Huge increase in wholesale gas prices.

[marktownend]

8 hours ago, adam2 said:

I was not predicting any need for a black start, nor mass starvation or hypothermia.

No, but Kerry did...

[kerry davies]

600,000 added to the 12 million in the UK already in absolute poverty in the biggest increase in 30 years is not insignificant. 

 

[cedd]

I'll not add to the discussions above, but will update that the venue I mentioned ages ago who'd switched to biomass/pellets in place of gas boilers have made a huge saving on their gas costs and are very happy with it. A little weekly maintenance required - sweeping/vacuuming out the burner, but otherwise it's been pretty seamless. The biggest consideration seems to be the delivery and storage of the pellets. 

[alistermorton]

Are these the same biomass that Drax uses? There's a lot of controversy over whether they are as "green" as they're made out to be, and questions over whether they should attract the tax/duty breaks that they do as a fuel, so that could change.

Edited December 10, 2024 by alistermorton

[adam2]

13 hours ago, cedd said:

I'll not add to the discussions above, but will update that the venue I mentioned ages ago who'd switched to biomass/pellets in place of gas boilers have made a huge saving on their gas costs and are very happy with it. A little weekly maintenance required - sweeping/vacuuming out the burner, but otherwise it's been pretty seamless. The biggest consideration seems to be the delivery and storage of the pellets. 

Such installations can be most worthwhile but are not always as reliable as was hoped for. I would recommend retaining a gas or oil boiler as a standby in case of failure of the biomass boiler.

The wood pellet fuel is not always green or renewable, if produced within the UK it is probably fairly green, but if imported probably not.

The wood pellets are somewhat vulnerable to pilferage/being used for other purposes, and precautions should be taken.

[cedd]

I think, being completely honest, the venue weren't too interested in the green credentials of the fuel source, it was more a case of surviving through winter without a crippling gas bill (£75 plus per hour to heat the place). The boiler was archaic, as were the original cast iron radiators and pipework. The pellets still use the same central heating system to transfer their heat, but allows the use of a "low and slow" approach, which makes better use of the building's ability to retain heat in the thick stone walls. They use a UK supplier so that's at least helpful, but I too have always been a bit suspicious of any energy source that involves "burning stuff". They also bought "Bertha" - a huge (laid down fridge freezer size) 3 phase electric fan heater. It lives under the front of the stage and for 20 minutes before a house opens will give it a quick blast. This really takes the edge off of the place and then the audience and background heat from the central heating keep things comfortable through a performance. It works remarkably well. 

If you think we've got it bad, spare a thought for heritage railways. Quality coal is becoming tougher and tougher to source. Now the power station market has dried up in the UK, the main reason for importing it in bulk has gone. Some narrow gauge railways I know of are trialling "smokeless" coal alternatives with limited success. They come with their own challenges like coking up the fire grates and boiler tubes. Even if future policies make allowances for coal usage in certain scenarios, with demand dropping the prices will climb.