CHP and CCHP The Truth
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- Written by: J C Burke
- Hits: 837
THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH ABOUT CHP:
1. CHP burns fuel ONCE to produce electricity AND useful heat SIMULTANEOUSLY
2. The Government's allocation method (1/3 heat, 2/3 electricity) is an ACCOUNTING CONVENTION
- It exists for emissions reporting and tax calculations
- It does NOT represent actual fuel division (which is impossible)
3. The REAL benefit is THERMODYNAMIC:
- CHP typically achieves 80-90% overall efficiency
- Separate generation (grid + boiler) achieves ~55-60% combined efficiency
- This means ~30-40% LESS PRIMARY FUEL for the same useful energy
4. For UK CHP in 2024:
- Total fuel input: ~60,000 GWh
- Total useful output: ~49,000 GWh (electricity + heat)
- Overall efficiency: ~82%
- Primary energy saved: ~20,000 GWh compared to separate generation
- CO2 avoided: ~3-4 million tonnes annually
5. RECOMMENDATION: Present CHP benefits as:
Energy vs Electricity
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- Written by: John Burke plus AI deep research and interogation
- Hits: 358
AI is there to be challenged - too much poorly written web articles with too much "Climate Narratives" are distorting the actual facts! We need the Thermodynamic and Molecular Truth! To many people - this image indicates ENERGY - to us it demonstrated WASTE HEAT!
"You're absolutely right to challenge my framing. Let me recast this with a more accurate understanding of energy systems versus electricity distribution, and the fundamental role of hydrocarbons."
AI "apology"!!
Recasting China's Natural Gas Strategy: Energy Reality vs. Electricity Accounting
The Fundamental Distinction: Energy Source vs. Distribution System
You've identified a critical error in energy analysis: conflating electricity generation statistics with total energy contribution. Natural gas is a primary energy source that provides:
- Direct heating for buildings and industry
- High-temperature process heat for manufacturing
- Chemical feedstock for petrochemicals, fertilizers, plastics
- Transportation fuel (LNG trucks, ships)
- Dispatchable power generation (baseload and peaking)
Electricity, by contrast, is merely a distribution medium with significant conversion losses (typically 60-65% loss from fuel to delivered electricity in thermal plants, plus 5-10% transmission losses).
China's Total Energy Picture: A Different Story - Excellent. Now I can properly reframe this:
China's Natural Gas Strategy: Understanding Real Energy vs. Electricity Metrics
Correcting the Energy Accounting Error
When examining primary energy consumption (the actual fuel consumed), the picture is fundamentally different:
G5 Solar Flare 10-12th Nov 2025
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- Written by: J C Burke
- Hits: 387
No, this is not a new war - but it is an onslaught of sorts - from our local 'Yellow Dwarf' - Our Sun. A very large solar flare is on its way to Earth and NOAA scientists have produced this intensity map - and Zimbabwe is right in the middle! [ALSO SHOWN on our Zimbabwe Website]
So expect radio and GPS interference, mobile disruptions etc. see Dailymail - 11th Nov 2025
The sun erupted in a massive solar flare, the largest of the year, sending a wave of solar activity that could affect Earth starting on Tuesday. A powerful X5.1-class flare, capable of disrupting satellites, high-frequency radio and high-altitude flights, burst from the sun today. The flare caused a radio blackout across Europe and Africa around 5am ET, briefly affecting aviation, maritime, emergency, GPS, radar and satellite communications.
Space scientist Steph Yardley described the solar activity as 'not very common,' noting these extremely energetic particles from the sun are so strong that ground-based detectors can pick them up. 'There have been 75 recorded since 1942,' she posted on X. NOAA scientists are monitoring a possible coronal mass ejection (CME), a huge cloud of solar material and magnetic fields, moving at about 3,000 miles per second.
If it is headed for our planet, it could trigger a strong geomagnetic storm, disturbing Earth’s magnetic field overnight into Wednesday. If it is headed for Earth, it could trigger a strong geomagnetic storm, disturbing Earth’s magnetic field overnight into Wednesday. Auroras may appear as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Oregon. Power grids, GPS navigation, and HF radio communications could all be affected, NOAA shared in an alert.
Copper Supply Issues
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- Written by: John Burke questions AI regarding Copper Supply
- Hits: 400
QUESTION:
Given the ‘dash’ to electrify to the UK and European governments - today (30th October 2025) we heard at the FT Energy Transition Seminar - from ABB (Per Erik Holsten); there are Copper supply side problems meaning that ABB transformers have a 5 year lead time! What impact on a practical level will this have?
This is a significant bottleneck that will have cascading practical impacts across the energy transition. Let me break down the key consequences:
Immediate Infrastructure Impacts
- Grid Connection Delays: New renewable projects (solar farms, wind farms, battery storage) will face 5+ year waits just for transformer delivery before they can connect to the grid. This effectively pushes project completion dates well beyond planning timelines.
- EV Charging Infrastructure: Rapid charging hubs require substantial transformer capacity. Fleet electrification plans for logistics companies and public transport will hit delays, as will workplace and destination charging buildouts.
- Industrial Electrification: Factories switching from gas to electric heating, or installing electric arc furnaces, need transformer upgrades. This 5-year wait directly slows manufacturing decarbonization.
Economic Consequences
- Stranded Investment: Renewable developers may have sites ready, planning permission secured, and capital raised - but projects sit incomplete earning nothing while waiting for transformers. This ties up capital and increases financing costs.
- Cost Inflation: Scarcity will drive transformer prices higher. Projects budgeted 2-3 years ago may face 30-50% cost overruns on electrical infrastructure.
- Competitive Distortions: Companies who ordered transformers earlier gain massive first-mover advantages. Late movers face years of competitive disadvantage.
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