Cold winter in UK

eXpat · **Joined:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 12:00 am **Posts:** 1677

Winter crisis could see UK 'run out of gas in hours'

Quote:

The UK could run out of gas within six hours this winter, the Observer has learned. The revelation has sparked a row between the Conservatives and Labour over who is doing more to keep the heating on. Last winter, the UK was left with only three days of reserves when foreign energy companies started exporting gas to supply their European customers after Russia cut supplies that used a pipeline through Ukraine.

A spokeswoman for Ed Miliband's energy and climate change department said that under a civil contingency act he had the power to halt exports from the UK if the Queen had signed the order.

Charles Hendry, the shadow energy minister, told the Observer that the current minimum requirements on companies to keep gas in storage were not tough enough to safeguard the security of the UK's energy supplies.

Labour hit back this weekend, accusing the Conservatives of "blighting progress" on building more gas storage facilities by blocking planning reforms proposed by the government.

If its storage facilities are full, the UK has enough gas supplies for about 16 days, based on average demand. France's storage capacity would last a maximum of 91 days and Germany's 73 days.

But National Grid has told energy companies that they only need to fill tanks by a minimum of 2.3% this winter. If all gas imports to the UK ground to a halt, for example if Gazprom turned off supplies to Europe, and supplies from the North Sea were disrupted, this amount would keep the country's households and businesses supplied for just six hours on a cold day. In France, regulators require companies to keep their facilities at least 85% full from November.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/nov/01/winter-crisis-gas-supplies
Oh dear, dear...

GASMON · **Posted:** Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:20 pm

A bad situation.

Every year the UK overwinters on a wing and a prayer, as far as gas supply goes. We JUST got thru' 07-08 & 08-09 was a bit tighter.

If gas demand outstrips supply, the big interuptible industrial loads are shut down, to keep gas flowing in the low pressure networks to domestic customers. Unfortunately many of these big loads are gas fired electric power stations. Some are "dual fuel" gas / oil so can switch to oil. many cannot as their turbines are gas only. Therfore prepare for concurrent power cuts also. Don't forget that you need electricity to keep your domestic gas fired central heating working (pump, boiler controls), so it could be a double whammy !!

If you are in UK, don't rely solely on your gas central heating. Have a backup heating and cooking source. Properly installed natural gas fire with NO electronics, bottle gas cooker (camping stove), bottle gas space heater, LV electric lighting etc) - Just a bit of caution - BE SAFE. I've been called out to far to many incidents, caused by customer stupidity / negligence on basic safety issues.

By the way, as I have mentioned before, if the low pressure gas network goes down in a big way (say a large town or city)- forget it. MANY DAYS to get supplies back on - a logistical nightmare coupled with the fact that trained and competent manpower at National Grid is mighty thin on the ground these days.

Arseholes in suits are running the place these days, all the engineers have retired (I'm one of them).

Gasmon

truecougarblue · **Joined:** Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:00 am **Posts:** 578

Quote:

Arseholes in suits are running the place these days, all the engineers have retired (I'm one of them).

A succinctly stated summary of why western civilization is collapsing.

MD · **Posted:** Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:01 pm

truecougarblue wrote:

Quote:

Arseholes in suits are running the place these days, all the engineers have retired (I'm one of them).

A succinctly stated summary of why western civilization is collapsing.

*Ding Ding Ding!*

davep · **Posted:** Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:12 pm

Well you could always take the Eurotunnel to France. Here we have sustainable forests (that are increasing in overall surface) and cheap land.

Just learn the language and come over! The food and wine is better too :-D

eXpat · **Joined:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 12:00 am **Posts:** 1677

davep wrote:

Well you could always take the Eurotunnel to France. Here we have sustainable forests (that are increasing in overall surface) and cheap land.

Just learn the language and come over! The food and wine is better too :-D

Particularly the wine...

Ainan · **Joined:** Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:00 am **Posts:** 455

truecougarblue wrote:

Quote:

Arseholes in suits are running the place these days, all the engineers have retired (I'm one of them).

A succinctly stated summary of why western civilization is collapsing.

The most truthful quote I have heard in a long time. The brilliant Engineers who constructed our modern world are dead or dying.

Cabrone · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:44 pm

GASMON wrote:

Arseholes in suits are running the place these days, all the engineers have retired (I'm one of them).

I wonder how many of our potential engineers have been siphoned off to play at the big casino in the city of london?

When you get to be paid eye watering amounts to screw around with other people's money and then get bailed out by the proles when you make a complete horlicks of everything who'd want to be an engineer?

Soon the only career options for kids will be A) City spiv or B) Contestant on the X factor.

IslandCrow · **Posted:** Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:35 am

I notice the '6 hours' part is based on stopping of both imports and local production (ie all North Sea production). I would guess that the chances of these two happening at the same time are very small.

While I find the levels of storage low (and this is not good for 'the aged p' - as Dickens put it), I also find so much spin in the article that I am surprised the author is writing for a paper and not serving a in a more 'political' role.

Cold winter in UK

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