supplying Full Power To The Grid

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Solar Power Portal.

This is the sub-heading.

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has completed construction and started commercial operations of the 373MW Cleve Hill Solar Park, now the largest operational in the UK.

Note.

  1. According to Quinbrook, during the commissioning phase in May, electricity exports from Cleve Hill peaked at a level equivalent to 0.7% of the UK’s national power demand.
  2. Construction of the 373 MW solar project began in 2023, and Quinbrook said construction is now underway on a 150 MW co-located battery energy storage system (BESS).
  3. The gas-fired power stations at Coolkeeragh, Corby, Enfield, Great Yarmouth and Shoreham are all around 410-420 MW for comparison.
  4. On completion of the BESS, Cleve Hill will go from the largest solar plant in the UK to the largest co-located solar plus storage project constructed in the UK.
  5. The solar and storage plant was the first solar power project to be consented as a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) and is supported by the largest solar + BESS project financing undertaken in the UK.

This Google Map shows the location of the solar farm with respect to Faversham.

Note.

The town of Faversham to the left of the middle of the map.

Faversham station has the usual railway station logo.

The North Kent coast is at the top of the map.

Cleve Hill Solar Park is on the coast to the East of the River  Swale.

This second Google Map shows a close up of the solar farm.

Note.

  1. The large number of solar panels.
  2. The North Kent coast is at the top of the map.
  3. The River Swale in the South-West corner of the map.
  4. It appears that Cleve Hill substation is at the right edge of the map.
  5. The boxes at the left of the substation appear to be the batteries.
  6. The 630 MW London Array wind farm, which has been operational since 2013, also connects to the grid at Cleeve Hill substation.
  7. When completed, the London Array was the largest offshore wind farm in the world.

As a Control Engineer, I do like these Battery+Solar+Wind power stations, as they probably provide at least a reliable 500 MW electricity supply.

Could A System Like Cleeve Hill Solar Park Replace A 410 MW Gas-Fired Power Station?

The three elements of Cleeve Hill are as follows.

  • Solar Farm – 373 MW
  • BESS – 150 MW
  • Wind Farm – 630 MW

That is a total of only 1,153 MW, which means a capacity factor of only 35.6 % would be needed.

How Much Power Does A Large Solar Roof Generate?

Some people don’t like solar panels on farmland, so how much energy  do solar panels on a warehouse roof generate?

This Google Map shows Amazon’s warehouse at Tilbury.

I asked Google AI to tell me about Amazon’s solar roof at Tilbury and it said this.

Amazon’s solar roof at the Tilbury fulfillment center is the largest rooftop solar installation at any Amazon site in Europe, featuring 11,500 panels across the two-million-square-foot roof. Unveiled in 2020, it is part of Amazon’s larger goal to power its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 and reduce its emissions, contributing to its Climate Pledge to be net-zero carbon by 2040.

It generates 3.4 MW, which is less that one percent of Cleeve Hill Solar Park.

 

 

October 27, 2025 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Energy Storage | , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Do Dry Eyes Make It Difficult To See?

My first eye test was performed by a friend’s father in a shed in his garden.

But he was a retired senior eye surgeon from Ipswich Hospital.

He told me, that I had the driest eyes he’d ever seen and that he didn’t think I’d ever be able to wear contact lenses.

The second part of his statement has proved to be true, but what does Google AI think of the first part?

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.

Yes, dry eyes can make it difficult to see, causing temporary blurred vision that often improves with blinking. This happens because the tear film, which keeps the eye’s surface lubricated, is insufficient or of poor quality, which affects focus. Dry eyes can also lead to other vision problems, such as sensitivity to light and reduced contrast sensitivity.

That certainly fits my experience.

I find that having a hot bath every morning and putting my head under water and then opening my eyes and giving them a good rinse. This was recommended to me, by an ophthalmologist and then approved by my GP.

October 27, 2025 Posted by | Health | , , | Leave a comment

The Thoughts Of Chris O’Shea

This article on This Is Money is entitled Centrica boss has bold plans to back British energy projects – but will strategy pay off?.

The article is basically an interview with a reporter and gives O’Shea’s opinions on various topics.

Chris O’Shea is CEO of Centrica and his Wikipedia entry gives more details.

These are his thoughts.

On Investing In Sizewell C

This is a paragraph from the article.

‘Sizewell C will probably run for 100 years,’ O’Shea says. ‘The person who will take the last electron it produces has probably not been born. We are very happy to be the UK’s largest strategic investor.’

Note.

  1. The paragraph shows a bold attitude.
  2. I also lived near Sizewell, when Sizewell B was built and the general feeling locally was that the new nuclear station was good for the area.
  3. It has now been running for thirty years and should be good for another ten.

Both nuclear power stations at Sizewell have had a good safety record. Could this be in part, because of the heavy engineering tradition of the Leiston area?

On Investing In UK Energy Infrastructure

This is a paragraph from the article

‘I just thought: sustainable carbon-free electricity in a country that needs electricity – and we import 20 per cent of ours – why would we look to sell nuclear?’ Backing nuclear power is part of O’Shea’s wider strategy to invest in UK energy infrastructure.

The UK certainly needs investors in UK energy infrastructure.

On Government  Support For Sizewell C

This is a paragraph from the article.

Centrica’s 500,000 shareholders include an army of private investors, many of whom came on board during the ‘Tell Sid’ privatisations of the 1980s and all of whom will be hoping he is right. What about the risks that deterred his predecessors? O’Shea argues he will achieve reliable returns thanks to a Government-backed financial model that enables the company to recover capital ploughed into Sizewell C and make a set return.

I have worked with some very innovative accountants and bankers in the past fifty years, including an ex-Chief Accountant of Vickers and usually if there’s a will, there’s a solution to the trickiest of financial problems.

On LNG

These are two paragraphs from the article.

Major moves include a £200 million stake in the LNG terminal at Isle of Grain in Kent.

The belief is that LNG, which produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other fossil fuels and is easier and cheaper to transport and store, will be a major source of energy for the UK in the coming years.

Note.

  1. Centrica are major suppliers of gas-powered Combined Heat and Power units were the carbon dioxide is captured and either used or sold profitably.
  2. In at least one case, a CHP unit is used to heat a large greenhouse and the carbon dioxide is fed to the plants.
  3. In another, a the gas-fired Redditch power station, the food-grade carbon dioxide is sold to the food and construction industries.
  4. Grain LNG Terminal can also export gas and is only a short sea crossing from gas-hungry Germany.
  5. According to this Centrica press release, Centrica will run low-carbon bunkering services from the Grain LNG Terminal.

I analyse the investment in Grain LNG Terminal in Investment in Grain LNG.

On Rough Gas Storage

These are three paragraphs from the article.

O’Shea remains hopeful for plans to develop the Rough gas storage facility in the North Sea, which he re-opened in 2022.

The idea is that Centrica will invest £2 billion to ‘create the biggest gas storage facility in the world’, along with up to 5,000 jobs.

It could be used to store hydrogen, touted as a major energy source of the future, provided the Government comes up with a supportive regulatory framework as it has for Sizewell.

The German AquaVentus project aims to bring at least 100 GW of green hydrogen to mainland Germany from the North Sea.

This map of the North Sea, which I downloaded from the Hydrogen Scotland web site, shows the co-operation between Hydrogen Scotland and AquaVentus

Note.

  1. The yellow AquaDuctus pipeline connected to the German coast near Wilhelmshaven.
  2. There appear to be two AquaDuctus sections ; AQD 1  and AQD 2.
  3. There are appear to be three proposed pipelines, which are shown in a dotted red, that connect the UK to AquaDuctus.
  4. The Northern proposed pipeline appears to connect to the St. Fergus gas terminal on the North-East tip of Scotland.
  5. The two Southern proposed pipelines appear to connect to the Easington gas terminal in East Yorkshire.
  6. Easington gas terminal is within easy reach of the massive gas stores, which are being converted to store hydrogen at Aldbrough and Rough.
  7. The blue areas are offshore wind farms.
  8. The blue area straddling the Southernmost proposed pipe line is the Dogger Bank wind farm, is the world’s largest offshore wind farm and could eventually total over 6 GW.
  9. RWE are developing 7.2 GW of wind farms between Dogger Bank and Norfolk in UK waters, which could generate hydrogen for AquaDuctus.

This cooperation seems to be getting the hydrogen Germany needs to its industry.

It should be noted, that Germany has no sizeable hydrogen stores, but the AquaVentus system gives them access to SSE’s Aldbrough and Centrica’s Rough hydrogen stores.

So will the two hydrogen stores be storing hydrogen for both the UK and Germany?

Storing hydrogen and selling it to the country with the highest need could be a nice little earner.

On X-energy

These are three paragraphs from the article.

He is also backing a £10 billion plan to build the UK’s first advanced modular reactors in a partnership with X-energy of the US.

The project is taking place in Hartlepool, in County Durham, where the existing nuclear power station is due to reach the end of its life in 2028.

As is the nature of these projects, it involves risks around technology, regulation and finance, though the potential rewards are significant. Among them is the prospect of 2,500 jobs in the town, where unemployment is high.

Note.

  1. This is another bold deal.
  2. I wrote in detail about this deal in Centrica And X-energy Agree To Deploy UK’s First Advanced Modular Reactors.
  3. Jobs are mentioned in the This is Money article for the second time.

I also think, if it works to replace the Hartlepool nuclear power station, then it can be used to replace other decommissioned nuclear power stations.

On Getting Your First Job

These are three paragraphs from the article.

His career got off to a slow start when he struggled to secure a training contract with an accountancy firm after leaving Glasgow University.

‘I had about 30, 40 rejection letters. I remember the stress of not having a job when everyone else did – you just feel different,’ he says.

He feels it is ‘a duty’ for bosses to try to give young people a start.

I very much agree with that. I would very much be a hypocrite, if I didn’t, as I was given good starts by two companies.

On Apprenticeships

This is a paragraph from the article.

‘We are committed to creating one new apprenticeship for every day of this decade,’ he points out, sounding genuinely proud.

I very much agree with that. My father only had a small printing business, but he was proud of the apprentices he’d trained.

On Innovation

Centrica have backed three innovative ideas.

  • heata, which is a distributed data centre in your hot water tank, which uses the waste heat to give you hot water.
  • HiiROC, which is an innovative way to generate affordable hydrogen efficiently.
  • Highview Power, which stores energy as liquid air.

I’m surprised that backing innovations like these was not mentioned.

Conclusion

This article is very much a must read.

October 26, 2025 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage, Finance, Hydrogen | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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