Charlie StrossMay 16, 2024

UK government planning nuclear site in Scotland

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9eze1dzy5no

This is pointless: Scotland is already self-sufficient on renewables. What we need is a new grid interconnect between Scotland and England so we can export our surplus energy to the south!

It's all about the lobbyists, of course:

"Its ambitions for up to a quarter of all electricity to come from nuclear power by 2050 are being led by government-backed body Great British Nuclear." (Who?)

UK government planning nuclear site in Scotland - Alister Jack

The SNP government has effectively banned new nuclear developments north of the border.

BBC News
Show threadInsertUserMay 16, 2024
@cstross At least they're planning on building one _somewhere_. Beats the usual plan to try to shut down polluting stuff and replace it with something intermittent.
Show threadCharlie Stross
@InsertUser What we are sorely lacking (and by "we" I mean "our species") is grid-scale storage batteries. (Pumped hydro is limited by geology.) If we had bigger batteries we'd be fine with renewables except for air/sea transport. The electrochemistry is well understood and we don't need lithium for it: iron isn't exactly in short supply. So it's to some extent a political problem (which the politicians blame on economics).
May 16, 2024 at 10:26amWeb
Show threadBruno NicolettiMay 16, 2024
@cstross @InsertUser In terms of GW, grid scale battery storage is set to overtake pumped hydro next year. The expectation is that it will overtake in terms on GWh in the early 30s.
Show threadDianora (Diane Bruce)May 16, 2024
@cstross @InsertUser The Edison battery lasts for a very long time. But rather heavy and as you said, not good for mobile applications.
Show threadJon PENNYCOOKMay 16, 2024

@cstross @InsertUser my local MP is one of those Conservatives who campaigns for more regulation on new things like grid batteries that could pollute rivers, but is more quiet on regulation on sewage outflows:-

https://www.maria4basingstoke.co.uk/news/basingstoke-mp-puts-forward-bill-parliament-improve-planning-and-safety-measures-battery

Basingstoke MP puts forward Bill in Parliament to improve planning and safety measures at battery storage facilities

Maria Miller