Better Than A Kick In The Teeth – As C Would Say!
I’ve just had an e-mail from OVO Energy, who have been my energy supplier for at least eight years, that they are going to reduce my Direct Debit by £26 per month.
OVO didn’t give a reason, but then it dawned on me.
In I’m Getting A New Hydrogen-Ready Boiler, I laid out my reasoning for getting a new boiler, as the pump had failed.
It’s only been one billing period, but I suspect other factors have kicked in.
I asked Google AI, if the the efficiency of gas boilers increased in the last ten years, and received this reply.
Yes, gas boiler efficiency has significantly increased in the last ten years, with new models achieving efficiencies over \(90\%\) compared to older ones that could be as low as \(60\%\). This is primarily due to the mandatory use of condensing technology in new boilers, which recovers and reuses heat from exhaust gases to preheat water.
As far as we know, Google are not in the gas boiler business, so I’m sure their answer is unbiased.
It looks like I shall be saving £312 per year, because of the new boiler.
Thus, if it lasts ten years, which is the guarantee period, then it has paid a substantial part of the cost of the new boiler.
As my late wife, C, would often say, that is better than a kick in the teeth.
Should You Get A New Boiler?
I am not qualified to answer that, but I’m you know a man or woman who is!
SSE Announces Construction Of Aberarder Wind Farm
The title of this post, is the same as that as an advert on my online edition of The Times.
Click the advert and you get this page, with the title of this post.
This is the sub-heading.
Aberarder secured 15-year CfD in UK Allocation Round 5
These three paragraphs give more details of the wind farm.
SSE has taken a final investment decision to proceed with Aberarder Wind Farm in the Scottish Highlands, in a circa £100m investment boost for its onshore wind portfolio.
Construction of the 12 turbine, 50MW wind farm, which is wholly owned by SSE Renewables, will begin before the end of the year with completion scheduled for the end of 2026. The Aberarder project was successful in September 2023 in the UK’s fifth Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation round, securing a 15-year contract for low-carbon power generation.
Located at Strathnairn near Inverness, on a natural plateau at an average of 700m above sea level, the Aberarder project site sits directly adjacent to the operational 94MW Dunmaglass Wind Farm, which is jointly owned by SSE Renewables and Greencoat UK Wind.
It would appear that a £100m investment in the Scottish Highlands will get you a fully-operational 50 MW wind farm.
These are my observations and thoughts.
SSE’s Project Overview Of Aberarder Wind Farm
These four paragraphs are SSE’s project overview from this page on the SSE Renewables web site.
The Aberarder Wind Farm project is located in Strathnairn near Inverness, on a natural plateau at an average of 700m above sea level. It will sit directly adjacent to the operational 94MW Dunmaglass Wind Farm, which is jointly owned by SSE Renewables and Greencoat UK Wind.
The project was developed by RES and consented by The Highland Council in April 2017. The consent allows for the construction of a 12-turbine onshore wind farm, with each turbine having a maximum tip height of up to 130m and is expected to have an export capacity of 49.9MW. SSE Renewables reached an agreement with RES to acquire Aberarder in October 2022.
In September 2023 Aberarder was successful in the UK’s fifth Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round and was awarded a 15-year contract for low carbon power generation. SSE took a final investment decision to proceed with Aberarder Wind Farm, in a circa £100m investment in May 2024, construction is scheduled to begin before the end of 2024 with completion scheduled for the end of 2026.
Our focus is now on building strong and meaningful relationships with the local community surrounding the Aberarder Wind Farm. As a responsible developer and operator, we are looking forward to working closely with the community in surrounding area to fully realise the benefits of this exciting project.
Construction has now started and it would appear that in two years, the twelve-turbine wind farm will be producing power.
SSE’s Description Of Dunmaglass Wind Farm
These four paragraphs are SSE’s description from this page on the SSE Renewables web site.
Located to the south east of Inverness, on a natural plateau at an average of 700m above sea level, Dunmaglass is SSE’s highest wind farm to be constructed.
SSE acquired the project from RES in May 2013 and initial enabling works began in the summer of 2013 which included the upgrading of 11km of tracks and the construction of two timber deck bridges.
Highland contractor RJ McLeod was awarded the £16m main civil works contract in summer 2014.
Dunmaglass became fully operational in 2017.
This paragraph also illustrates the challeges of the It looks like the construction of the larger Dunmaglass wind farm.
The height at which Dunmaglass is located presented its challenges during construction and the winter months brought high winds and plenty of snow. The site was fully completed and handed to the operations team in 2017.
Surprisingly, the legendary Highland midges didn’t get a mention.
The Sale Of 49.9 % Of Dunmaglass Wind Farm To Greencoat UK Wind
This sub-heading outlines the sale.
In February 2019, SSE sold 49.9% of Dunmaglass to Greencoat UK Wind PLC as part of a deal in which Greencoat acquired a 49.9% stake in both Dunmaglass and the nearby Stronelairg wind farm.
This paragraph gives more details of the sale.
In February 2019, SSE signed agreements for the sale of 49.9% of Dunmaglass wind farm to Greencoat UK Wind Plc (“UKW”). This sale was part of a £635m deal in which Greencoat acquired a 49.9% stake in both Stronelairg and Dunmaglass wind farms. The stakes equate to 160.6MW (megawatts) of capacity, with an average valuation for the two wind farms of around £4m per MW. This valuation demonstrates SSE’s ability develop quality, low carbon assets and infrastructure vital to the GB energy market.
The interesting figure is that SSE was paid £4m per MW for the interest of 160.6 MW, that they sold.
Aberarder wind farm is a 50 MW wind farm and it appears that it will cost £100 million to build.
If after a couple of years of operation, the wind farm is worth £4 million per MW, then SSE have doubled their money.
Does this illustrate, why the professionals like SSE and Greencoat UK Wind invest in wind farms?
- SSE would have taken the risk, that they could build the wind farm.
- SSE have the engineering skillsto do an excellent job.
- Greencoat UK Wind are buying into a producing asset, with a known cash flow.
SSE also get more money to build more wind farms.
Where Are Aberarder And Dunmaglass?
This Google Map shows the site of Aberarder wind farm with respect to Inverness.
Note.
- Inverness is at the top of the map on the waters of the Solway Firth.
- Aberarder wind farm is marked by the red arrow.
- Aberarder is a hamlet to the North-West of the wind farm.
- Drumnaglass is a shooting estate to the North-West of the wind farm.
- Loch Duntelchaig is the main reservoir for Inverness.
This second Google Map shows the Drumnaglass wind farm.
Note.
- Drumnaglass wind farm has 33 turbines and a capacity of 94.05 MW.
- There is a track network of 11 km. linking all the turbines.
- A good proportion of the turbines can be picked out on the map.
It would appear that Aberarder wind farm will lie to the South-East of this wind farm.
Aberarder Wind Farm To Fort Augustus
In Cloiche Onshore Wind Farm, I talked about the 130.5 MW Cloiche wind farm and its future construction to the East of Fort Augustus and Stronelairg wind farm.
This Google Map shows the position of Aberarder wind farm with respect to Ford Augustus.
Note.
- Loch Ness runs across the North-West corner of the map.
- Fort Augustus and Stronelairg wind farm, are at the Southern end of the loch.
- The red arrow shows Aberarder wind farm.
- Foyers pumped hydro is on the Eastern bank of Loch Ness, at about the same latitude as the Aberarder wind farm.
- The lake at the bottom of the map, to the South-East of Ford Augustus, is the Glendoe Reservoir, that powers the Glendoe hydroelectric scheme.
There are certainly, a lot of SSE-owned and/or SSE-controlled assets in the area and I wouldn’t be surprised, if SSE integrated them more closely, or added a few more wind farms.
Why Are SSE Advertising The Start Of Construction?
SSE have been advertising for some time on The Times web site.
As they are not a retail energy company anymore, as they sold their retail business to OVO, the advertising, is probably about spreading a good corporate message and getting their strategy broadcast.
National Grid Bets On Surge Pricing And Electric Cars To Avoid Another Energy Crisis
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the Telegraph.
These are the first few paragraphs.
With wind supplies forecast to be low and other energy sources offline, a power crunch was looming by teatime the next day.
A call for help went out on a Tuesday afternoon and at 4.30pm on the Wednesday, electric car drivers plugged in special chargers to export power from their car batteries back to the grid, as part of a trial run by Ovo Energy.
Their efforts in November 2020 may have amounted to only a tiny portion of the power needed on that day, but it was a taste of things to come.
Cars and other devices will be both a source of electricity demand and a helpful tool to keep the lights on as the UK tries to build a much greener energy system at the least expense.
It is as the article says the shape of things to come.
I also believe that long-term car parking at places like airports will become storage batteries in the future. You will tell your car, when you will be returning and it will be fully charged to drive home, when you arrive. If you are running late, you would probably use an app to tell your car the new arrival time.
These developments will all be part of the Internet of Power.
Ovo To Launch ‘Half-Price’ Electric Vehicle Charging Tariff
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Guardian.https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/jan/26/ovo-to-launch-half-price-electric-vehicle-charging-tariff
This is the sub-title.
New Drive Anytime rate bids to mirror rivals’ off-peak tariff with savings of 60% a year, supplier claims.
If I had a car, it might be a good deal.
The Power Of Community In A Crisis
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Business Green.
This is the introductory paragraph.
OVO’s Kate Weinberg reflects on a hugely eventful year since the energy giant debuted its ground-breaking Plan Zero strategy
I have been using OVO for some years now and have not had the smallest quibble in that time.
They salso handle the Feed-In Tariff for my solar panels.
OVO Energy To Lead Major Zero-Carbon Heat Trial
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Current News.
These initial three paragraphs explain the project.
OVO Energy is to lead one of the UK’s largest ever zero-carbon heating trails, thanks to a £4.2 million grant from the government.
Kaluza, Sunamp, Retrofit Works and Parity Projects will work together with OVO Energy to install and operate zero-carbon heating systems worth up to £15,000 in 250 homes.
Mitusbishi’s Ecodan air source heat pump and Sunamp’s thermal batteries will be installed in the homes, creating electric, zero-carbon heating systems. Additionally, the homes involved will have up to £5,000 worth of energy efficiency improvements made.
That sounds like a sensible project to me, as we need to be zero-carbon in everything we do and heating is the largest source of emissions in the UK with twenty percent.
‘Flying Taxi’ Made In Britain Takes Off On Maiden Flight
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times.
There is a video of the plane, which can carry a 250 Kg payload.
I don’t think we’ll see practical aircraft of this type in large numbers for some years yet, but the technology is getting there with scores of projects starting up all over the world.
This project is funded by Stephen Fitzpatrict, who founded OVO Energy.
Ovo’s Kaluza Partners With Powervault To Offer Smart Storage Service
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Business Green.
Read the article, as it shows the way domestic energy will be going in the next few years.
- Every house or collection of houses will have a battery.
- If there is a parking space there will be a charging point for an electric car.
- Like my house, many will have solar panels.
- An intelligent control system will tie it all togerther to minimise electricity bills.
- I suspect in the next couple of years, I will fit an energy store and a car charging point in my garage.
I may not have a car, but if I sell the house, it would make it easier to sell.
This article on Podpoint is entitled Adding Value To Your Property With EV Charging.
It makes some interesting points.
Ovo Partners With Glen Dimplex To Deliver Smart Heating
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Utility Week.
If you read the article, you will find out how the humble electric storage heater could be joining the smart electricity grid.
This is a paragraph.
It says the facility to store excess energy can lower the cost of electrification by reducing the need for backup generation and investment in the power grid to increase its peak capacity. Analysis by Imperial College London has indicated that deploying smart flexible heating could cut decarbonisation costs by £3.9 billion per year.
This is going to be technology to watch.
Especially, if your heating needs are best met by some form of electric storage heaters.
Mitsubishi Takes 20% Stake In Ovo Energy
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Newscabal.
A few points from the article.
- The stake values Ovo at around a billion pounds.
- £216million will be injected to help fund international expansion.
- Ovo is now the seventh largest energy supplier in the UK.
- Ovo will be investing more in software to reduce domestic energy bills.
- Mitsuibishi are already involved in wind power in the UK and own Artemis Intelligent Power, who are devekloping their hydraulic technology for wind turbines.
The article is very much one that should be read.
The Anonymous Widower 