National Grid And Emerald AI Announce Strategic Partnership To Demonstrate AI Power Flexibility In The UK
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from National Grid.
This is the sub-heading.
National Grid and Emerald AI are partnering to show how AI data centres can support a smarter, more flexible grid.
A UK-first live trial is planned for late 2025 on a grid connected data centre using Emerald AI’s platform.
Targeted for late 2025, the demonstration will use cutting-edge NVIDIA GPUs, to dynamically adjust energy consumption
Increased flexibility of data centre consumption can unlock capacity and accelerate connections to the electricity network.
These three introductory paragraphs indicate how the strategy partnership will work.
National Grid and Emerald AI today announced a strategic partnership to demonstrate how AI data centres can work with the transmission network to adjust their energy use in real time, making better use of existing capacity to support the UK’s growing digital needs.
The partners will deliver a live demonstration in the United Kingdom showcasing Emerald Conductor, an AI-powered system that acts as a smart mediator between the grid and a data centre, supporting flexible management of energy demand. Targeted for late 2025, the demonstration will use cutting-edge NVIDIA GPUs, dynamically adjust energy consumption, and support grid stability.
The electricity transmission network is designed with built-in redundancy to deliver world-class reliability and keep the lights on for customers. Capacity is typically available outside of peak events like hot summer days or cold winter storms, when there’s high demand for cooling and heating. That means, in many cases, there’s room on the existing grid to connect new data centres, if they can temporarily dial down energy usage during periods of peak demand.
Yesterday, there was an article in The Times which was entitled Octopus Energy Prepares Kraken Software Arm for Potential IPO.
I asked Google AI what Octopus Energy’s Kraken software does and received this answer.
Launched as part of the Octopus Energy Group in 2016, Kraken now serves 70 million household and business energy accounts worldwide through an operating system that processes 15 billion new data points each day. The software underpins Octopus Energy’s customer management and increasingly sophisticated smart tariffs.
I wouldn’t be surprised that similar methodology is used by both Emerald IT and Kraken.
As I have written at least four scheduling algorithms to best allocate available resources to tasks that need to be done for project management and other similar fields, I would have my ideas about the methods used by the two companies.
I am also sure, that the generic algorithm, that I have used in the past, could step up to the plate one more time, if anybody were to be interested.
Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease And Stress
This afternoon, I found myself in a stressful situation and my gut played up. Was it my uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease and stress actually playing up?
So, I asked Google AI if there was a link between uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease and stress and got this answer.
While there’s no direct causal link, stress may exacerbate uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, potentially by influencing the digestive system and increasing the risk of anxiety and depression, which are often associated with diverticular conditions. Some theories suggest stress can disrupt the autonomic nervous system, leading to spasms and inflammation that can trigger flares in diverticular disease. Managing stress through healthy lifestyle choices, such as a high-fiber diet and regular exercise, may help reduce risk and support the digestive system.
This doesn’t deny a link, but it would appear to be secondary.
The source used by Google AI is the NHS web site.
As a follow up, I asked Google AI if there was a link between uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease and a high-fibre diet and got this answer.
For uncomplicated, pancolonic diverticular disease, a high-fiber diet is recommended to prevent complications by promoting softer stools and preventing constipation. Increase fiber intake by gradually adding whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, while also drinking plenty of fluids to aid digestion and prevent bloating. A balanced, high-fiber diet can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of developing symptomatic diverticular disease.
The source used was this paper on the National Library of Medicine, which was entitled Role Of Fiber In Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease: A Systematic Review.
Did I Have A Funny Turn Caused By Dehydration This Morning?
I followed my usual Sunday morning routine today
- I took my drugs with a large mug of tea.
- I had a deep bath with emollient in the water.
- I put my head under the water and opened my eyes, to clear the massive amount of sleep, I get overnight in my eyes.
- I then went to Leon in Hanover Square for a good Full English gluten-free breakfast.
Unusually, Leon made a mistake and didn’t put any milk in my tea, so I didn’t drink it. So was I low on fluids?
A Transformer Is Being Moved Tonight
This press release from National Grid is entitled National Grid Prepares For Two Major Supergrid Transformer Deliveries In London.
The first one is to be moved into Redbridge substation tonight, so I went to have a look after breakfast.
- It was easy to get to the site, as it is close to Redbridge station on the Central Line.
- Out of the Underground, it was quite hot.
- By the time, I got to Redbridge station, I was feeling slightly unwell and felt my balance was poor.
- So I immediately turned around and came home using the Central and Lizzie Lines to Moorgate, where I took a bus home.
- I was certainly feeling better in the air-conditioned atmosphere of the Lizzie Line.
Since I’ve been home, I have been continuously drinking Adnams 0.5 % Alcohol Ghost Ship and I feel that I am now back to normal.
I asked Google AI “Can being dehydrated affect your balance?” and got this answer.
Yes, dehydration can definitely affect balance. It can lead to dizziness and a feeling of unsteadiness, which can make it harder to maintain balance. This is because dehydration can disrupt the fluid balance in the inner ear, which plays a vital role in balance.
I can remember an incident in my thirties, when I fell down the escalator at Oxford Circus station and went round to the Middlesex Hospital to be cleaned up.
Did Dehydration Play A Part In My Serious Stroke?
I had my stroke during breakfast in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong. I’d had two or possibly three very small strokes early in the morning before and I know from measuring my weight, that I can lose up to a kilo overnight.
So I asked Google AI “Can dehydration cause strokes?” and got this answer.
Yes, dehydration can increase the risk of stroke. When the body lacks sufficient fluids, blood volume decreases, potentially leading to thicker blood and reduced blood flow to the brain. This can exacerbate existing blockages in blood vessels or make it more difficult for blood to reach the brain, potentially causing an ischemic stroke.
My late wife drunk a lot more fluids that I do and perhaps, I should have followed her example more, of always having water handy?
Do Vitamin B12 Injections Make You Drowsy?
For the last couple of days I’ve been feeling a bit drowsy.
- The physio at my fitness class possibly noticed it on Friday.
- I certainly had a good siesta on Friday afternoon.
- This morning I went back to bed after the Ocado delivery at 06:30 and slept for an hour.
Google AI gave this answer to my question.
Cyanocobalamin is a form of vitamin B12 that is used to increase vitamin B12 levels. It is available in a variety of forms over the counter as a supplement and by prescription as an injection or nasal spray. Some common side effects may include headache, feeling weak or tired, and nausea.
I certainly didn’t have any headache or nausea. But then I rarely have the first and only have the second, when I see Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin on the television.
According to the BBC, we have been having unusually low atmospheric pressure for this time of year.
So I also asked Google AI if low atmospheric pressure can make you drowsy.
Google AI gave this answer to my question.
Yes, low atmospheric pressure can make you drowsy. This is because low pressure systems, often associated with stormy or cloudy weather, can lead to decreased sunlight exposure, which can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) and increase melatonin production, the hormone that promotes sleep. Additionally, low pressure can reduce oxygen saturation, potentially causing fatigue.
As my now-retired GP felt I was badly affected by low atmospheric pressure, I’ll go along with that!
As that GP and myself felt that low atmospheric pressure drew water out of my body and made me dehydrated, I asked Google a supplementary question – Does dehydration make you drowsy?
Google AI gave this answer to my question.
Yes, dehydration can definitely make you feel drowsy. When your body is dehydrated, it doesn’t have enough fluids to function optimally, which can lead to fatigue and drowsiness. Dehydration can also cause a drop in blood pressure, which can reduce blood flow to the brain, further contributing to feelings of tiredness and sleepiness, according to A.Vogel UK.
I’ll go along with that.
Conclusion
Did the combination of the B12 injection and the low atmospheric pressure combine to make me unusually drowsy?
It’s certainly a possibility.
The more I ask Dr. Google questions, that he passes to his computerised assistant, the more I like and trust the system.
Singapore’s First Hydrogen-Powered Data Center Launched By DayOne Using SOFC Technology
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Fuel Cell Works.
These two bullet points act as sub-headings.
- DayOne has broken ground on its first AI-ready hyperscale data center in Singapore, a 20MW facility set to be operational in 2026. The project integrates 100% renewable energy, SOFC-based hydrogen power generation, and cutting-edge hybrid cooling technologies.
- Strategic partnerships with Sembcorp and NUS will drive green energy adoption and R&D in sustainable tropical data center innovation, aligning with Singapore’s AI and digital infrastructure goals.
This data centre and the companies and the technologies behind it, are certainly ones to watch.
The R & D and innovation behind it could allow data centres to be built in more tropical places than is currently possible.
My Family And Lunchtime Naps
Consider.
- My father was a great one for a lunchtime nap of perhaps thirty minutes after his sandwiches and a cup of tea in his print works in Wood Green.
- I can still see him sitting there on a wartime Utility dining-chair fast asleep.
- As my paternal grandfather was a professional alcoholic, I suspect he slept a lot. But whether he took naps, I do not know.
- I’ve always been prone to fall asleep, but as I’ve got older, I seem to do it more often.
- My middle son, also had a nap after Christmas Lunch last year. But was that just coincidence.
These are questions, that I’ve asked Google AI.
Are There Any Medical Benefits Of The Spanish Siesta?
Google AI said.
Yes, there are potential medical benefits associated with the Spanish siesta, which is a short afternoon nap. Studies suggest that siestas can improve cognitive function, mood, and cardiovascular health. A well-timed and appropriately short siesta can help reduce stress, improve memory consolidation, and even lower blood pressure.
That seems fairly positive.
Will A Spanish Siesta Help Atrial Fibrillation?
I ask this question, as I have atrial fibrillation and I was told, it caused my stroke.
Google AI said.
Spanish siesta, or daytime napping, is not a guaranteed or recommended treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib). While some studies suggest a link between napping and AFib risk, the relationship is complex and depends on nap duration and individual factors. Short naps (15-30 minutes) may be associated with a lower risk, while longer naps could potentially increase the risk, especially in those with hypertension.
As I don’t have hypertension, it could be positive for me!
Does Atrial Fibrilation Run In Families?
Google AI said.
Yes, atrial fibrillation (AFib) can run in families, meaning it can be inherited. While many cases of AFib are linked to lifestyle factors, age, and other medical conditions, a significant portion of individuals with AFib, especially those with no clear cause, have a family history of the condition. Studies suggest that up to 30% of people with AFib of unknown cause have a family history of the condition.
As my father’s medical history seems fairly similar to mine, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had had it.
Is there A Connection Between Atrial Fibrilation And Coeliac Disease?
Google AI said.
Yes, there is an association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and celiac disease (CD), with studies indicating an increased risk of AF in individuals with CD. This connection is thought to be linked to the inflammatory nature of both conditions.
I have both and I suspect my father did too. We both had a serious stroke at around sixty.
My father had a second, which killed him a few years later. Modern pharmaceuticals have probably kept me alive.
Is There A Link Between Coeliac Disease And Microcondrial DNA Problems?
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post.
This was the answer I got.
Yes, there is a link between celiac disease and mitochondrial DNA problems. Studies have shown that individuals with celiac disease exhibit higher levels of lymphocyte mtDNA content, suggesting mitochondrial biogenesis as a compensatory response to the disease-related oxidative stress. Additionally, sera from celiac patients, especially those with neurological symptoms, can induce apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway in vitro.
When I clicked the Show More link, I got a lot more information, that needs a widely-educated medic to understand.
Conclusion
Coeliac disease is a Many-headed hydra.
But it does appear, that if you don’t feed it gluten, it will behave itself and even help you live a healthy life.
There are a lot more worse diseases that you can have.
Out of curiosity, I asked Google AI, if any other animals can get coeliac disease.
This was the answer I got.
While coeliac disease is a human-specific condition, some animals, particularly dogs and rhesus macaques, can experience gluten-related disorders that share similarities with coeliac disease. These animals can exhibit symptoms like digestive issues and villous atrophy when exposed to gluten, though the condition is not exactly the same as human coeliac disease.
Were the dogs on a vegetarian diet containing gluten? Monkeys are also prone to stealing anything they can eat. I’ve heard a story about baboons stealing baguettes, from peoples’ mouths, as they were eating them.
Google also points to this paper on the National Library of Medicine, which is entitled Important Lessons Derived From Animal Models of Celiac Disease.
Brain 1 – AI 0
Ocado left me with a bit of a problem this morning, in that they delivered a Marks and Spencer’s Chilli Con Carne without the packaging sleeve, which contains all the cooking instructions.
I decided, I should eat it tonight, whilst I was still sure, it was within its sell-by date.
But after about twenty minutes searching the Internet, I still hadn’t found the instructions.
But my brain was shouting at me, from the depths of its memory.
- Take away the sleeve. – No need for that!
- Piece the film.
- Microwave for two mins thirty seconds.
- Stir the meat.
- Microwave for two mins twenty seconds.
- Wait for a minute.
- Serve and eat.
It certainly tasted as normal!
My brain certainly came out on top in that skirmish!
AI Could Make New Runways Obsolete
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Jewish News.
This is the sub-heading.
As Heathrow’s controversial third runway gets the green light and Gatwick looks on track for a second one, an Israeli tech innovation could reduce the need for such costly expansions.
These paragraphs add some detail.
IntellAct is a cutting-edge AI company that helps airports maximise efficiency, cut delays and save billions of pounds. By optimising ground operations and reducing aircraft turnaround times, it could spare airports the need for new runways entirely.
“The aviation industry is bleeding from a thousand cuts,” says Udi Segall, IntellAct’s founder and CEO. “Constant delays – with an average of 15.5 minutes per flight — add up to billions in costs. We saw a financial opportunity in how airlines manage their activities, and that’s where IntellAct comes in.”
IntellAct leverages big data and machine learning to provide airlines, airports and ground handling teams with real-time visibility into service performance bottlenecks and the ability to address them in a way that can yield significant operational improvements and a dramatic reduction in flight delays.
It’s an interesting thought.
I am reminded of a story from the 1960s, from ICI.
They had a polypropylene plant, that was notoriously inefficient, so a guy called Humphrey Bowen (?) used a discrete simulation program called HOCUS to create a board game of the chemical plant. This game was then played one Sunday, with beer and sandwiches between the various teams of production workers. It became heated at one point, but they did learn a lot about the behaviour of the plant and improved its efficiency.
I think it is true to say, that in the early 1970s, I worked with a bunch of interesting people at ICI Plastics.
These days, use might be made of a digital twin.
A Funny Sunday Morning
I didn’t sleep that well and I got up about 05:45.
But by 06:30, I’d completed and entered the Sunday Times Prize Sudoku, as I always do.
The odds of winning must be exceedingly long, as I complete it every week and have not won anything yet.
I had my bath and flushed the sleep from my eyes in the hot water as I always do and by 10:15, I was sitting in Leon at the Angel having my usual gluten free Full-English breakfast.
I also went round the corner to the Marks and Spencer to buy a few items I needed.
- Bananas – I can never have too many
- British Strawberries – Strawberries are rich in magnesium and coeliacs can be low, so when I see quality strawberries I usually buy.
- Liver and Bacon Ready Meal for One – I have one a week to keep up my B12 levels and Ocado didn’t have any yesterday.
- Packet of Chocolate Cakes – I am slightly addicted.
The strawberries were from Dyson Farming, which I would have thought was the wrong side of the political spectrum for Islington.
My left knee also had a funny turn, which I was looking for the liver. Was it just reminding me that, if it didn’t get its B12, it would play up something rotten or was my brain using my knee to signal that it was low in B12 after the superb work on the sudoku?
Thirteen years ago I had a serious stroke and two or three serious doctors have said I’ve made a remarkable recovery.
From what I can gather on the Internet in the United States, I would have been given B12 injections for my stroke.
But then I am, as I am coeliac and Addenbrooke’s prescribed the injections, when I was diagnosed as coeliac in the 1990s. So is that behind my excellent recovery from stroke or did the Chinese doctors in Hong Kong diagnose my stroke as worse than it was?
Since I swapped to Ocado for my food purchases about two months ago, I have found it easier to buy the Marks and Spencer’s Liver and Bacon. I now eat one every week to top up my B12 and the arthitis, I occasionally get in my joints has reduced.
So I asked Dr. Google if arthritis gets worse after a stroke.
They pointed me to this paper on the National Library of Medicine. They also helpfully gave me this AI-derived answer to my question.
Yes, arthritis can worsen after a stroke:
Osteoarthritis
A common type of arthritis that can worsen after a stroke. This can be due to spasticity that develops after a stroke. Osteoarthritis can also make it harder for stroke patients to recover during rehabilitation.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Patients with RA may experience worse functional outcomes after a stroke due to pain and swelling in their extremities. RA patients may also have an increased risk of ischemic stroke.
Other types of pain that can occur after a stroke include: Headaches, Tingling sensations, Shoulder pain, and Central post-stroke pain.
Pain after a stroke can range from headaches that resolve on their own to chronic, severe joint pain.
Ic like the answer, as it fits my symptoms. Is artificial intelligence going to do some doctors out of a job?
I certainly get the tingling sensations.
I’ve just prescribed myself Liver and Bacon for a late lunch.
I’ll report back later!
Note, that I’m eating in front of the computer with the new keyboard.
The Anonymous Widower 