Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Nickbat on 12 December 2008, 15:48:00

Title: Blackout future
Post by: Nickbat on 12 December 2008, 15:48:00
Same story again, today:

"Britain faces a grim future of power blackouts and massive economic disruption unless urgent action is taken to head off a looming energy supply crunch, MPs said yesterday."

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article5327484.ece

I have this theory that when the government is warned about this for the 50th time, it will then decide to set up a committee to think about it. The committee will, of course, meet under the light of candles... :(
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: waspy on 12 December 2008, 16:01:44
I'd also better stock up my candles then ;)

Knowing how well the arses that run (loose term) this country  will deal with it & everything else they stick their grubby little fingers into >:( >:(
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: Debs. on 12 December 2008, 16:36:29
I`ll throw the DPDT switch 'off-grid' and power up my emergency generator......I love doing that when we have outages here; I have ALL my outside lights on and the rest of the houses in the valley are cursing me from their darkness! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: Martin_1962 on 12 December 2008, 16:38:58
We have known this for a couple of years.

We need to avoid shutting down any power stations until more are on stream
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: Proz on 12 December 2008, 16:41:07
No doubt Gordon Brown will suddenly put up the tax on candles then  >:( >:(
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: Kevin Wood on 12 December 2008, 16:52:28
I've got a diesel generator sitting in the shed and a few extension leads. I wonder what it'll be worth to my neighbours for their freezers NOT to defrost?  ;)

Kevin
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 12 December 2008, 17:25:07
You are right Nickbat, every so often over years we hear of this pending electricity generating crisis from some very reputable sources, but nothing seems to change! :o :o

Nothing gets done, we "think" about building more power stations, either of coal or nuclear, but apart from the usual objections from the green sector, we keep rumbling on with our existing plant becoming even older, and in danger of apparent breakdowns. :'( :'(   Indeed I understand only recently the system was in danger of failure due to two power stations going unexpectedly 'offline' together.

In the mean time Gordon and his merry band talk, just talk, with no doubt the emergency generators at No.10 and in Parliament now being on constant 'red alert'! ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: STMO123 on 12 December 2008, 18:48:25
Quote
Same story again, today:

"Britain faces a grim future of power blackouts and massive economic disruption unless urgent action is taken to head off a looming energy supply crunch, MPs said yesterday."

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article5327484.ece

I have this theory that when the government is warned about this for the 50th time, it will then decide to set up a committee to think about it. The committee will, of course, meet under the light of candles... :(

It's the governments plan B if the energy companies wont lower prices. "Take that you bastards. You cant charge high prices if everyone's in the dark"
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: Andy B on 12 December 2008, 18:59:10
And there was me thinking that all these silly bloody windmills were the answer!  ;D  ;D  ;D
Scout Moor, near me, is such a blot on the landscape, 26 windmills will power up c40 000 households .... apparently.
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: Kevin Wood on 13 December 2008, 00:05:42
Quote
And there was me thinking that all these silly bloody windmills were the answer!  ;D  ;D  ;D
Scout Moor, near me, is such a blot on the landscape, 26 windmills will power up c40 000 households .... apparently.

Yep, and totally unpredictable when they're going to be generating, so they are no use to the grid, which needs fossil fuel stations on standby anyway just in case the wind drops.

No one is going to invest in efficient fossil fuelled / nuclear stations if the demand is not there 24/7, so we have created a stalemate where no-one is prepared to build any infrastructure, unless it's rather wind turbines with a huge government grant, no doubt.

Kevin
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: doog on 13 December 2008, 01:34:05
I dont care i have a petrol generator large enough run run most of my house off  so if the worst comes to the worst i will still be able to make a cuppa and watch tv   :y

Doug
Title: Re: Blackout future
Post by: jereboam on 13 December 2008, 02:08:53
Quote
I dont care i have a petrol generator large enough run run most of my house off  so if the worst comes to the worst i will still be able to make a cuppa and watch tv   :y

Doug

You won't be watching TV - the power to your local transmitter will have been cut.  Will the internet still be there, I wonder?