The Anonymous Widower

An Extreme Day Out – Bedlington And Northumberland Park Stations

This OpenRailwayMap shows the Northumberland Line and the Eastern part of the Newcastle Metro.

Note.

  1. The yellow track is the Northumberland Line.
  2. It terminates in the North at Ashington in the top-left corner of the map.
  3. Bebington station is indicated by the blue arrow.
  4. It terminates in the South at Newcastle station.
  5. The green track is the Newcastle Metro.
  6. There is now an interchange between the two lines at Northumberland Park station.

In the following sections, I’ll describe my trip.

King’s Cross And Newcastle Return For £66.35

I bought my two long distance tickets on a walk-up basis at King’s Cross and Newcastle stations from the machines.

  • I traveled North on a Lumo service to Glasgow for £27.20.
  • I did indulge myself with a tea for £2.60.
  • I traveled South on an LNER service for £36.55.
  • One of the reasons, I buy tickets on a walk-up basis, is that with my uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, I might decide to cancel at the last minute, so it avoids the hassle of getting refunds.

Both services were within a few minutes of the timetable, although LNER had said they would be late, due to signalling problems.

My Route In Northumberland For £2.60

I bought a return ticket at Newcastle station for Ashington, which is the current terminus of the Northumberland Line.

  • I actually didn’t go past Bedlington station, where I turned round and had a drink.
  • As there are two trains per hour on the Northumberland Line, waits are not generally not too long.
  • I only came back as far as Northumberland Park, where I swapped to the Metro for Newcastle station.

If I had had more time, I would have stopped at Seaton Delaval station to have a gluten-free dinner, which I wrote about in Seaton Delaval Station – 30th March 2025.

From Newcastle to Bedlington Station

I took these pictures going to Bedlington station.

I would have taken more pictures, but the train was rather full.

Bedlington Station And Bedlington

I took these pictures at and around Bedlington station.

Note.

  1. Although it is a completely rebuilt station, it has a level crossing.
  2. But is the signal box keeping a watchful eye over trains and the road?
  3. Bedlington station appears to be step-free using ramps and the level crossing.
  4. Just to the North of the station, the tracks split to Ashington and Morpeth.

In my forty minutes or so in Bedlington, I didn’t see a terrier.

Are Any Bedlington Terriers Still Bred At Or Near Bedlington?

I had to ask Google AI, this question and I received this reply.

Yes, Bedlington Terriers are still bred in and around their namesake town in Northumberland, UK. While they are a relatively rare breed overall, the historic North East region remains one of the primary strongholds for these distinct “lamb-like” dogs.

Northumberland Park Station

I took these pictures at Northumberland Park station.

 

Note.

  1. The Northumberland Line uses a single bi-directional platform on the North side of the station.
  2. The Newcastle Metro uses an island platform on the South side of the station.
  3. Both platforms have steps and lifts.
  4. There are around 400 parking spaces and a Sainsbury’s Superstore at the station.

At 78, after a stroke, I didn’t find the change between the two lines difficult. But I did use the lifts!

What Are The Future Plans For The Northumberland Line?

I couldn’t resist asking Google AI this question and I received this answer.

With the Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations fully operational, the core phase of the Northumberland Line connecting Ashington to Newcastle is complete. Future plans now focus on route extensions, additional stops, and increasing capacity to handle high passenger demand.

Key Future Plans

Extension to the Coast: The North East Combined Authority is actively funding the development of an extension to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, utilizing existing freight tracks. Planning submissions for this expansion are targeted for 2028.

New Station Proposals: Proposals are being explored to build an additional stop serving the Wansbeck General Hospital and to replace the long-closed Choppington station.

Increased Capacity: Operator Northern Rail is in ongoing discussions with transport partners to lengthen train services (which are currently constrained to two to four coaches) to help accommodate massive patronage on the line.

Integrated Ticketing: The Northumberland County Council is exploring integrated ticketing with the Tyne and Wear Metro to allow for seamless travel between the two networks at stations like Northumberland Park.

From my observations on the line over the last few years, I would go along with Google AI’s recommendations.

These are some specific thoughts.

Extension To Newbiggin-by-the-Sea

This OpenRailwayMap shows the tracks that used to exist between Ashington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Note.

  1. Ashington station is in the South-West corner of the map.
  2. A freight line exists, which is shown in yellow, all the way to Lynemouth power station, which is a 420 MW biomass power station.
  3. Lynemouth powerstation was originally built to power an aluminium smelter.
  4. Running South-East from the Northumberland Line, is a disused railway alignment labelled NBN, which leads into Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

This Wikipedia section describes the history of railway connection of the town.

Situated on the west side of Front Street (now the B1334), the station opened on 1 March 1872 as a terminus of the Blyth and Tyne Railway (now known as the Northumberland Line). The station had a long island platform onto which the station building faced. There were sidings on both sides of the station which handled goods traffic, controlled by a signal box. The station closed to both passengers and goods traffic on 2 November 1964. With the reopening of the Northumberland Line, Provisions have been made, especially at Ashington so that the line could be extended to Newbiggin. As of the end of 2025, there were calls to extend the railway by 1.6km (1 mile) into the centre of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. This will require new track and is all subject to a feasibility study.  A formal bid was launched in December 2025 for this.

In Formal Bid To Extend Railway Line, I wrote about the latest progress in January 2026, based on a BBC article.

The Northumberland Line Needs A Focus Other Than Commuting

Several of the stations have large car-parks, which is good for commuting, but the railway needs to serve more places for leisure and other activities.

  • Seaton Delaval Hall is Grade 1 Listed and is just 10 minutes in a bus from the station with the same name.
  • If the Northumberland Line is connected to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, that could bring in those, wanting a day by the sea.
  • The extended Northumberland Line would also connect to Woodhorn, which is a museum, described in this Wikipedia entry.

QTS are also developing an AI data centre at Cambois, which surely will generate commuter traffic from all over the North East.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the location of the QTS AI Data Centre.

Note.

  1. Ashington station is indicated by a blue arrow.
  2. The yellow track is the Northumberland Line, which now terminates at Ashington station.
  3. Bedlington station is in the South-West corner of the map.
  4. The trapezoidal grey box to the East of Bedlington is labelled as Site for QTS AI Data Centre.
  5. As the site, was that of Blyth coal-fired power station, before QTS acquired it, there is a disused railway line that connects the site to the Northumberland Line.

I suspect there are powerful economic arguments about whether or not, the Northumberland Line is extended to the QTS AI Data Centre site.

How Much Power Will QTS Cambois Data Centre Need?

I couldn’t resist asking Google AI this question and I received this answer.

The proposed QTS Cambois data centre in Northumberland is expected to require between 620MW and 720MW of critical IT power capacity, with an initial proposal capacity of up to 1.1GW.

Details on the planned power infrastructure include:

Power Capacity: The facility will support up to 720MW of critical IT capacity across ten planned buildings, though some council estimates cite an expected total power capacity of 620MW.

Backup Power: To guarantee uptime and handle power outages, the campus will rely on nearly 600 diesel-powered generators, requiring up to 58 generators per data hall.

Site Details: Located on the former Blyth Power Station site in Cambois, the £10 billion development will span 540,000 square metres.

My views on this are.

  • There is the 1.4 GW North Sea Link from Blyth to Norway, that I wrote about in UK To Norway Sub-Sea Green Power Cable Operational.
  • The 4.1 GW Berwick Bank wind farm is planned to send 1.8 GW to Blyth.
  • To help if QTS need more power, there is the 1.4 GW Sofia wind farm.
  • So 1.1 GW should be manageable, as Blyth is blessed with more power than Niagra Falls.

I also believe that Centrica and Delta have a much better backup solution, that I described in Delta And Centrica Launch Scalable Off-Grid Fuel Cell Power Solution. Hydrogen could come by pipeline or rail.

How Would The Northumberland Line Connect To Wansbeck Hospital?

This Google Map, shows the location of Wansbeck General Hospital with respect to Ashington station.

Note.

  1. Ashington station in the South-West corner.
  2. Woodhorn museum is in the North-East corner.
  3. Wansbeck General Hospital is indicated by a red arrow.
  4. The Northumberland Line runs East-West to the South of the museum and then curves round to reach the station.

Perhaps the station could go between the museum and the hospital and an innovative shuttle would connect all three locations.

How Would The Northumberland Line Connect To Choppington?

This Google Map, shows the location of Choppington, with respect to Morpeth and Bedlington stations.

Note.

  1. The orange track on the West side of the map is the East Coast Main Line.
  2. Morpeth station is in the North-West corner of the map.
  3. Bedlington station is in the South-East corner of the map.

The Eastern end of the Bedlington and Morpeth Line can be seen in this picture to the left of Bedlington North signal box at the Northern ends of the the platforms.

 

Note.

  1. Bedlington North signal box has a communication mast behind it.
  2. The track to the left of the box goes to Morpeth.
  3. The track to the right of the box goes to Ashington.

This OpenRailwayMap shows Choppington Road, which crosses the Bedlington and Morpeth Line at the only level crossing between Bedlington station and Hepscott junction.

Note.

  1. Choppington Road, which runs North-South on the map.
  2. The yellow tracks are the Morpeth and Bedlington Line, which runs East-West across the map.
  3. Where they cross, a red cross indicates a level crossing.
  4. The Wikipedia entry of Choppington station shows a level crossing.

As the level crossing on the map is the only one shown, this must be the location of Choppington station.

 

 

June 10, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Food, Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can East Midlands Railway Reach Nottingham Without More Electrification?

I went to Nottingham for the day yesterday.

  1. My Super Off-Peak Return ticket cost me £55.30 with a Senior Railcard.
  2. The Class 810 train is without doubt the best Hitachi Intercity Express Train of a good bunch.
  3. St. Pancras and Nottingham is 126.4 miles.
  4. There is no electrification between South Wigston Junction and Nottingham, which is 31.1 miles, although the change seems to be said to take place at Kilby Bridge junction.
  5. It would appear that, when the Class 810 trains are fitted with batteries, they will need a range of at least 62.2 miles, to do a return trip to Nottingham.
  6. In The Data Sheet For Hitachi Battery Electric Trains, I state that the maximum range of a three-battery five-car train is 117 miles. This figure has been seen by Hitachi and they didn’t say it was too high.
  7. I look forward to doing the same trip in a few months, using batteries to the North of the section between Kilby Bridge and South Wigston junctions.

It could be the first battery-electric 125 mph express train.

Now that is what I call affordable electrification.

I have some further thoughts.

Kilby Bridge And Wigston Junctions

This Google Map shows the Midland Main Line between Kilby Bridge and Wigston junctions.

Note.

  1. Kilby Bridge junction is marked by the red arrow in the South-East corner.
  2. The Midland Main Line runs through Kilby Bridge junction.
  3. South-East it goes to London.
  4. North-West is leads to the large triangular Wigston junction, with South Wigston station at its Western point.
  5. The Northern point of Wigston junction leads to Leicester.
  6. There are three tracks between Wigston and Kilby Bridge junctions.
  7. All tracks to the South of South Wigston junction are electrified.
  8. The distance between Wigston and Kilby Bridge junctions is two miles.
  9. The maximum speed between Wigston and Kilby Bridge junctions appears to be at least 100 mph.

It looks to me, that this section of track has been designed, so that trains can reliably raise and lower pantographs at the highest speed possible.

The Electrification Problem At Leicester

Some years ago I came back to London from Leicester with a group of drivers. At one point, the conversation turned to electrification and they said that they had met a Network Rail engineer, who had told them, that the bridge over Leicester station  was rather low for electrification and the track couldn’t be lowered because Leicester’s main sewer was underneath the railway.

In Leicester Station – 4th Jan 2022, I show a selection of pictures of Leicester station’s Grade II Listed frontage.

I doubt it would be possible to seriously alter Leicester station to electrify it, as the Heritage Taliban would have a field day.

But if I’m right that all services will be run North of Wigston on batteries, there will be no need to electrify through Leicester station.

Not only would using battery-electric trains probably be more affordable than electrification, but also because of the Leicester electrification problem, it would be less inconvenient for passengers.

Changing From Electric Going North

This OpenRailwayMap shows the electrification between Wigston Junction and Leicester station.

Note.

  1. Leicester station is marked by the blue arrow.
  2. The triangular Wigston junction is clearly visible.
  3. Kilby Bridge junction is South-East of Wigston junction.
  4. Leicester station and South Wigston junction is 3.6 miles and the tracks are shown as dashed black and red, which means future electrification.

I wonder, if in the future, if the battery-electric don’t have enough range, this is a simple section of electrification, that could be installed. Every extra mile of electrification between Leicester station and South Wigston junction would mean two miles could be chopped from the distance the trains had to travel on batteries.

But in the interim, going North, the driver would just make sure there was enough electricity in the batteries and momentum in the train, when passing South Wigston.

As trains arriving at South Wigston junction will typically have been running for over an hour, they should have full batteries to start theur explore of the North.

Changing To Electric Going South

The trains from the North, must have enough juice in the battery to reach South Wigston, so they can connect to the electrification for the run to London.

Could A Four-Battery Class 810 Train Reach Sheffield?

Consider.

  • St. Pancras and Sheffield is 164.7 miles.
  • There is no electrification between South Wigston Junction and Sheffield, which is 89.4 miles, although the change seems to be said to take place at Kilby Bridge junction.
  • It would appear that, when the Class 810 trains are fitted with batteries, they will need a range of at least 178.8 miles to do a return trip to Sheffield.
  • If a three-battery five-car Class 810 train has a battery range of 117 miles, on a pro-rata basis a four-battery five-car will only have a range of 156 miles.

That would be a big ask.

Could A Three-Battery Class 810 Train Reach Sheffield?

What would happen if one diesel engine was still installed?

These are my thoughts.

  • As a Graduate Control Engineer, I wouldn’t be surprised that Hitachi have a strategy to do this with a tri-mode version of the Class 810 train.
  • Hitachi have already announced the Class 820 train for Grand Central Trains and this is a tri-mode version of their InterCity Express, which is described in this Wikipedia entry.
  • As Grand Central have said that the Class 820 trains, will be replacing the Class 180 trains, that run to Bradford Interchange and Sunderland, a tri-mode Class 810 would surely be able to run to Sheffield.

Could East Midlands Parkway Station Be Used For Opportunity Charging?

This Google Map shows East Midlands Parkway station with the massive derelict Radcliffe-on-Soar coal-powered power station alongside.

Note.

  1. The Midland Main Line running North-South across the map.
  2. East Midlands Parkway station on its Western side.
  3. The derelict Radcliffe-on-Soar coal-powered power station on its Eastern side.

A vast site like this must have uses.

I asked Google AI,”What Are The Plans For Radcliffe-on-Soar Power Station?” and received this reply.

The former Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station site is undergoing a multi-year decommissioning and demolition process, lasting until at least 2030 or 2031, to be transformed into a zero-carbon technology, energy, and advanced manufacturing hub.

Key details of the redevelopment include:

Site Vision: The 273-acre brownfield site has been earmarked to become a major business hub focused on advanced manufacturing (e.g., electric car batteries), low-carbon energy production, energy storage, and AI-driven data centres.

Economic Status: The site is a core component of the East Midlands Freeport, which offers significant financial incentives to attract business investment and create an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 jobs.

Demolition Timeline: The first demolition works are expected to begin in 2026, with the iconic cooling towers and main chimneys scheduled for controlled demolition between 2029 and 2030.

Planning Framework: A Local Development Order (LDO) granted by Rushcliffe Borough Council is in place to fast-track the planning process for these modern, green-focused industrial uses.

As the site will need to be supplied with a reliable energy supply for some of the proposed uses, I suspect power could be supplied to electrify the lines through East Midlands Parkway station, so that trains going to the North could take the opportunity to have a Formula One-style “Splash-and-Dash!”

Would Opportunity Charging At East Midlands Parkway Station Allow Extra Destinations?

Holders of the East Midlands Franchise have in the past, served other destinations in the past, either with regular services or engineering or seasonal diversions.

Possible destinations could be.

Cleethorpes

Distance to South Wigston – 112.4 miles

Doncaster

Distance to South Wigston – 108.1 miles – But could top up at Doncaster.

Rotherham Central

Distance to South Wigston – 102.2 miles

Scunthorpe

Distance to South Wigston – 112.4 miles

May 31, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Energy Storage, Manufacturing, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gas-Fired Power Still Looks A Safe Bet For Centrica In The Renewables Era

I feel rather surprisingly, the title of this post, is the same as this article on the Guardian.

You’d think, that they would be critical of Centrica for keeping the gas power stations going.

But this is the sub-heading.

There will still be a need to have gas in the wings to keep the lights on, so the financials stack up on Severn plant purchase.

So why should Centrica buy a 832 MW closed cycle gas fired power station?

These posts describe, what Centrica have done at Brigg with another closed cycle gas fired power station.

Will Centrica be taking closed cycle gas fired power stations and making them more efficient to provide the back up to wind farms, when wind is having an off day?

I wouldn’t be surprised, if Centrica put a big battery on the two sites, as after all they are a godparent to Highview Power.

Are there any more closed cycle gas fired power stations, that they can acquire?

I asked, Google AI,”How many closed cycle gas fired power stations are there in the uk?” and received this answer.

As of early 2026, there are approximately 35 active combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power stations—often referred to as closed-cycle—in the UK.

These plants provide the bulk of the UK’s gas-fired capacity, totaling roughly 30-35 GW along with smaller, single-cycle (OCGT) plants which are used for backup.

Total Capacity: The total capacity of all gas-fired generation (CCGT and others) is approximately 35.7 GW.

Role in Power Mix: CCGTs are highly efficient and provide baseload power, while OCGT plants (about 14+ sites) are typically used for peak demand.

Key Locations: Major plants include Pembroke (RWE), Staythorpe (RWE), Didcot B (RWE), and Connah’s Quay (Uniper).

These plants remain the largest single source of electricity generation on the UK grid, though they are increasingly being paired with carbon capture proposals.

I think, that Engineer Baldrick is now working for Centrica and he has a cunning plan to use efficient CCGT power stations to back up the wind.

Consider.

  • Severn power station is an 832 MW combined cycle power plant running on natural gas, which is located near Newport in South Wales.
  • 4.5 GW of offshore wind is to be built near Port Talbot.
  • Will some hydrogen generated by HiiROC be used to part-fire Severn power station and reduce its carbon footprint.
  • South Wales can easily find space for a couple of Highview 300 MW/3.2 GWh CRYOBatteries.
  • It would be useful to have a good-sized hydrogen store in South Wales.

That mix would surely provide enough reliable power for green steelmaking and a few data centres.

 

 

 

May 8, 2026 Posted by | Energy Storage, Hydrogen, Energy, Artificial Intelligence | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Former Unilever Site At Warrington – 6th May 2026

I went past this site twice yesterday on my way to and from Blackpool.

I took these pictures going Northwards.

And I took these pictures going Southwards.

A quick search of the Internet on my phone revealed.

  • It was a former soap works, that had previously been owned by Unilever.
  • The site was now going to be developed as a data centre.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the railways through the area.

Note.

  1. Warrington Bank Quay station is indicated by the blue arrow in the middle of the map.
  2. The Unilever site is to its North-West.
  3. Warrington Bank Quay station is a major station on the West Coast Main Line and will probably be on High Speed Two, which will share tracks with the West Coast Main Line.
  4. The two East-West lines are not electrified.
  5. Warrington West is a relatively new station, that I wrote about in 2020, in The New Warrington West Station.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the railway lines between Liverpool and the coast in the West and the West Coast main Line in the East.

Note.

  1. The Merseyrail third rail network shown in lilac.
  2. Electrified tracks shown in red.
  3. Tracks without electrification shown in black.
  4. Warrington Bank Quay station indicated by the blue arrow.
  5. The West Coast Main Line (WCML) runs North-South at the Eastern edge of the map.
  6. Wigan North Western station is in the North East corner of the map.
  7. Wigan North Western and Warrington Bank Quay stations are both on the WCML.

Five lines connect the Liverpool local network to the WCML.

  1. The top unelectrified line connects the new Headbolt Lane station to Wigan Wallgate station.
  2. The most Northerly electrified line connects Liverpool Lime Street and Wigan North Western stations via Huyton station.
  3. The second electrified line connects Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester via Newton-le-Willows station.
  4. The most Northerly of the bottom pair of unelectrified lines connects Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester via Warrington Central station.
  5. The final line is a freight line between Liverpool and Manchester along the Mersey. This line runs under the WCML

The last line is likely to be upgraded to become Northern Powerhouse Rail between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester via Manchester Airport.

This picture shows a freight train passing under Warrington Bank Quay station.

This OpenRailway Map shows how the lines cross to the South of Warrington Bank Quay station.

Note.

  1. The electrified North-South line is the West Coast Main Line (WCML).
  2. There is quite a good amount of space.

Could the junction be designed, so that HS2 trains could go between Manchester and London?

 

 

May 7, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Energy, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

National Grid Rollout New Technology To Expand The Capacity Of Existing Power Lines

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from National Grid.

These four bullet points act as sub-headings.

  • Latest rollout of Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) technology highlights spare capacity on existing power lines allowing greater power flows

  • New instalments on 585km of key north to south transmission network routes has the potential to save consumers up to £50 million in constraint costs

  • Over the last five years DLR has saved £21million in constraint costs and complemented upgrades to the existing transmission network (such as reconductoring and the use of power flow controllers) which have added over 16GW of new capacity to the existing network.

  • National Grid is unlocking more power from the existing grid faster and more cheaply, using innovative technology to meet increased demand, alongside constructing new infrastructure.

These first three paragraphs of the press release describe National Grid’s use of Dynamic Line Rating.

National Grid has announced a significant expansion of Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) technology across its electricity transmission network in England and Wales. Under a new five-year contract, Dynamic Line Ratings will be deployed across an additional 585km of key north-to-south transmission routes, potentially saving consumers up to £50 million over the next five years.

Meeting the growing demand for electricity requires both new infrastructure and smarter use of what already exists. DLR is an innovative yet proven technology that continuously monitors overhead line conditions to calculate a real-time capacity rating based on actual conductor behaviour and local weather, rather than the fixed conservative assumptions that have historically governed line ratings.

The result is a safe, reliable optimisation of available capacity on existing infrastructure, with the sensors and data analytics platforms allowing for a safe increase of the power carrying capacity of a circuit by an average of 8%. This reduces the need for constraint payments, where a generator is paid to stop generating to avoid overloading the electricity network.

This is an brilliant application of instrumentation, automation and very smart computing, that creates an average of eight per cent more capacity in the National Grid.

It’s like smart motorways for electrons, that from the press release appears to work.

I have some thoughts.

Reconductoring Is Mentioned

I suspect that the grid is highly instrumented and the grid can pick up areas that need to be replaced, but the masses of data a system like this will collect, will only improve their knowledge of the grid and give better predictions of where and how cables need to be replaced. Sophisticated modelling will also indicate, things like whether fatter cables here and there could squeeze more capacity into the network.

In the 1970s, I provided the software for the Water Resources Board to analyse and plan the pipelines and reservoirs for water supply in large parts of England.

Given that over the years, most of the problems over the years with the water industry, seem to apply to sewage, ownership, politics, equipment failure, rather than taps actually running dry, I suspect that Dr. Dimeloe and his team did a magnificent job. I would love to know the truth from one of the team.

As fifty years later, modelling software must be more sophisticated, I suspect a continuous analysis of the grid could give substantial benefits.

More And Better Sensors Will Be Developed

As needs arise, the systems will get more and more sophisticated and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the capacity of the grid increase by more than expected.

There Are 4,000 Miles Of High Voltage Overhead Lines In The UK

So if, National Grid can get an eight percent increase as the press release indicates, they might be able to add the equivalent of 320 miles to the electricity transmission network, without the hassle of applying for planning permission or dealing with Nimbies.

There might also be a cost saving as Google AI indicated that high voltage transmission lines cost around two million pounds per mile.

I Can Envisage Sophisticated Connection Networks For Offshore Wind Farms Using Coastal Or Even Offshore Batteries To Maximise The Energy Generated

Consider.

  • The output of a wind farm varies throughout the day and night.
  • Some of the variation in a wind farm’s output may be predictable.
  • Batteries and/or capacitors are good at smoothing variation in electrical power output and demand.
  • Capacitors are useful for smoothing out high-frequencies.
  • Highview Power are now building a 50 MW/300 MWh and a 500 MW/3.2 GWh battery, that both come with a sophisticated control system, they call a stability island providing inertia (frequency stability), short-circuit strength, and voltage control.
  • Dynamic Line Rating can be applied to the transmission line, that connects the wind farm and the battery to the grid.

Getting all these assets to work as a team, is a challenge some of the world’s best engineer/programmers would relish.

I could envisage, that systems like this could deliver hundreds of mill-pond smooth megawatts, that would be just what data centre owners wanted and needed.

Conclusion

The application of Dynamic Line Rating is going to revolutionise the electricity grid all over the world.

 

 

May 4, 2026 Posted by | Computing, Energy, Energy Storage | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Centrica Partners With Ceres Power On Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The title of this post, is the same as this article on gasworld.

This is the sub-heading.

UK multinational energy and services company Centrica is partnering with clean tech firm Ceres Power to accelerate solid oxide fuel cells [SOFCs] production to meet forecasted ‘multi-gigawatt’ demand from industrial customers across Europe.

These three paragraphs indicate the market opportunity, that Centrica feel, that the partnership will fill.

With electricity grid connection delays impacting new industrial, commercial and digital projects, the UK and Europe are experiencing a widening gap between demand and available capacity.

Centrica aims to offer customers high‑efficiency, low‑carbon, grid independent on‑site power that can be deployed much faster than gas turbines or nuclear.

Group Chief Executive Chris O’Shea said by collaborating with Ceres’ technology it sees an opportunity to support data centres, AI and industry with cleaner power at scale. Ceres claims SOFCs can be manufactured and delivered on site to get power online “in months not years”.

It certainly sounds feasible to drop in an appropriate-sized stack of fuel cells and connect them up to the gas main.

These two paragraphs, indicate how Ceres will support Centrica.

Initially, Ceres will support Centrica in expanding a new differentiated service-led model for clean power, providing access to British technology through its expanding network of global manufacturing partners.

Ceres will assist Centrica with opportunities across project origination, installation and commissioning, remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and end of life recycling.

I have a few questions for Google AI.

Do Ceres Fuel Cells Emit Carbon Dioxide?

Google AI replied this.

Yes, Ceres Power has developed Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology, known as the SteelCell®, that works on natural gas. This technology is specifically designed to be fuel-flexible, capable of converting grid natural gas into electricity at high efficiency.

Key Details About Ceres Fuel Cells and Natural Gas:

Technology Capability: The Ceres SteelCell runs on natural gas, as well as future-focused fuels like hydrogen and biogas.

Application: These fuel cells are used for distributed power generation in homes, businesses, and industrial settings (such as AI data centres).

Efficiency: When running on natural gas, the SOFC systems can achieve an electrical efficiency of around 62%, with total efficiency exceeding 90% when combined with heat recovery.

Emission Reductions: Compared to conventional combustion engines, the technology offers a 30% reduction in carbon emissions.

Current Strategy: As of early 2026, Ceres is focusing on natural gas-fueled SOFCs for stationary power markets, particularly in collaboration with partners like Centrica to address power shortages in the UK and Europe.

While the systems can be used for hydrogen in the long term, they are currently fully functional with natural gas, making them a “bridge” technology for decarbonisation.

A 30% reduction is surely worthwhile!

In What Size Are Ceres Power Holdings Fuel Cells Manufactured?

Google AI replied this.

Ceres Power Holdings’ solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology is manufactured in modular, scalable sizes, with individual stacks ranging from 10-50 kW and commonly deployed in 1-5 MW power modules. These stacks are produced at manufacturing facilities with capacities like 50MW (e.g., with partner Doosan), with plans for up to 100MW annual capacity.

Key manufacturing and size details include:

Cell Component: 30–150W.

Stack: 10–50 kW.

Stack Array/Module: 100–500 kW, up to 1-5 MW modules.

Manufacturing Capacity: 50MW production facility in South Korea (Doosan), with plans for 100MW+ annual capacity in future plants.

Applications: Primarily stationary, distributed power systems for AI data centres, industrial decarbonisation, and commercial buildings.

Ceres licenses its technology to partners like Bosch and Doosan, with cell technology based on low-cost printed steel substrate

How Much Power Does A Top Of The Range MRi Scanner Use?

I am asking this question, as it is surely something you might power with a Ceres fuel cell powered by natural gas.

Google AI replied this.

 

A top-of-the-range MRI scanner (such as a 3-Tesla or 7-Tesla system) is highly energy-intensive, consuming substantial power 24/7 to maintain its superconducting magnet. During active scanning, power usage often ranges from 25 kW up to 80 kW or more.

Here is a breakdown of the power consumption for high-end MRI scanners:

Power Consumption Breakdown

Idle/Stand-by Mode (24/7): The machine constantly consumes roughly 6 to 7 kW for background cooling (liquid helium refrigeration).

Standard Scanning: Productive scanning sessions typically demand around 25 kW.

High-Demand Scanning: Demanding examinations (e.g., head examinations with EPI sequences or special angles) can cause power usage to surge to 70 kW to 80 kW.

System Total: A 3T MRI, including cooling systems (chillers) and peripheral electronics, might require a 3-phase, 480V, 200A supply—roughly equivalent to the capacity of six modern houses.

Conclusion

This seems to be a deal with a large number of possibilities.

Speaking from my past experience of banks and financing, where the bill is ultimately paid by a reputable individual or company like Shell or BP, I believe that Centrica will have no difficulty in financing lots of these systemsusing instiutions like Lloyds or Deutsche Bank.

March 26, 2026 Posted by | Hydrogen, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, Manufacturing | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Data Centre In The Shed Reduces Energy Bills To £40

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

This is the sub-heading.

An Essex couple have become the first people in the country to trial a scheme that sees them heat their home using a data centre in their garden shed.

These three introductory paragraphs add some detail.

Terrence and Lesley Bridges have seen their energy bills drop dramatically, from £375 a month down to as low as £40, since they swapped their gas boiler for a HeatHub – a small data centre containing more than 500 computers.

Data centres are banks of computers which carry out digital tasks. As the computers process data, they generate lots of heat, which is captured by oil and then transferred into the Bridges’ hot water system.

Mr Bridges, 76, says keeping his two-bed bungalow near Braintree warm was a necessity as his wife has spinal stenosis and is in “a lot of pain” when it gets colder.

I think this simple idea is absolutely brilliant and very technically sound.

Here are some further thoughts.

It Would Be Ideal For A House Like Mine

My house is a modern three-bedroomed house with a garage and when I asked Google AI how many UK houses had garages, I received this answer.

Approximately 38% of dwellings in England have a garage, according to a 2020 report. While a specific UK-wide figure is not available, extrapolating this percentage to the total number of UK dwellings suggests there are over 10 million houses with garages, though the actual figure may vary across different regions.

Looking at the picture in the BBC article, I feel that this HeatHub could fit in my house.

I would expect that any house with a garage, a small garden or a big enough boiler space could accommodate a HeatHub.

Obviously, the house would need.

  • A boiler, that provides heating and hot water.
  • A good broadband connection.

My house has both.

Would My House’s Heating System Need To Be Modified?

It looks like it’s just a boiler replacement, so I don’t think so, but it may need to be moderbnised with digital controllers to get the best out of the system.

Will There Be Other Systems Like Thermify’s Heat Hub?

Some of our electricity suppliers seem very innovative and the market is very competitive.

Would they just sit back and let coompetitors take their customers? I doubt it!

So I suspect there will be other systems, each with their own features.

I have already, written about heata, which uses similar principles to give affordable hot water in British Gas Partners With heata On Trial To Reuse Waste Heat From Data Processing.

The BBC article gives some examples of data centres used to provide heating, so it is worth reading the full article.

 

 

November 16, 2025 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Energy | , , , , , | 2 Comments

What Caused The Amazon Web Services Failure?

This article on Reuters is entitled Amazon’s AWS Struggles To Recover After Major Outage Disrupts Apps, Services Worldwide, sums up today’s big news story.

But what went wrong?

I asked Google AI, where BT have their data servers and received this reply.

BT hosts its data servers in various locations across the UK, including London, Birmingham, and Dublin, Ireland, as well as in mainland Europe such as Frankfurt, Germany, and Amsterdam and Nieuwegein, Netherlands. They also have a presence in the United States, with facilities in locations like New Jersey.

Note.

  1. Nieuwegein is South of Amsterdam.
  2. There’s almost a direct straight-line route between Dublin and Frantfurt.
  3. Cambridge would lie on that straight-line route.
  4. BT’s Research at Martlesham in Suffolk would lie on that straight-line route.
  5. Is BT’s worldwide network closely monitored from BT Research?
  6. For more about BT Research read their Wikipedia entry.
  7. The straight-line route by-passes London.

The network seems comprehensive and well spread-out.

These are my thoughts.

The Value Of Research

I asked Google AI, if there were any spin-out companies from BT Martlesham and received this reply.

Yes, spin-out companies have been formed from BT’s Adastral Park research facility, including Real Time Content (RTC) and iome. Both companies were supported by BT and developed technologies based on research from the Martlesham site, with RTC focusing on personalized video services and iome providing location-based services through mobile internet.

I used to live near to BT’s Research Centre until 1990.

At the time, I was writing Artemis, the project management system and the multi-user version of that software and a BT research computer system used the same Hewlett-Packard hardware and an operating system written by BT at Martlesham.

Because of this connection, I learned a lot about their methods and the breadth of the research being carried out in Suffolk and was generally impressed.

I would suspect that legacy telecom companies like BT, France Telecom and Deutsche Telecom spend a lot of money on research. Do newer companies spend similar amounts?

Having a good research department behind you is an excellent form of insurance!

Will BT Research Have A Reliable 24/7 Power Supply?

Consider.

  • By 2030, there will be upwards of 4 GW of offshore wind power along the Suffolk coast.
  • Sizewell B will be 22 miles away, pumping out 1.2 GW until at least 2035.
  • Sizewell C could be pumping out 3.3 GW from the mid-2030s.
  • The 1.8 GW LionLink between Walberswick in Suffolk and The Netherlands could be in operation by 2030.

I am fairly sure that BT Research will have enough power, even if several data centres are built on the Martlesham site.

The Domain Name Res0lution Problem

Consider.

  • The root causeof Amazon’s disaster appeared to be problems with its domain name resolution system.
  • Executing fast lookup of domain names is critical.

I had a similar problem with the project management system ; Artemis, when I extended it to be one of the first relational databases in the 1980s. So I went to IBM’s library on the South Bank and dug out all their 1950s papers on looking up keys in tables.

In those days, with slower computers, which had smaller amounts of memory, the efficiency of the algorithm was very important and I got a significant improvement in look-up speed, by digging up ideas from the past.

If anybody wants to check out their algorithm with me, I’m always happy to oblige, but at 78 with poor eye-sight I’m probably past coding anything myself.

When I was dealing with BT Research, they would have made sure that something like domain name resolution was given the full research treatment.

My Conclusion

As I don’t have all the data, I will not speculate, but will await Amazon’s conclusion with interest.

October 20, 2025 Posted by | Computing | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Canal Water To Heat Some Of Liverpool’s Most Famous Buildings In Hi-Tech Carbon-Cutting Scheme 

The title of this post is the same as that of this press release from Liverpool City Region.

These five bullet-points act as subheadings.

  • Energy generated from Leeds and Liverpool canal by one of the UK’s largest water source heat pumps
  • Announcement comes as Mersey Heat Energy Centre officially opens
  • Scheme to connect Georges Dock, Cunard and the Museum of Liverpool buildings to Mersey Heat Network
  • Joint project between Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council and National Museums Liverpool
  • Key part of Combined Authority plan to reach net zero by 2035

These introductory paragraphs add more detail.

Three major public buildings on Liverpool’s waterfront are to slash carbon emissions by joining a heat network driven by energy from canal water.

Under the plan, an extended pipeline will connect Georges Dock building, the Cunard building, and the Museum of Liverpool, part of National Museums Liverpool (NML), to the Mersey Heat network.

The newly opened Mersey Heat Energy Centre is already supplying the Liverpool Waters site, the Titanic Hotel and the Tobacco Warehouse apartments.

It uses one of the UK’s largest water source heat pumps to extract energy from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to power a network of heating pipes.

The project is the latest in the Liverpool City Region’s five-year carbon action plan and journey to reach net zero. The Combined Authority has recently secured an additional £35m to decarbonise dozens of other public buildings from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.

This map of the Liverpool Waterfront shows the canal and some of the buildings mentioned.

Note.

  1. In the top-left corner is Everton’s new Hill-Dickenson Stadium, which at the time of this map was under construction.
  2. The pink arrow to its right indicates the Titantic Hotel.
  3. The Leeds and Liverpool canal passes on the South side of the hotel.
  4. On the other bank of the canal is the Tobacco Warehouse.
  5. The canal goes East and then turns North before going all the way to Leeds. The Wikipedia entry gives full details of the canal.
  6. From the Titanic Hotel, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal also turns South and boats can go along Liverpool’s famous Waterfront to Canning Dock, in front of the Tate Liverpool.
  7. The red arrow marks the Liver Building.
  8. Georges Dock building, the Cunard building, and the Museum of Liverpool are just to the South the Liver Building.
  9. To the East of the Liver building, there is Liverpool City Centre, with beyond it Liverpool Lime Street station, with another collection of important buildings including St. George’s Hall, the Picton Library, World Museum and the Walker Art Gallery.

The Combined Authority will not have a shortage of buildings to decarbonise with the £35m  from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.

These are my thoughts.

What Is A Water Source Heat Pump?

I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.

A water source heat pump (WSHP) is a highly efficient, low-carbon renewable energy system that extracts heat from a nearby water source like a lake, river, or canal to provide heating and hot water for a building, and can also be used for cooling. It works by using electricity to transfer this thermal energy into the building’s heating system, offering a more efficient alternative to traditional boilers and reducing energy bills. There are two main types: closed-loop systems, which circulate a fluid through pipes submerged in the water, and open-loop systems, which directly pump and then discharge the water.

Is Mersey Heat Energy Centre A Closed Or Open-Loop Water Source Heat Pump?

I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.

The Mersey Energy Heat Centre uses an open-loop water source heat pump system. It abstracts water from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, extracts heat from it, and then returns the water back to the dock system.

As the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is 127 miles long, and there appears from the map to be a lot of water in the docks at the Liverpool end, I would expect that Liverpool will have more than enough water to extract heat from.

Where Exactly Is The Mersey Heat Energy Centre?

In this article on Place North West, which is entitled Work Begins On Peel’s Mersey Heat Energy Centre, has this image, which is labelled as the Mersey Heat Energy Centre.

Note the large building in the foreground with the circular objects on the roof. Could these be fans or vents?

This Google Map shows the area.

Note.

  1. The two docks at the top of the map can be picked out in the image.
  2. The  main breakwater on the left, which is marked Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, looks very similar to the one shown in the image.
  3. The bridge between the two docks on the left appears to be the same in both map and image.

I am fairly sure, that the large building on the breakwater with the three circles on the roof, is the Mersey Heat Energy Centre.

It certainly looks to be a building, that could provide a substantial amount of heat and power .

What Is The Output Of The Mersey Heat And Energy Centre?

I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.

The Mersey Heat and Energy Centre produces low-carbon heat for up to 6,700 homes and 1.3 million square feet of commercial space, aiming to deliver around 20GWh of heat per year. The project is also planned to expand to supply around 45GWh annually. This heat is delivered to buildings for their heating and hot water needs through the Mersey Heat network.

This article on Place North West, also has this similar answer.

Led by district heat network specialist Ener-Vate, the Mersey Heat Energy Centre will feature two 3MW water source heat pumps that would work on an ‘open loop’ system to take heat from water from the Leeds-Liverpool canal. This heat would be used to warm surrounding homes and businesses within six kilometres.

Plans form the first phase of Peel NRE’s Mersey Heat network. The initial project could supply 20GWh of heat every year, with planning permission secured to expand to supply around 45GWh – the equivalent of supplying heating and hot water to 17,000 homes.

It looks like we’re getting similar answers from different sources.

Does the Merseyside Area Have Enough Green Electricity To Power A Large Water Source Heat Pump?

In Could Liverpool Develop A Massive Zero-Carbon Data Centre?, I calculated the operational and planned offshore wind power in Liverpool Bay and got these results.

  1. 2509 MW has been commissioned.
  2. 3980 MW is being planned.

That is a total of 6489 MW or about twice the output of Hinckley Point C nuclear power station.

This map shows the existing wind farms in the sea between Liverpool, Lancashire and the Isle of Man.

Note.

  1. Each green arrow is a wind farm.
  2. There is the 2452 MW Heysham nuclear power complex near Lancaster.
  3. The Western HVDC Link is a 2250 MW connection between Hunterston in Western Scotland near Glasgow and Connah’s Quay on the Wirral.
  4. I also  suspect more space in Liverpool Bay could be developed with wind farms.

Spinal Tap turned the power up to 11, Liverpool, being Liverpool, they have enough power to go to at least sixteen.

Will Merseyside Have Lots Of Data Centres?

Consider.

  • It has the power.
  • It has the water.
  • The locals speak a form of English.
  • Merseyside will be two hours from London by train.
  • There are two Premier League football teams.
  • The golf courses are good.
  • It is a city that is famous all over the world.

I am sure the number of data centres will grow.

 

 

October 15, 2025 Posted by | Energy | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ørsted Raises EUR 7.98 Billion In Oversubscribed Rights Issue

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

This is the sub-heading.

Ørsted has completed its rights issue, raising DKK 59.56 billion (approximately EUR 7.98 billion) with a subscription rate of approximately 99.3 per cent, the company said on 6 October.

These two introductory paragraphs add more details.

Existing shareholders were offered new shares at DKK 66.60 (EUR 8.92) each. The demand for shares not taken up via the rights issue was “extraordinarily high,” according to the developer’s announcement of the Rights Issue results, and allocations were capped per application, meaning no subscriptions were required under the underwriting bank syndicate.

As reported in August, the company appointed a syndicate of BNP PARIBAS, Danske Bank A/S and J.P. Morgan SE as Joint Global Coordinators, next to Morgan Stanley & Co International, to jointly underwrite the rights issue for the approximately 49.9 per cent that would not be subscribed to by Ørsted’s majority shareholder, the Danish state (50.1 per cent).

I dread to think what spiteful punishment that Trumpkopf will inflict on Ørsted.

But the oversubscribed Rights Issue may be good news  for the UK.

Ørsted has only one major project under development or construction in the UK.

But it is the large Hornsea Three wind farm, which  has this opening paragraph on its web site.

Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm will deliver enough green energy to power more than 3 million UK homes. An £8.5 billion infrastructure project, Hornsea 3 will make a significant contribution toward UK energy security, as well as the local and national economy.

Note.

  1. Ørsted are raising £7.98 billion and spending £8.5 billion, which must do something for the UK’s economy.
  2. Hornsea 3 will have a generating capacity of 2.9 GW.
  3. Ørsted  are now delivering the world’s single largest offshore wind farm.
  4. Hornsea 3 will connect to the National Grid at Swardestone in Norfolk.

In Grid Powers Up With One Of Europe’s Biggest Battery Storage Sites, I describe how the 300 MW/600 MWh Swardestone BESS will be built, where Hornsea 3 connects to the grid.

As Swardestone will have 2.9 GW from Hornsea 3 and a powerful battery, I would expect someone will be looking to site a data centre or something with a need for a lot of stable electricity at or near Swardestone.

In Opportunity For Communities To Have Their Say On National Grid Proposals For Norwich To Tilbury Project, I talk about a line of pylons between Swardestone and Tilbury and show this map of the route.

This page on the National Grid web site has an interactive version of this map.

Note.

  1. The mauve line indicates the route of the Norwich to Tilbury project.
  2. Swardestone is at the Northern end of the project a few miles South of Norwich.
  3. Tilbury is at the Southern end of the project on the Thames estuary.
  4. The project connects Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and Chelmsford to Hornsea 3 at Swardestone.
  5. I suspect the project will connect to Ipswich at the Bramford substation.
  6. The Sizewell nuclear site is to the North-East of Woodbridge and connects to the grid at the Bramford substation.

I know East Anglia well and I would suspect that Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea could support one or more data centres.

Conclusion

I asked Google AI, who owns Hornsea 1 and received this reply.

Hornsea 1 is owned by a partnership including Ørsted, Equitix, TRIG, GLIL, Octopus, and Brookfield, with Ørsted also providing the operational management. A 2018 agreement between Ørsted and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) originally established the 50/50 joint venture for the project.

I then asked Google AI, who owns Hornsea 2 and received this reply.

The ownership of the Hornsea 2 wind farm is shared between several entities, including a 37.55% stake held by Ørsted, a 25% stake each by AXA IM Alts and Crédit Agricole Assurances, and a 12.45% stake held by Brookfield. The wind farm is located offshore in the UK’s North Sea, approximately 89 km off the Yorkshire coast.

In November 2019, I also wrote World’s Largest Wind Farm Attracts Huge Backing From Insurance Giant.

It does seem to me that  Ørsted  are past masters of developing a wind farm, then selling it on and using that money to develop the next wind farm.

The Rights Issue just makes that process easier.

 

 

October 7, 2025 Posted by | Computing, Energy, Energy Storage, Finance & Investment | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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