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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 17h

Maybe they are talking about covering EWI over air bricks, say under suspended floors?

Just guessing here, wish we had details, as you say.

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 17h

Yes, the "VWL75/6A230VS2+VWZAIMB2" has to match what they see stamped on the heatpump, or on its mcs certificate.

WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 17h

My thoughts exactly.

I suppose an unscrupulous landlord or estate agent could lean on an EPC surveyor to take their word for it that a floor is insulated, and bump up the EPC. So the surveyor has to collect first hand evidence that the insulation is present.

But can't see wall insulation either?

WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 18h

This table suggests many faults were to do with poor detailing at the eaves or around external pipes?

The thing about ventilation is confusing. Are they expecting that the EWI fitters will identify poor ventilation (reasonable), or expecting they will fix it (unreasonable without extra funds IMO)?

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 18h

Floors are treated as uninsulated in rdSAP unless the surveyor has personally crawled underneath and photographed the insulation for evidence.

Very frustrating, I too have many photos of my floor insulation, but the surveyor didn't have time to lift floorboards during the EPC visit.

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 18h

The surveyor has to follow the rdSAP methodology which iirc uses CoP of 2.7 for heat pumps.

If your particular make and model has been assessed and documented in the SAP product database, then s/he can use the database figure for scop.

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 20h

The FT's photo is a case in point. Those eaves should have been extended to keep the rain off the top of the wall insulation.

The wall insulation should join continuously onto the roof insulation, instead of just stopping with a cold gap to attract condensation.

But that would add cost, so...

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 20h

On the same site...

The "nuclear powered data centre" - I could see the SMR being quickly delayed/abandoned, but the data centre being built and running on nearby solar power.
Lots of wind comes onshore a few miles away too

bsky.app/profile/wiil...

WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 7d

Since then, this proposal for the site has also popped up....

www.eastmidlands-cca.gov.uk/news/former-...

Former Cottam power station to become UK’s first nuclear-powered data centre - East Midlands Combined County Authority

The derelict site of the former Cottam power station is set for a dramatic transformation into the UK’s first nuclear-powered data centre campus.

www.eastmidlands-cca.gov.uk

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 20h

And this project are building a cable that will cross over them both.

That part of Lincolnshire will be a very intense place for solar development

www.westburtonsolar.co.uk

Welcome to West Burton Solar Project - Welcome

West Burton Solar Project Limited is being developed by Island Green Power, who are a leading international developer of renewable energy projects, established in 2013.

www.westburtonsolar.co.uk

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 20h

That is interesting, this 600MW project are building a cable in roughly the same place
www.cottamsolar.co.uk#project-section

(Reposted with working link).

Welcome to Cottam Solar Project - Welcome

Cottam Solar Project Limited is is being developed by Island Green Power, who are a leading international developer of renewable energy projects, established in 2013.

www.cottamsolar.co.uk

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 21h

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This is in the news this week - they say it's the largest by area, but seems not largest by power. Not gone through Inspectorate yet tho?

More than 1,000 people have say on Green Hill Solar Farm

Green Hill Solar Farm will cover nearly 3,000 acres across two counties if approved.

www.bbc.co.uk

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 21h

Love it! Amazing colour.

I was in that neck of the woods on Sunday, Blencathra was an island in the cloud inversion

Your sunrise adds a whole layer more magic!

Blencathra poking up through cloud inversion

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 21h

It's a known issue, but separate from today's issue with wall insulation.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/spray-foam-i...

Spray foam insulation and mortgages

Find out why some homeowners have had difficulties remortgaging or selling homes that have spray foam insulation and what they can do about it.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 1d

(Ah you already addressed this in reply to ML. Thanks for the insights!)

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 1d

Would batts run in D-flte to reduce the size of that strategic reserve?

Eg 30GW of gas reserve, plus 5 GW of battery to shift some of that power towards the evening peaks - rather than 35 GW of gas.

Aim to eliminate the last 5GW of gas plants which only run 1x a year and have to price accordingly.

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks! From the battery's perspective, how much does it care whether the market that day is wind-dominated, or solar, or Dunkelflaute?

Storage is trading on the ups+downs, rather than the steady state? Even in D-F, batteries would still charge off-peak and discharge at 5pm, or for auxiliary svcs?

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 1d

Interested in this.

AIUI, providing reactive power involves storing energy for less than 1/50th second. Inertia, for around 2 seconds. Frequency response, for seconds to a few minutes.

So long as a 2-hour battery still has a couple of % charge left, it can carry on with services, D-flte or not?

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 1d

Have you been to UK in summer recently?

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

UK temperatures of 45C may be possible in current climate, Met Office says

Experts say risk of 40C has almost trebled since 2000, with 50/50 chance of hitting that mark in next 12 years

www.theguardian.com

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 2d

Ouch!

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 2d

What is the German word for "foggy calm?"

Actually, for me the eye-catching bit is just how low much lower the wind is than forecast, at the same time as the solar being much less than forecast.

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 3d

Do OPEC still have the ability to prop up oil prices?

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 3d

She might also qualify for their UNIq programme to get under represented kids into Oxford?

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 3d

Apparently they target his school because of poor history of uni applications.

Appreciate it maybe too late for your daughter but perhaps they'd do same at her school?

Hope she applies and is successful!

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 3d

Sorry to hear that but my lad had the opposite experience (far Northern comp school with nearly nobody going to uni) .

New College Oxford sent someone up to speak to whole school, then bussed half dozen kids and staff to Oxford, put them up, ran workshops, really supportive to apply.

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WillP @wiilp.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, ideally we should all import and export to make best economic use of everyone's natural resources.

UK imports are driven by marginal prices though, not by resource availability. The margin price is lower in Fr because subsidised nuclear and Ger because solar FiTs. UK price often set by gas.

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