The Death Of Fossil Fuels

[Grumble]

Whilst this - the solar panel bit at least - sounds rather amazing, we should remember that only about 20% of the world's final energy consumption is supplied by electricity. But on the other hand, that doesn't imply we need 4 times more on top. Electricity can usually be used with about 2 to 3 times the efficiency of other energy sources, at least for common large fossil fuel powered applications like road vehicles and space heating. So replacing the rest - in terms of gross energy requirement - would only require about 1.5 to 2 times more.

That 20% figure is wrong though, that’s not final energy usage. The figure Michael Liebreich uses is over 30% here: https://about.bnef.com/insights/clean-e ... et-part-i/ so we’re over 50% better off than you think

[IvanV]

Whilst this - the solar panel bit at least - sounds rather amazing, we should remember that only about 20% of the world's final energy consumption is supplied by electricity. But on the other hand, that doesn't imply we need 4 times more on top. Electricity can usually be used with about 2 to 3 times the efficiency of other energy sources, at least for common large fossil fuel powered applications like road vehicles and space heating. So replacing the rest - in terms of gross energy requirement - would only require about 1.5 to 2 times more.

That 20% figure is wrong though, that’s not final energy usage. The figure Michael Liebreich uses is over 30% here: https://about.bnef.com/insights/clean-e ... et-part-i/ so we’re over 50% better off than you think

The article you quote makes exactly the same argument as I do. Ie, in matter of fact it is currently 80%, but when you replace it, it will be less. Though my adjustment is more optimistic than in the article.

[Grumble]

As she’s looking to remove the majority of subsidy payments for heat pumps, maybe she could soften the blow by reducing VAT on them, like Belgium is doing (down to 6% in Jan).

I think the only thing that’s happened for heat pumps is the addition of air to air to the boiler replacement scheme. Which is good. Not sure why this is mooted as being good for small homes particularly, big office blocks these days are normally heated with air to air heat pumps.

[Gfamily]

Feeling lazy, I just asked an AI how much fuel duty and VAT you would pay on fuel for an average car if you drove 7,000 miles in a year, and the answer is about £1400, or about 20p per mile.

My (non AI) calculations were different (for 7000miles/year average)
average consumption (petrol) -> 39mpg ==> 180gallons
Fuel cost (@£1.32/litre ==> ~£1100
Of which VAT @20% ==> £188.33
Duty Paid (£2.40/gallon) ==> £432
Total tax ~£620

I've done an extra step -
A link to a Google Sheets which has costs and levies for ICE (petrol) EVs (charge at home and charge elsewhere) and Petrol Hybrid

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

You can play around with the numbers to see what taxes/levies are collected with/without a per/mile levy, and how they compare with the amounts collected for ICEs

Updated for differential 'per mile' rates as will be implemented

[nekomatic]

Not sure why this is mooted as being good for small homes particularly

In terms of retrofitting to a house that previously had standard central heating, I guess smaller homes are more feasible for converting than large ones because it’s easier to install the necessary ducts.

IMG_1345.jpeg (24.52 KiB) Viewed 275 times

[Lew Dolby]

and there are monobloc air-to-air pumps that heat just a single room. Nothing but a duct cover on the outside all the mechanism is on the interior. Just needs two 6inch-ish holes through an external wall and a power supply. No extra ducting needed.

Might be just the thing for our 1960's 3 bed bungalow.

[Gfamily]

and there are monobloc air-to-air pumps that heat just a single room. Nothing but a duct cover on the outside all the mechanism is on the interior. Just needs two 6inch-ish holes through an external wall and a power supply. No extra ducting needed.

Might be just the thing for our 1960's 3 bed bungalow.

And I believe a lot of them can also be used for air-con cooling of rooms in the summer.

[dyqik]

Not sure why this is mooted as being good for small homes particularly

In terms of retrofitting to a house that previously had standard central heating, I guess smaller homes are more feasible for converting than large ones because it’s easier to install the necessary ducts.

Robert de Niro in Brazil

Ducts are easy to install via attics, and a bit harder to install under raised floors. Ground storeys with concrete floors and middle floors are harder, although ground floors are often more open and more suited to wall mounted ductless systems.

[Grumble]

Not sure why this is mooted as being good for small homes particularly

In terms of retrofitting to a house that previously had standard central heating, I guess smaller homes are more feasible for converting than large ones because it’s easier to install the necessary ducts.

Robert de Niro in Brazil

You don’t need to install ducts though, you would have mini-splits. Wall mounted units that you’re probably familiar with from workplaces.

[dyqik]

Not sure why this is mooted as being good for small homes particularly

In terms of retrofitting to a house that previously had standard central heating, I guess smaller homes are more feasible for converting than large ones because it’s easier to install the necessary ducts.

Robert de Niro in Brazil

You don’t need to install ducts though, you would have mini-splits. Wall mounted units that you’re probably familiar with from workplaces.

It's probably most efficient to use a ducted split system for bedrooms upstairs, and ductless mini-splits for large downstairs spaces.

[Grumble]

In terms of retrofitting to a house that previously had standard central heating, I guess smaller homes are more feasible for converting than large ones because it’s easier to install the necessary ducts.

Robert de Niro in Brazil

You don’t need to install ducts though, you would have mini-splits. Wall mounted units that you’re probably familiar with from workplaces.

It's probably most efficient to use a ducted split system for bedrooms upstairs, and ductless mini-splits for large downstairs spaces.

Efficient for heating, not necessarily efficient for installation

[dyqik]

You don’t need to install ducts though, you would have mini-splits. Wall mounted units that you’re probably familiar with from workplaces.

It's probably most efficient to use a ducted split system for bedrooms upstairs, and ductless mini-splits for large downstairs spaces.

Efficient for heating, not necessarily efficient for installation

Installing ducts in attics with a central unit is efficient for installation, and usually more efficient for heating, unless you've got insulation between every room in your house.

Larger units are more efficient to run than smaller units, and this outweighs the efficiency reduction of heating less used rooms to a few degrees higher than they would be otherwise. Heat pumps are also more efficient if you keep the conditioned space at a constant temperature, rather than turning it down when you leave for a few hours.