TopGun

Actually I very nearly made that point about gas in terms of big power stations myself but it still represents the best partner to wind. I have been involved with the new Marchwood power station. Now that it is finally up and running (bloody substandard pipes) it will be a valuable plant, located where it is. In fact there is an argument to site at least one more 1GW+ plant on the south coast, particularly since Dungeness is unlikely to have a new nuke.

Which is one reason why it and other oil-fired plants are being closed. Gas is a far better option to switch off and on as it can go from cold to full output within minutes. An excellent partner for wind energy.

I think that explains the position quite clearly. The grazing ponies are quite safe!

Agreed. It doesn't cost that much in relative terms to keep conventional plants ticking over so they can ratchet up the power when wind output drops. As an oil-fired plant Fawley has been ticking over for most of the time for years and only goes full blast at rare peak power periods such as the last couple of weeks. People seem to use the required existence of a spinning reserve composed of conventional power generation as some kind of warped logic to deride the value of wind generation. In fact, it's easy: use wind as first option when available and have conventional back ups that kick in when required. That way we get energy security and reduce carbon emissions.

Each of the newly announced offshore wind turbine zones will still have to go through the planning process - in this case, with the newly formed Infrastructure Planning Commission. The IPC will consult with Southampton Council and other local councils as well as with marine organisations, environmental groups, shipping and fishing lobbies etc so the NIMBYS will still get their opportunity to try and shout down a perfectly good offshore energy scheme that will reduce the need for onshore wind farms and other more conventional power plants.

In two minds about this. Probably ok if they are the basic £100 laptops that were being extolled a few months ago.

Clearly TDD is having a dull moment. Industrialisation since the 1700s is why it is different.

That's a good piece of detective work by the Pompey fan.

But none of the supermarkets offer the bags for life on the self-service tills... which I find greatly annoying!

Plastic is a poisonous herring to birdlife.

Canatxx?

Plus 1.

This weather has brought some interesting power issues: * National Grid is asking power suppliers to purchase more wholesale electricity from coal-fired power stations and cut back on gas-fired electricity supply as demand for gas is so high. Good news if you have Drax shares! * However that it not a reason for St George to have a pop at renewables. DECC figures released yesterday show that in Q3 2009 39% more electricity was generated from wind than in Q3 2008 and that trend means that the UK is starting to take more of its power from renewables. Yes, fossil fuels are required as spinning reserve but that was always going to be the case. * Tory Energy Spokesman Greg Clark accused the government of ****ing stuff up and said that due to the unprecedented demand on gas "there is only 8 days gas supply left." Actually that is true at any time of the year as 8 days gas storage is all the physical storage capacity allows. This demonstrates Clark does not know his subject well enough and that there is a dire need for any government to increase gas storage supply by pushing schemes through planning.

And still coming down. I'm abandoning the office now so I get home without getting stuck.

After HMRC I believe.

There was an interesting piece on R5 Live this morning just after 7am that focused on the potential DNS abuses that might be committed by healthcare & insurance companies who might categorise health risks via DNA sequences. That's a far more compelling argument than the crime argument to me to not have a universal database.

Now they have employed a convicted fraudster to help with finances... you couldn't make it up! http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/03/portsmouth-debts-transfer-embargo Faraj took control in October, through an investment vehicle Falcondrone Ltd, though there is confusion over the roles of a number of figures said to be connected with him, and the club. Daniel Azougy, a convicted fraudster who was sentenced to five months in prison by the Tel Aviv magistrates court in 2001 and disbarred from practising as a lawyer for 14 years in Israel, has been employed on a short-term contract to "help deal with the club's finances", the club confirmed.

18,700 attendance at SMS vs non-league opposition, 11,500 at Fratton Park...

Check out the Peter Storrie audio interview after today's game at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/8435997.stm It sounds like he has no idea of what is going on and he also sounds like a broken man! He claims the owners are working on new loans, players may be sold, administration is possible.

Welcome aboard PES

Which of course entirely ignores the fact that the MP caught on Clapham Common, Ron Brown, belonged to the Labour Party.

I was wondering what would be the fastest F1 car of all time around a particular circuit. Would it be the latest cars as they employ the latest permissible technology, would it be the previous generation with more driver aides or perhaps even a car from the turbo era? Any candidates?

The Tories are saying that DNA profiles taken by the police are not being wiped from the records quickly enough if people are innocent or are new model citizens. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8434713.stm Always a good one for debate. IMO everyone should be DNA stamped, then there are no issues. Please discuss.

I imagine boxing day game and result will bring out a few plastics again. 19,000.

Apart from it being a very timorous interviewer, the radio piece attached to this article after today's game demonstrates that Avram Grant has no idea about what is going on at Pompey board level. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8429047.stm