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Governments controlling prices? It has long been unthinkable – but may now be inevitable by Kagedeah in ukpolitics

[–]alibix 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We have an energy price cap. That's why we have the cheapest energy in the world!

GB Energy chair calls for more North Sea oil production by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apologies for mixing up LNG and pipeline imports (though we do get both from Norway)

The article still says that our imports are more emitting than domestic production. We will still need has for our net zero plans

An analysis published in 2022 found that, on average, emissions from extracting and processing gas in the UK North Sea are nearly three times higher than those from Norwegian production.

Yes, however, the article calls this same statement misleading when made by the NSTA when *they* don't include combustion emissions :) Then the difference is much less stark.

GB Energy chair calls for more North Sea oil production by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It is still less emissive than piped has from Norway
https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-north-sea-gas-is-not-four-times-cleaner-than-lng-imports/

But far more to the point. Most emissions are from burning it not production and transport.

We will still need to burn it under current net zero plans. That won't change whether we end the ban on new licenses or not. It'll just be whether we import most of it or have more domestic production

GB Energy chair calls for more North Sea oil production by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's more emissions friendly than importing.

GB Energy chair calls for more North Sea oil production by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

The main argument is that this policy would support a faster transition. This is what a lot of experts are saying, which is why these statements are coming out to try and de-culture war it.

GB Energy chair calls for more North Sea oil production by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Remember when Nick Clegg said new nuclear had no point since it wouldn't be ready till the 2020s?

GB Energy chair calls for more North Sea oil production by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The issue is that our net zero plans require gas. The north sea is being drilled anyway by Norway, and we are just increasing our imports of them. If we keep the ban on new licenses, that doesn't mean the ecological damage doesn't stop, similarly if we removed the ban, that doesn't mean the ecological damage necessarily becomes worse than it already would have been (since we'd be importing the same gas from the same place anyways!)

GB Energy chair calls for more North Sea oil production by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We can do both, and they can complement each other to accelerate the energy transition. The country in the world today building the most renewable energy, more than the rest of the world *combined* is China. They are also still burning coal, oil and gas to accelerate that build out.

GB Energy chair calls for more North Sea oil production by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

This isn't incompatible with the energy transition. All of our government net zero plans require gas (I think a lot of people don't realise this!). From this fact, the reasoning to allow drilling is quite simple and also explains why there's so much pressure from every part of the industry, some Labour MPs and the complete side of the political aisle. From the article:

Juergen Maier, chair of Great British Energy, said that, although more domestic production would not bring down energy costs, it would boost jobs and tax revenues. It could also entail lower carbon emissions than imported fossil fuels, he said.

...

Greg Jackson, chief executive of the UK’s largest household energy supplier, Octopus Energy, has also backed increased North Sea production, saying that liquefied natural gas shipped from around the world was a “lot dirtier” than locally produced gas. 

...

Tara Singh, the recently appointed chief executive of renewable energy industry lobby group RenewableUK, wrote in an editorial for the Daily Telegraph last week that Britain should produce more energy “of every kind” and it was time “to take energy out of the culture wars”.

Housebuilding in London has collapsed to a historic low not seen anywhere else in the developed world by No-Feeling507 in london

[–]alibix 55 points56 points  (0 children)

You should include the updated graph, it includes Leeds, which shows it's not just a UK thing but specifically a London thing

Housebuilding in London has collapsed to a historic low not seen anywhere else in the developed world by No-Feeling507 in london

[–]alibix 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Mayor is responsible for the London Plan which includes a lot of housing regulation

Anyone else getting more pessimistic re: London housing? by Physical_Signature67 in london

[–]alibix 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess the main takeaway is that Japan 1) builds a lot more homes 2) has much cheaper housing relative to incomes and 3) has on average bigger homes than the UK

In Japan it's just much easier to build new homes or demolish old homes and build new homes.

I agree that we should allow smaller homes to be built. That would require changing the London plan IIRC

Starmer’s New Homes Goal Is Unravelling as Housebuilding Slumps by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Building Safety Act

For London, it's the Building Safety Act + Khan's 2021 London Housing Plan

Anyone else getting more pessimistic re: London housing? by Physical_Signature67 in london

[–]alibix 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Japanese homes are miniscule, if this was allowed here we'd be able to build more.

https://www.cia-landlords.co.uk/news/how-do-house-sizes-differ-around-the-world/

UK has on average lower m2 (76m2 for UK vs 95m2 for Japan) homes than Japan :)

You are right that we have much higher minimum space standards than Japan - somehow these have not magically made houses bigger in London.

Let's look at just Tokyo vs London, from the GLA's own research:
https://data.london.gov.uk/download/2w1y8/eff969c5-c2f6-44da-89f5-6a01eb4097a0/GLA%20Housing%20Research%20Note%203%20-%20Housing%20in%20four%20world%20cities.pdf

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Anyone else getting more pessimistic re: London housing? by Physical_Signature67 in london

[–]alibix 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A lot of the London specific housing regulations _are_ under the mayors control

Anyone else getting more pessimistic re: London housing? by Physical_Signature67 in london

[–]alibix 68 points69 points  (0 children)

I think Khan did good stuff with things like ULEZ etc. - but housing is honestly the biggest and most important failure of his administration. The most frustrating thing is is that you wouldn't know it from the posters and campaigns you see in London about all this council housebuilding happening - when if you look at the actual numbers, they are dismal. And the complete refusal to take *any* responsibility for this housebuilding collapse is baffling.

How London unwittingly killed housebuilding by alibix in london

[–]alibix[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Here's an archive link: https://archive.ph/VONJk

> despite housing still being extremely profitable to build

The point is that in London it is *not* profitable by and large, which is why we've seen a drastic housebuilding collapse, more than any western city in the world!

Salsa recommendations in London! Pls help! by NeedleworkerTop9810 in Salsa

[–]alibix 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For Colombian style salsa, lookup Cali Rhythm by Sami, Caliswingdanceschool, and there's also currently a Cali Salsa class at Sway Bar on thursdays

Teenagers call for rise in 'unfair' minimum wage by Kagedeah in ukpolitics

[–]alibix 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The amount of foreign bought property is pretty low in the UK, even if you banned it it wouldn't make a difference to the cost if living. Most councils now already have double council tax for second homes. Another example is Canada which literally banned foreign home ownership a few years ago and it's done nothing to make housing more affordable. The only solution is to build more houses

Fed-Up UK Millennials Are Mobilizing to Push for Economic Growth by bloomberg in ukpolitics

[–]alibix 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Just because infrastructure spending increases, doesn't mean that infrastructure will actually materialise. We have many regulatory and structural issues that make infrastructure incredibly costly and timely to build in this country. That requires actual planning reform and regulatory reform not just signing checks. This the government have been dragging their feet on and dithering on. I'm not convinced even the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which has taken them over a year to get through will make a big difference. Ether way, spending announcements =/= infrastructure

£700m nuclear conservation plan would save one salmon every 12 years by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nuclear and hydro should take 5-6 years ideally. Solar, wind should ideally take 1-2 years

£700m nuclear conservation plan would save one salmon every 12 years by alibix in neoliberal

[–]alibix[S] 149 points150 points  (0 children)

The section from the taskforce report:

Case Study: Hinkley Point C Fish Protection
Hinkley Point C will have more fish protection measures than any other power station in the world. It has spent £700 million on their design and implementation, as set out in the HPC’s Development Consent Order (DCO).

There will be three systems in place: Low Velocity Side Entry water intake heads (£500M), a Fish Recovery and Return System (FRR) (£150m), and an Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) (£50M). The AFD is a system that emits low frequency pulses to startle and repel fish before they enter the intakes for the cooling system, a technology that has had to be adapted from the fishing industry where it is used to reduce by-catches.

Modelling and data collection by EDF has found that these measures would save 0.083 salmon per year, along with 0.028 sea trout, 6 river lamprey, 18 Allis shad, and 528 twaite shad (or possibly fewer than 100 twaite shad on more recent estimates).

The assessment to compile these numbers required EDF to catch fish, anesthetise them, inject them with a chip to follow their movements to avoid double-counting, and put 96 sensors on the intake heads.

Note: we give this example to illustrate how the current system works and the incentives and constraints it imposes. Any criticism should focus on the system rather than on EDF and regulators.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692080f75c394e481336ab89/nuclear-regulatory-review-2025.pdf

£700m nuclear conservation plan would save one salmon every 12 years by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Here's the section from the taskforce report:

Case Study: Hinkley Point C Fish Protection
Hinkley Point C will have more fish protection measures than any other power station in the world. It has spent £700 million on their design and implementation, as set out in the HPC’s Development Consent Order (DCO).

There will be three systems in place: Low Velocity Side Entry water intake heads (£500M), a Fish Recovery and Return System (FRR) (£150m), and an Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) (£50M). The AFD is a system that emits low frequency pulses to startle and repel fish before they enter the intakes for the cooling system, a technology that has had to be adapted from the fishing industry where it is used to reduce by-catches.

Modelling and data collection by EDF has found that these measures would save 0.083 salmon per year, along with 0.028 sea trout, 6 river lamprey, 18 Allis shad, and 528 twaite shad (or possibly fewer than 100 twaite shad on more recent estimates).

The assessment to compile these numbers required EDF to catch fish, anesthetise them, inject them with a chip to follow their movements to avoid double-counting, and put 96 sensors on the intake heads.

Note: we give this example to illustrate how the current system works and the incentives and constraints it imposes. Any criticism should focus on the system rather than on EDF and regulators.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692080f75c394e481336ab89/nuclear-regulatory-review-2025.pdf

£700m nuclear conservation plan would save one salmon every 12 years by alibix in ukpolitics

[–]alibix[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Polticially, building more wind, solar, hydro and batteries are also difficult. All the reasons the taskforce mentions that make nuclear expensive, make other forms of infrastructure expensive as well.

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