Fiddling while Rome burns?

Crossed posts GrannyGravy

MaizieD he’s been looking at YouTube videos about them - there’s lots on there.

Yes, Cossy apparently you can put them on balconies etc - quite common abroad apparently.

I’ll ask DH for a couple of YouTube links.

MaizieD I just put in plug-in solar panels UK into Google, there is plenty of information and a variety of different products available.

LizzieDrip

My DH has been researching the ‘plug in’ solar pamels online for some time. He definitely interested in putting some on the roof of our large south facing shed.

I'm wondering how they could be attached. Has your DH got that sorted, LizzieDrip?

Has he any idea what they would weigh? I'm wondering about the possibility on a southwest facing outbuilding with a corrugated iron roof (which is connected to our electricity mains, of course)

Perhaps we should have a thread where MrLD could, if willing, share his research results .

Can you use these “plug-ins” on balconies and decks??

panels🙈

My DH has been researching the ‘plug in’ solar pamels online for some time. He definitely interested in putting some on the roof of our large south facing shed.

Doodledog

I read that Lidl and Aldi are going to sell solar panels for £400. I don't know if that includes installation or accessories necessary to DIY, but it might be worth keeping a look out.

Understand they’re plug straight in and off you go. With a top floor flat that is in full sun all day, we’ll certainly be picking some up.

The other worrying factor just being made public is that oil is used in the manufacture of fertilisers, which have already doubled in price so farmers are going to find it very difficult with that on top of the cost of fuel. One farmer on the radio had his fertiliser ready for this year’s crops but it is now worth twice what he paid for it so he is thinking of selling it as it will fetch much more than the barley he was intending to grow. This shortage affects all countries so food production is going to suffer and prices.

Calendargirl

Re solar panels.

Not all properties or buildings are suitable for them, however.

They have to be right pitch, position, not overshadowed by trees, buildings etc.

No use putting them on places where they won’t be any use.

Indeed.

The panels don't work with trees overshadowing - 12 big trees were removed behind work buildings. The panels applied south facing.

Doodledog

I read that Lidl and Aldi are going to sell solar panels for £400. I don't know if that includes installation or accessories necessary to DIY, but it might be worth keeping a look out.

Thank you. I'll look.

We've solar panels, lessening energy use in work related buildings.

Re solar panels.

Not all properties or buildings are suitable for them, however.

They have to be right pitch, position, not overshadowed by trees, buildings etc.

No use putting them on places where they won’t be any use.

I read that Lidl and Aldi are going to sell solar panels for £400. I don't know if that includes installation or accessories necessary to DIY, but it might be worth keeping a look out.

Allira

The Severn Barrage, if it went ahead, would provide only a tiny percentage of the country's needs.
It will hardly sustain the number of homes in that area and thousands more are being built or proposed. Add to that industry, electric cars; all in all about 5% of the country's needs.

We cannot take over more and more agricultural land for wind farms as we need to become more, not less, self-sufficient.

I am not keen on nuclear energy.

If there wasn't a climate emergency, I wouldn't be keen on nuclear either. It's not a comfortable option.
However think it is the best option (along with renewables) for the position we all find ourselves in, desperately trying to get global warming under control.

Chardy

Excellent news that in 2028, new homes will have to have solar panels and heat pumps built in
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjw7klkjm2o

But solar panels could have been mandatory ten years ago, or even earlier. In 2004, California was setting goals for solar panels.

Not just on new homes, all that roof space on factories, warehouses etc too.

But solar panels could have been mandatory ten years ago, or even earlier
Yes, I agree.

Excellent news that in 2028, new homes will have to have solar panels and heat pumps built in
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjw7klkjm2o

But solar panels could have been mandatory ten years ago, or even earlier. In 2004, California was setting goals for solar panels.

Grammaretto

My DS, who lives in New Zealand, told me today that they have about 25 days of oil left in reserve to fuel their country which is very dependent on imports and on petrol.

Although they are 85% self sufficient in renewable electricity, they haven't invested in electric cars.

On hearing this I really started to think that we too should be worried and the first thing I did was change my plans for today for a walk in the Border hills - dependant on a car - to somewhere closer to home. A small thing but you have to start somewhere.

Shouldn't we all be mindful that this war in the Middle East isn't going away any time soon and plan our trips and holidays very carefully?

In a word…yes

The Severn Barrage, if it went ahead, would provide only a tiny percentage of the country's needs.
It will hardly sustain the number of homes in that area and thousands more are being built or proposed. Add to that industry, electric cars; all in all about 5% of the country's needs.

We cannot take over more and more agricultural land for wind farms as we need to become more, not less, self-sufficient.

I am not keen on nuclear energy.

25Avalon

We obviously still need oil and gas at the moment. We cannot rely solely on sustainable energy as yet.This is why we should be using our own oil from the North Sea but be investing in projects such as the Severn Barage which works even if the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. When we have this and other projects in place we can switch off North Sea oil production. It doesn’t make sense to be shipping it in from elsewhere where the supply is endangered. It’s hypocritical and unrealistic.

I agree

25Avalon

We obviously still need oil and gas at the moment. We cannot rely solely on sustainable energy as yet.This is why we should be using our own oil from the North Sea but be investing in projects such as the Severn Barage which works even if the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. When we have this and other projects in place we can switch off North Sea oil production. It doesn’t make sense to be shipping it in from elsewhere where the supply is endangered. It’s hypocritical and unrealistic.

I think the world will be mainly reliant on oil for a very long time to come and this disruption is what happens when someone acts recklessly.

It's all so unnecessary, isn't it?

Because someone, whom I need not name, does not realise that actions have consequences.
Or 🤔 perhaps he did. "Drill, baby, drill"

We obviously still need oil and gas at the moment. We cannot rely solely on sustainable energy as yet.This is why we should be using our own oil from the North Sea but be investing in projects such as the Severn Barage which works even if the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. When we have this and other projects in place we can switch off North Sea oil production. It doesn’t make sense to be shipping it in from elsewhere where the supply is endangered. It’s hypocritical and unrealistic.

Indeed Cossy. Their Government has plans to ration.

Government reveals details of fuel crisis rationing plan - and who will be prioritised | RNZ News share.google/YxmecKAfCqyG3FLYQ

I agree with you who say it's an unnecessary war - Trump's war.

However if what we call scaremongering wakes up our leaders to speed up all efforts to protect lives and the planet so be it.

Doodledog

*Shouldn't we all be mindful that this war in the Middle East isn't going away any time soon and plan our trips and holidays very carefully?*
Yes, I think so. Quite apart from the risk of flight cancellations and disruption to travel plans there is a strong chance that prices will rise and there will be shortages of many things, and even the possibility of rationing if the war drags on. In some ways, rationing of air miles, diesel and petrol is probably better brought in sooner as later, as if people carry on as we are doing we will run out faster.

It's not just holidays - we import so much, and it makes sense to think about where the things we (as individuals) buy have come from, and whether there are alternatives we could switch to. We (my husband and I🫅) have a mostly vegetarian diet, for instance, and a lot of the vegetables we eat are Mediterranean in origin. I don't relish the thought of eating turnips at every meal, but if needs must, I'd rather have some decent recipes to hand.

There is talk of medical shortages too. There may be little we can do about that, but again, where there are alternatives to some of the things we are used to taking, it would pay to find out about them before it's urgent.

At this stage though, all we can reasonably do is keep a watching brief and trust that those who have more information will make sensible arrangements to conserve essentials and ensure a certain amount of fairness if distribution has to be controlled.

It's all so unnecessary, isn't it?

Yes, all so unnecessary!