Scrutable

lpm wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 23, 2023 12:31 pm

They tried to enter the BEV market with the BZX81 but the wheels fell off. Not a metaphor. The wheels literally fell off.

It's a plausible conspiracy theory that some at Toyota deliberately wanted it to fail. Their hydrogen car also went pop. Though this time not literally.

The transition to clean energy is happening worldwide, and it’s unstoppable. It’s not a question of ‘if,’ it’s just a matter of ‘how soon’—and the sooner the better for all of us.

The president of Cop28, Sultan Al Jaber, has claimed there is “no science” indicating that a phase-out of fossil fuels is needed to restrict global heating to 1.5C, the Guardian and the Centre for Climate Reporting can reveal.

Al Jaber also said a phase-out of fossil fuels would not allow sustainable development “unless you want to take the world back into caves”.
...
Al Jaber spoke with Robinson at a She Changes Climate event. Robinson said: “We’re in an absolute crisis that is hurting women and children more than anyone … and it’s because we have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuel. That is the one decision that Cop28 can take and in many ways, because you’re head of Adnoc, you could actually take it with more credibility.”

Al Jaber said: “I accepted to come to this meeting to have a sober and mature conversation. I’m not in any way signing up to any discussion that is alarmist. There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C.”

Fishnut wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 03, 2023 2:10 pm

President of Cop28 says there's 'no evidence' that fossil fuels need to be phased out to avert climate change,

The president of Cop28, Sultan Al Jaber, has claimed there is “no science” indicating that a phase-out of fossil fuels is needed to restrict global heating to 1.5C, the Guardian and the Centre for Climate Reporting can reveal.

Al Jaber also said a phase-out of fossil fuels would not allow sustainable development “unless you want to take the world back into caves”.
...
Al Jaber spoke with Robinson at a She Changes Climate event. Robinson said: “We’re in an absolute crisis that is hurting women and children more than anyone … and it’s because we have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuel. That is the one decision that Cop28 can take and in many ways, because you’re head of Adnoc, you could actually take it with more credibility.”

Al Jaber said: “I accepted to come to this meeting to have a sober and mature conversation. I’m not in any way signing up to any discussion that is alarmist. There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C.”

Grumble wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:04 pm

I’m shocked to hear that the head of an oil producer doesn’t think we should phase out fossil fuel use.

“unless you want to take the world back into caves”
...
“I’m not in any way signing up to any discussion that is alarmist.”

IvanV wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 3:22 pm

Finally, it is mass news that air source heat pumps are now so much better, they are energetically feasible for a high proportion of British houses, without expensive retrofits to achieve modern standards of insulation, or new radiators. The big step forward is provided by better refrigerants. Not only are these less environmentally harmful if leaked, but also can provide:

The same output temperatures as gas boilers
While still delivering a COP of 3

That second point is particularly significant, because it has always been possible to run heat pumps at higher temperature outputs, but this this was typically sufficiently detrimental to the COP that the economics were horrible. A COP of 3 is typically the point at which the economics get nice. These heat pumps will also provide a very nice COP if you can run at lower temperature. And you may have the ability to adjust the operating temperature to the weather and benefit from that.

This is not to say it suddenly becomes easy to retrofit heatpumps in every house or apartment. This is only energetic feasibility. Practical fitting feasibility can still be difficult, especially in smaller properties, apartments, etc. The big issue is that they are large in comparison to gas boilers, and have more restrictions on where you can put them. And they don't provide the kind of instant hot water necessary for having a shower or whatever, so you will either need the kind of hot water store that combi boilers avoid, or else a separate electric provider of instant hot water. Electric showers demonstrate that these do not have to be large, but they are less efficient.

bjn wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 3:35 pm

IvanV wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 3:22 pm

Finally, it is mass news that air source heat pumps are now so much better, they are energetically feasible for a high proportion of British houses, without expensive retrofits to achieve modern standards of insulation, or new radiators. The big step forward is provided by better refrigerants. Not only are these less environmentally harmful if leaked, but also can provide:

The same output temperatures as gas boilers
While still delivering a COP of 3

That second point is particularly significant, because it has always been possible to run heat pumps at higher temperature outputs, but this this was typically sufficiently detrimental to the COP that the economics were horrible. A COP of 3 is typically the point at which the economics get nice. These heat pumps will also provide a very nice COP if you can run at lower temperature. And you may have the ability to adjust the operating temperature to the weather and benefit from that.

This is not to say it suddenly becomes easy to retrofit heatpumps in every house or apartment. This is only energetic feasibility. Practical fitting feasibility can still be difficult, especially in smaller properties, apartments, etc. The big issue is that they are large in comparison to gas boilers, and have more restrictions on where you can put them. And they don't provide the kind of instant hot water necessary for having a shower or whatever, so you will either need the kind of hot water store that combi boilers avoid, or else a separate electric provider of instant hot water. Electric showers demonstrate that these do not have to be large, but they are less efficient.

I find it weird that propane is the magic refrigerant in question that gave the improved efficiency. I would have thought that would have been tried long ago.

bjn wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 3:35 pm

I find it weird that propane is the magic refrigerant in question that gave the improved efficiency. I would have thought that would have been tried long ago.

Sciolus wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:58 pm

[snip] Unlike natural gas, propane is denser than air [/snip]

Martin_B wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:52 pm

Sciolus wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:58 pm

[snip] Unlike natural gas, propane is denser than air [/snip]

Ahem: "Unlike methane, propane is denser than air." Propane is a natural gas, too, and I've dealt with several natural gas mixtures which are denser than air.

Gfamily wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:49 am

Martin_B wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:52 pm

Sciolus wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:58 pm

[snip] Unlike natural gas, propane is denser than air [/snip]

Ahem: "Unlike methane, propane is denser than air." Propane is a natural gas, too, and I've dealt with several natural gas mixtures which are denser than air.

True... but...
In UK we use 'natural gas' as the gas provided through the national gas grid, which is methane. The term distinguishes it from 'town gas' (aka 'coal gas') which was replaced in UK in the 1960s and 70s.

Unqualified, that's how it's understood.

insignificant wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 8:20 pm

My dehumidifer uses propane as a refrigerant (R290)

Perhaps the quantity needed for a heat pump presents more of a challenge

Grumble wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:19 am

That’s true, but worth noting that it’s a marketing term designed to make people feel good about using gas because they like the word “natural”.

Gfamily wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 03, 2024 5:29 pm

Grumble wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:19 am

That’s true, but worth noting that it’s a marketing term designed to make people feel good about using gas because they like the word “natural”.

It may seem a bit blunt, but that's bollocks.

Gfamily wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:49 am

Martin_B wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:52 pm

Sciolus wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:58 pm

[snip] Unlike natural gas, propane is denser than air [/snip]

Ahem: "Unlike methane, propane is denser than air." Propane is a natural gas, too, and I've dealt with several natural gas mixtures which are denser than air.

True... but...
In UK we use 'natural gas' as the gas provided through the national gas grid, which is methane. The term distinguishes it from 'town gas' (aka 'coal gas') which was replaced in UK in the 1960s and 70s.

Unqualified, that's how it's understood.