The Lonely Wind Turbine – 17th August 2023
I took these pictures to the North of Newark on the way to Leeds.
You don’t often see an onshore single wind turbine as large as this one.
Old Street Station – 16th August 2023
I took these pictures this evening, as my bus passed Old Street roundabout.
It’s still progressing as slowly as ever.
Germany ‘A Laughing Stock’ After Minister’s Plane Grounded
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the first paragraph.
Faulty wing flaps on an ageing Airbus have left officials red-faced after Germany’s foreign minister was forced to abandon the plane en route to Australasia.
Germany’s foreign minister is Annalena Baerbock, who is a Green Party politician.
A lot of the comments are asking, what was a Green Party politician doing flying all the way to Australia in a fuel-hungry four-engine Airbus A 340.
The article got me thinking.
Consider.
- Government ministers, diplomats and some business people, will always need to fly around the world for some important face-to-face meetings.
- Perhaps, this won’t happen as much as it did in the past with the development of better communications technology, but there will always be a need in some cases.
- There are over 20,000 business jets in service.
- Most business jets could be run on sustainable aviation fuel.
- Some business jets have a very long-rage.
I can see one of the manufacturers developing sustainable business aircraft to fit various segments.
Lightweight Zero-Carbon Business Aircraft
Aircraft like the Eviation Alice will dominate this field.
- The aircraft is battery-powered.
- It can carry nine passengers.
- It has a range of 440 nautical miles.
- It can operate as either a feeder airliner, business aircraft or small parcel carrier.
- It is planned to be in service in 2027.
The Alice already has a substantial order book.
There are several other aircraft in this segment under development.
Lightweight Hybrid-Electric Business Aircraft
Aircraft like the Faradair BEHA are under development.
- The aircraft is powered by a Honeywell turbo generator running on sustainable aviation fuel.
- It can carry eighteen passengers.
- It has a range of around a thousand miles.
- It is being developed at Duxford Airfield.
- The aircraft has a radical quick-change interior.
- Operational trials are planned to start in 2026.
Like the Alice the Faradair BEHA is different.
Lightweight Business Aircraft Running On Sustainable Aviation Fuel
I can see several of the smaller business aircraft being certified for sustainable aviation fuel.
Cessna sold 8,000 of their Citation jets in 2022 and have delivered around 7,500 according to Wikipedia.
Cessna won’t be giving up that market without a fight.
Certifying the aircraft to run on sustainable aviation fuel would be the interim solution until a hydrogen-powered business aircraft becomes available as it surely will.
The biggest problem will be to make enough sustainable aviation fuel.
Long-Range Business Aircraft Running On Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Long-range business jets like the Gulfstream G800 are true intercontinental transport.
- They can carry nineteen passengers and sleep ten.
- Range is 8,000 nautical miles.
- The jets are powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines.
- This press release from Rolls-Royce is entitled Rolls-Royce Conducts First Tests Of 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel For Use In Business Jets.
I think it is right to assume that long-range business jets like the Gulfstream G800 will be able to fly intercontinental routes on a net-zero basis.
An Airbus A321 XLR Running On Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Airbus and to a certain extent Boeing are the elephants in the room.
Airbus have launched an A321 XLR for long routes.
- The aircraft can carry over 200 passengers.
- It can fly up to 5,400 miles.
- It is selling well.
- Air Canada are thinking of using the plane on transatlantic routes.
The engines are from either CFM or Pratt & Whitney and I would be very surprised if the aircraft couldn’t run on sustainable aviation fuel.
Conclusion
I can see a new pattern of flying developing.
To return to the case of Germany’s foreign minister, I could see her going to Australia in a long-range business jet like the Gulfstream G800 running on sustainable aviation fuel.
- She might take a flight from Berlin or perhaps a more convenient airport with a rail connection.
- The plane would refuel in the Middle East and possibly Singapore.
It would be interesting to see how her green supporters reacted.
I can also see Airbus A321 XLRs running on sustainable aviation fuel across the Atlantic, being marketed as the net-zero way to the USA.
After all, Lumo market themselves as the net-zero way to Scotland against the airlines.
Mercia Power Response And RheEnergise Target 100MW Of High-Density Hydro Energy Storage
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
This is the sub-heading.
Two new partners will explore installation of high-density hydro energy storage with 100MW capacity by 2030.
These two paragraphs outline the deal.
Mercia Power Response, a provider of flexible power response services to the UK grid, signed an agreement with RheEnergise to explore the potential deployment of its new form of long-duration hydro energy storage, known as High-Density Hydro (HD Hydro).
The companies will work together to identify suitable sites for HD Hydro storage projects, using Mercia PR’s existing grid connections.
Note.
I am certainly pleased that this simple idea for energy storage appears to be on its way.
Fire On Scroby Sands Wind Turbine Self-Extinguishes, Incident Under Investigation
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
A wind turbine at the Scroby Sands offshore wind farm in the UK caught fire yesterday morning (15 August). The cause of the fire, which self-extinguished later the same day, is now being investigated.
This sort of incident doesn’t seem to be reported very often, although this one was shown prominently in this article on the BBC, which contains a video.
Nestlé And Tesco Launch Double-Stacked Rail Freight Trial
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Logistics Manager.
This is the sub-heading.
Nestlé UK and Ireland has successfully completed its first delivery to supermarket chain Tesco using a ‘first-of-its-kind’ rail container, as part of a new rail freight trial.
These are the first three paragraphs.
The container features a roof-raising mechanism allowing products to be “double-stacked from floor to ceiling operating at full capacity before the roof is lowered for transit”. The appeal of this is its capability to store potentially twice as much freight in one journey, reducing costs and emissions.
This is part of Nestlé’s plans to increase freight capacity on trains as a means of reducing the negative impact that the company’s logistics operations have on the environment. It is hoped that the trial will allow the process to be refined over time, providing further opportunities for Nestlé to expand the volume of goods that can be transported via rail in a single shipment.
This focus is integral to Nestlé’s strategy to reduce its reliance on the consumption of diesel in its road transport network. According to a 2021 report from the Rail Delivery Group, rail freight produces, on average, 76% fewer emissions than road transport. This, it claims, equates to a reduction of around 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ nationally each year.
Note.
- This article would appear to be a follow-on to Nestlé Unveils New Double-Stacking Rail Logistics Plan To Reduce Carbon Footprint, which I wrote in June 2022.
- In From 2025, Nestlé Waters France Will Use The First Hydrogen-Powered Freight Train Through An Innovative Solution Developed by Alstom and ENGIE, I talk about how Nestlé are experimenting with hydrogen-powered locomotives.
Nestlé certainly seem to be working on reducing the carbon dioxide produced by their logistic operations.
Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea On Oxford Street
I spitted this sign outside Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street.
I wonder, if this is going to be offered in all the larger stores.
Extending The Elizabeth Line
It is generally accepted that the Elizabeth Line has been a success and suggestions are being put forward for the line’s improvement and extension.
This is an index of the various ideas.
- A Branch To The Isle Of Grain
- A Service Between Heathrow And Southend Airports
- An Extension To Southend Airport
- Connecting Great Eastern Main Line Services To The Central Tunnel
- Connecting Great Western Main Line Services To The Central Tunnel
- Connecting North Kent Line Services To The Central Tunnel At Abbey Wood
- Connecting West Anglia Main Line Services To The Central Tunnel
- Connection To Southeastern High Speed One Services
- Could Open Access Services Use The Elizabeth Line?
- High Speed Trains On The Elizabeth Line
- Improving The Northern City Line
- Improving The Route To Windsor & Eton Central Station
- Linking To The Chatham Main Line
- London Crosslink
- Piccadilly Line To Ealing Broadway
- Rebuilding Shenfield Station
- Serving South-East London
- Stratford To Walthamstow and Chingford
- Thoughts On The Maximum Frequency In The Central Tunnel
- Will There Be A Need For Long Distance Class 345 Train?
The City Of London’s Soldiers
I’ve travelled to many cities and countries all over the world and can’t remember seeing colourful bollards like those in the City of London.
Does any other city use something similar?
From Denmark Hill To London Victoria – 12th August 2023
I took these pictures this morning on a Southeastern Metro train from Denmark Hill to London Victoria.
Note.
- The evidence of trespass; graffiti is everywhere.
- Banksy it ain’t!
- The security doesn’t seem to be top class.
Surely, improvements to security are needed.
The Anonymous Widower 