Dan Grey
@dangrey.bsky.social
Energy and transitioning from fossil fuels. Complex issues I try to shine a light on. Ex-UKAEA and Met Office. Occasionally politics
Exeter, UK
Exeter, UK
Pinned
Dan Grey
@dangrey.bsky.social
· May 9
Orsted, majority-owned by the Danish government, has decided to cancel the 2.4 GW Hornsea 4 offshore wind farm. The final investment decision had been expected later this year – they've taken it early, and it's a negative.
1/
1/
Ørsted discontinues Hornsea 4 offshore wind project
Ørsted has announced it will discontinue construction on its Hornsea 4 offshore wind project in the UK, despite recently securing a Contract for
www.energyvoice.com
So Ørsted has canned the Hornsea 4 wind farm project – what does that mean for the pipeline of offshore wind farms between now and 2030?
Not all that much...
1/
Not all that much...
1/
Reposted by Dan Grey
Where did Britain get its electricity from in 2025?
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌳🌳🌳
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌊☢️☢️☢️☢️
☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🇳🇱🇧🇪🇩🇰🇩🇰🇳🇴
🇳🇴🇳🇴🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
Explore the data for yourself on the Electric Insights dashboard:
www.electricinsights.co.uk#/dashboard?p...
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌳🌳🌳
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌊☢️☢️☢️☢️
☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🇳🇱🇧🇪🇩🇰🇩🇰🇳🇴
🇳🇴🇳🇴🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
Explore the data for yourself on the Electric Insights dashboard:
www.electricinsights.co.uk#/dashboard?p...
January 3, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Where did Britain get its electricity from in 2025?
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌳🌳🌳
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌊☢️☢️☢️☢️
☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🇳🇱🇧🇪🇩🇰🇩🇰🇳🇴
🇳🇴🇳🇴🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
Explore the data for yourself on the Electric Insights dashboard:
www.electricinsights.co.uk#/dashboard?p...
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
🌬️🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌳🌳🌳
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌊☢️☢️☢️☢️
☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🇳🇱🇧🇪🇩🇰🇩🇰🇳🇴
🇳🇴🇳🇴🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
Explore the data for yourself on the Electric Insights dashboard:
www.electricinsights.co.uk#/dashboard?p...
Reposted by Dan Grey
The scientific evidence is absolutely crystal clear:
We are certain the world is warming because we're burning fossil fuels and putting more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
So we have to stop doing that
We also need to adapt to the changes we've already caused
www.channel4.com/news/uk-alre...
We are certain the world is warming because we're burning fossil fuels and putting more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
So we have to stop doing that
We also need to adapt to the changes we've already caused
www.channel4.com/news/uk-alre...
UK ‘already seeing impact of climate change’, says Met Office scientist
The Met Office announced today that 2025 was the warmest and sunniest year in the UK since records began, beating the previous record set only three years ago.
www.channel4.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:56 PM
The scientific evidence is absolutely crystal clear:
We are certain the world is warming because we're burning fossil fuels and putting more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
So we have to stop doing that
We also need to adapt to the changes we've already caused
www.channel4.com/news/uk-alre...
We are certain the world is warming because we're burning fossil fuels and putting more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
So we have to stop doing that
We also need to adapt to the changes we've already caused
www.channel4.com/news/uk-alre...
ICYMI this is a very impressive article from BBC News, who downloaded NESO data from their API and performed their own analysis.
'Wind was the biggest single renewable source of electricity... solar-powered electricity rose by nearly a third on 2024 levels'
'Wind was the biggest single renewable source of electricity... solar-powered electricity rose by nearly a third on 2024 levels'
Record year for wind and solar electricity in Great Britain in 2025
Wind, solar and other renewables hit a new high last year but the government is still some way off its clean power target.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 8:29 AM
ICYMI this is a very impressive article from BBC News, who downloaded NESO data from their API and performed their own analysis.
'Wind was the biggest single renewable source of electricity... solar-powered electricity rose by nearly a third on 2024 levels'
'Wind was the biggest single renewable source of electricity... solar-powered electricity rose by nearly a third on 2024 levels'
Even a 'Chief Scientific Advisor' can be verrrry wrong. From ten years ago:
'The idea that renewable energy can power the UK is an “appalling delusion”, according to the final interview given by former [DECC] chief scientific adviser, the late Professor Sir David MacKay'
'The idea that renewable energy can power the UK is an “appalling delusion”, according to the final interview given by former [DECC] chief scientific adviser, the late Professor Sir David MacKay'
Idea of renewables powering UK is an 'appalling delusion' – David MacKay
Country should focus on nuclear power and carbon capture technologies, former chief scientific adviser said in his final interview
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Even a 'Chief Scientific Advisor' can be verrrry wrong. From ten years ago:
'The idea that renewable energy can power the UK is an “appalling delusion”, according to the final interview given by former [DECC] chief scientific adviser, the late Professor Sir David MacKay'
'The idea that renewable energy can power the UK is an “appalling delusion”, according to the final interview given by former [DECC] chief scientific adviser, the late Professor Sir David MacKay'
Reposted by Dan Grey
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
NEW: People are using Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok, to alter images to depict real women being sexually abused, humiliated, hurt, and even killed.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Grok Is Being Used to Depict Horrific Violence Against Real Women
People are asking Elon Musk's Grok chatbot to alter images to depict women being sexually abused, humiliated, and even killed.
futurism.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:18 PM
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
"2025 was the warmest spring, summer and calendar year in the Met Office official records which go back to 1884.
It was also the warmest spring, summer and year for Central England, in a dataset which goes back to 1659.
And it was the UK’s sunniest year (records back to 1910)"
It was also the warmest spring, summer and year for Central England, in a dataset which goes back to 1659.
And it was the UK’s sunniest year (records back to 1910)"
The UK's warmest year (for now)
And introducing a ‘causal chain’ for changes in extreme UK heat
climatelabbook.substack.com/p/the-uks-wa...
And introducing a ‘causal chain’ for changes in extreme UK heat
climatelabbook.substack.com/p/the-uks-wa...
January 2, 2026 at 5:05 PM
"2025 was the warmest spring, summer and calendar year in the Met Office official records which go back to 1884.
It was also the warmest spring, summer and year for Central England, in a dataset which goes back to 1659.
And it was the UK’s sunniest year (records back to 1910)"
It was also the warmest spring, summer and year for Central England, in a dataset which goes back to 1659.
And it was the UK’s sunniest year (records back to 1910)"
The grid does need batteries to provide balancing to wind and solar over the 24 hour period. But that's tens of GWh; that will be delivered by huge utility scale batteries connecting at high voltage, often behind grid constraints. Small domestic batteries aren't necessary nor efficient.
Failure to include mandatory batteries in the standard for new UK homes would be a massive climb down by Labour govt - caving into pressure from large housebuilders
Again
Climbdown would be to detriment of the homeowners, the electricity grid, & public interest
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Again
Climbdown would be to detriment of the homeowners, the electricity grid, & public interest
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Ministers may cut green tech mandate from new homes regulations in England
Critics say removing battery installation requirement will reduce amount homebuyers save on energy bills
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:37 PM
The grid does need batteries to provide balancing to wind and solar over the 24 hour period. But that's tens of GWh; that will be delivered by huge utility scale batteries connecting at high voltage, often behind grid constraints. Small domestic batteries aren't necessary nor efficient.
Surely should be increasing their glow 😄
Seriously though, the share price of powerpoint reactor companies that have gone public have crashed as investors realise 1) small reactors have higher cost-per-kWh 2) small reactors make waste that's more expensive to deal with 3) most designs are fantasy
Seriously though, the share price of powerpoint reactor companies that have gone public have crashed as investors realise 1) small reactors have higher cost-per-kWh 2) small reactors make waste that's more expensive to deal with 3) most designs are fantasy
Mini #nuclear reactors are already losing their glow, writes Lex column in @financialtimes.com
- Several studies suggest SMRs will produce higher levels of nuclear waste than traditional plants
www.ft.com/content/567a...
- Several studies suggest SMRs will produce higher levels of nuclear waste than traditional plants
www.ft.com/content/567a...
Mini nuclear reactors are already losing their glow
Several studies suggest SMRs will produce higher levels of nuclear waste than traditional plants
www.ft.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Surely should be increasing their glow 😄
Seriously though, the share price of powerpoint reactor companies that have gone public have crashed as investors realise 1) small reactors have higher cost-per-kWh 2) small reactors make waste that's more expensive to deal with 3) most designs are fantasy
Seriously though, the share price of powerpoint reactor companies that have gone public have crashed as investors realise 1) small reactors have higher cost-per-kWh 2) small reactors make waste that's more expensive to deal with 3) most designs are fantasy
This is such a good piece. I'm fascinated by writing what people judge to be worth knowing and writing it in a way people judge to be good (and that's since long before I realised that's how Churchill made a living)
It's hard to make money from it though. Only $1,500 from Substack in Justin's case
It's hard to make money from it though. Only $1,500 from Substack in Justin's case
"We are losing an information war because we want to fight it with a volunteer effort."
A few thoughts on my career in journalism and analysis.
A few thoughts on my career in journalism and analysis.
Playing to Lose
In March of 2018 I pitched the editors at DeSmog on a series of articles about the finances of the fracking industry. To their credit, they liked the idea and over the years I wrote a lot of articles ...
powering-the-planet.ghost.io
January 1, 2026 at 2:22 PM
This is such a good piece. I'm fascinated by writing what people judge to be worth knowing and writing it in a way people judge to be good (and that's since long before I realised that's how Churchill made a living)
It's hard to make money from it though. Only $1,500 from Substack in Justin's case
It's hard to make money from it though. Only $1,500 from Substack in Justin's case
Today I learnt that more than 90% of Winston Churchill's income, throughout his life, was from his writing. Didn't quite pay for Chartwell but kept his head above water!
Back when, perhaps, writing was worth more?
Back when, perhaps, writing was worth more?
December 30, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Today I learnt that more than 90% of Winston Churchill's income, throughout his life, was from his writing. Didn't quite pay for Chartwell but kept his head above water!
Back when, perhaps, writing was worth more?
Back when, perhaps, writing was worth more?
Reposted by Dan Grey
Sounds like the end of the 'fabric first' mantra being set out here.
Electrifying homes is the way of the future, with solar panels, batteries and heat pumps being the focus of government subsidy.
Electrifying homes is the way of the future, with solar panels, batteries and heat pumps being the focus of government subsidy.
THE TIMES: Solar grants for millions to cut home energy use #TomorrowsPapersToday
December 29, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Sounds like the end of the 'fabric first' mantra being set out here.
Electrifying homes is the way of the future, with solar panels, batteries and heat pumps being the focus of government subsidy.
Electrifying homes is the way of the future, with solar panels, batteries and heat pumps being the focus of government subsidy.
Context for the quoted post
'Data analysed by the BBC show that Ukraine's Western allies have paid Russia more for its hydrocarbons than they have given Ukraine in aid'
'Data analysed by the BBC show that Ukraine's Western allies have paid Russia more for its hydrocarbons than they have given Ukraine in aid'
I'm going through old tabs. From October: 'To further restrict the flow of funds to the Kremlin, the UK has today announced that we will ban imports of oil products refined in third countries from Russian-origin crude oil.'
Very welcome; let's hope it's rigourously enforced. India is a big source
Very welcome; let's hope it's rigourously enforced. India is a big source
Huge blow for Putin’s war machine as UK sanctions Russian oil
Russia’s largest oil companies and global businesses propping up Putin’s illegal war have been hit by fresh sanctions as the UK moves to increase pressure on Kremlin revenues.
www.gov.uk
December 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Context for the quoted post
'Data analysed by the BBC show that Ukraine's Western allies have paid Russia more for its hydrocarbons than they have given Ukraine in aid'
'Data analysed by the BBC show that Ukraine's Western allies have paid Russia more for its hydrocarbons than they have given Ukraine in aid'
I know BlueSky hates AI but I think it's brilliant. Often I'll treat it like a teacher who is a subject matter expert; I can ask it all the questions I need to understand things I otherwise wouldn't.
December 29, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I know BlueSky hates AI but I think it's brilliant. Often I'll treat it like a teacher who is a subject matter expert; I can ask it all the questions I need to understand things I otherwise wouldn't.
Reposted by Dan Grey
The Motor Retail model is fragile. Without finance & insurance it falls apart. EVs erode after sales revenue leading to hourly labour rates higher than your lawyer whilst those on the tools see little benefit. Many are little more than property co's. Complex. Happily I left the sector 2 careers ago.
December 28, 2025 at 11:43 AM
The Motor Retail model is fragile. Without finance & insurance it falls apart. EVs erode after sales revenue leading to hourly labour rates higher than your lawyer whilst those on the tools see little benefit. Many are little more than property co's. Complex. Happily I left the sector 2 careers ago.
I'm going through old tabs. From October: 'To further restrict the flow of funds to the Kremlin, the UK has today announced that we will ban imports of oil products refined in third countries from Russian-origin crude oil.'
Very welcome; let's hope it's rigourously enforced. India is a big source
Very welcome; let's hope it's rigourously enforced. India is a big source
Huge blow for Putin’s war machine as UK sanctions Russian oil
Russia’s largest oil companies and global businesses propping up Putin’s illegal war have been hit by fresh sanctions as the UK moves to increase pressure on Kremlin revenues.
www.gov.uk
December 28, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I'm going through old tabs. From October: 'To further restrict the flow of funds to the Kremlin, the UK has today announced that we will ban imports of oil products refined in third countries from Russian-origin crude oil.'
Very welcome; let's hope it's rigourously enforced. India is a big source
Very welcome; let's hope it's rigourously enforced. India is a big source
The astonishing thing about this article is that so few people seem to understand what a thermostat is
When should you turn the heating on?
Some wait until a certain date to reach for the thermostat. Others until the temperature drops below a certain point.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 28, 2025 at 11:23 AM
The astonishing thing about this article is that so few people seem to understand what a thermostat is
'The world is paying an ever-higher price for a crisis we already know how to solve. These disasters are not "natural" – they are the inevitable result of continued fossil fuel expansion and political delay'
December 28, 2025 at 8:57 AM
'The world is paying an ever-higher price for a crisis we already know how to solve. These disasters are not "natural" – they are the inevitable result of continued fossil fuel expansion and political delay'
I wasn't happy with BBC's reply to my complaint ("Sean Farrington is an experienced and respected journalist who is fully aware of our commitment to impartiality" yet didn't challenge the Vertu boss at all) so off to the next stage of the process we go
December 28, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I wasn't happy with BBC's reply to my complaint ("Sean Farrington is an experienced and respected journalist who is fully aware of our commitment to impartiality" yet didn't challenge the Vertu boss at all) so off to the next stage of the process we go
Reposted by Dan Grey
Earlier this month the Flamanville 3 'EPR' nuclear reactor reached full power for the first time, 18 years after construction began.
In 2023 Olkiluoto 3, the first EPR to begin construction, also reached full power 18 years after construction began.
In 2023 Olkiluoto 3, the first EPR to begin construction, also reached full power 18 years after construction began.
Flamanville EPR reaches full power
The Flamanville 3 reactor has reached full power for the first time, after the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection gave approval on Friday for it to...
world-nuclear-news.org
December 26, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Earlier this month the Flamanville 3 'EPR' nuclear reactor reached full power for the first time, 18 years after construction began.
In 2023 Olkiluoto 3, the first EPR to begin construction, also reached full power 18 years after construction began.
In 2023 Olkiluoto 3, the first EPR to begin construction, also reached full power 18 years after construction began.
Earlier this month the Flamanville 3 'EPR' nuclear reactor reached full power for the first time, 18 years after construction began.
In 2023 Olkiluoto 3, the first EPR to begin construction, also reached full power 18 years after construction began.
In 2023 Olkiluoto 3, the first EPR to begin construction, also reached full power 18 years after construction began.
Flamanville EPR reaches full power
The Flamanville 3 reactor has reached full power for the first time, after the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection gave approval on Friday for it to...
world-nuclear-news.org
December 26, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Earlier this month the Flamanville 3 'EPR' nuclear reactor reached full power for the first time, 18 years after construction began.
In 2023 Olkiluoto 3, the first EPR to begin construction, also reached full power 18 years after construction began.
In 2023 Olkiluoto 3, the first EPR to begin construction, also reached full power 18 years after construction began.
The electricity grid was pretty green on Christmas Day, with just 73g of CO₂ emitted for every kWh generated
December 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The electricity grid was pretty green on Christmas Day, with just 73g of CO₂ emitted for every kWh generated
While the BBC is obsessed with US politics*, the politics of Europe are far more relevant and a lot more interesting.
Euronews has become my go-to source
Euronews has become my go-to source
How the EPP ushered in right-wing majority at the European Parliament
For the first time, a right-wing majority is emerging at the European Parliament as the European People's Party flirts with groups that would have been considered too toxic to work with in the past. T...
www.euronews.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
While the BBC is obsessed with US politics*, the politics of Europe are far more relevant and a lot more interesting.
Euronews has become my go-to source
Euronews has become my go-to source
Reposted by Dan Grey
The King praised the "great diversity" of Britain (weeks after the US claimed European civilisation was dying because of migration) and spoke warmly of non-Christian faiths
He spoke against division and urged people to remember the principle of "doing to others as we would have them do to us"
He spoke against division and urged people to remember the principle of "doing to others as we would have them do to us"
December 25, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The King praised the "great diversity" of Britain (weeks after the US claimed European civilisation was dying because of migration) and spoke warmly of non-Christian faiths
He spoke against division and urged people to remember the principle of "doing to others as we would have them do to us"
He spoke against division and urged people to remember the principle of "doing to others as we would have them do to us"
Great advice in @monkemma.bsky.social's latest email 🎄🙂
December 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Great advice in @monkemma.bsky.social's latest email 🎄🙂