Thanks for your post and information.
I cannot see solar panels facing North East generating much electricity as it is only in the middle of June that the sun rises in the North East.
Over ten years ago there was an explosion of the installation of solar panels on the roofs of houses on Islay because a local person was employed on a short term contract of a year to encourage local residents to install them.
One of my friends installed solar panels on his roof. However during a storm his solar panels were blown off his roof and hit the wall of a house situated over 100 yards away from his house. Fortunately this happened during the night otherwise it could have killed someone if they’d been hit by these flying solar panels.
In 2002 the new Gaelic College on Islay had solar slates installed on part of the roof to generate electricity. Whilst the slates look like ordinary slates apart from them being a slightly lighter colour in practice they have proved to be a disappointment when it comes to generating electricity. The cost of the new Gaelic College was paid with taxpayers money.
In 2005 a 6KW wind turbine was installed on an SSI next to the Port Mhor centre in Port Charlotte. The electricity generated from wind turbine can barely power the lights in the building. The wind turbine was paid for by taxpayers money.
That's quite interesting.
When I said to the woman who was up doing survey that I wouldn't replace boiler and rads with own dosh in case govt changed rules 're not being allowed to sell house with a gas boiler....she said "ain't gonna happen this country can't go green, smoke and mirrors"
I am sorry but I cannot answer your question. I know one thing that gas central heating is far superior to oil fired central heating. Another problem with oil fired central heating is that you have to keep checking your oil tank to make sure that is does not run empty which is not a problem with gas fired central heating.
A former golfing friend on Islay used to work in the management side of British Nuclear Fuels.
He told me that a pebble bed nuclear reactor with non nuclear buildings had been developed in from memory South Africa which was suitable for places with a small population.
At the time I was a member of the Islay Energy Trust steering group
At the next meeting I suggested that Islay Energy Trust could install a pebble bed nuclear reactor with non nuclear buildings situated behind Bowmore which is situated in the centre of Islay.
The female secretary of the Islay Energy Trust steering group just about ‘laid an egg’ when I put forward my perfectly possible suggestion.
This is the problem that we are up against. Nuclear power has an unnecessary bad press because people wrongly associate nuclear power generation with the nuclear bomb.
Thank you for your information.
It is time for people to tell the truth about the future of gas boilers instead of pandering to the climate change ‘experts’.
The latest fuel to save the planet is hydrogen powered boilers.
Being a member of the IET steering group has proved very useful for topics like this one. We were advised at a steering group meeting in 2005 that a person living in Portnahaven on Islay was trying to source funding to investigate using hydrogen as a source of power. This person did not get funding and that was the end of the project. Nobody spends their own money if they can get the taxpayer to pay for their project.
Over 25 years ago there was a wave power bus operating on Islay.
I have a daughter who has a masters in sustainability engineering and now doing a PHD in chemical engineering. For the PHD she does work for the government, submits papers etc. She is working on some kind of kit that can be added to your gas boiler that will allow it to run on Hydrogen. It's fascinating stuff but I understand absolutely **** all about it.
Your daughter is clearly operating at a level or ten above me !!! My understanding of hydrogen boilers is that current fittings can be adapted to run on natural and hydrogen gas ,however I’ve seen others that are a fuel cell creating electricity ,your right it can be quite interesting but in my case it’s usually one party saying this is the way to go and the other saying no no that’s shyte go down this road ,doesn’t seem to be any clear roadmap or strategy….