Rhys Davies
@rcdavies.bsky.social
Common culture and community. Believer in manufacturing & interested in productivity. Trade should be balanced & energy should be renewable.
Pinned
👇The very obvious solution to Britain's housing crisis, and Thatcher's most damaging legacy for the nation.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
Good news: more than 50% of the world’s economies have seen carbon emissions from fossil fuel power generation peaking. And with the speed of change in the electricity sector many more will join this growing list in coming years.
November 11, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Good news: more than 50% of the world’s economies have seen carbon emissions from fossil fuel power generation peaking. And with the speed of change in the electricity sector many more will join this growing list in coming years.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Why American-style polarisation is spreading across the west
New research shows how incentives in the modern media ecosystem help explain rising division and negativity
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Reposted by Rhys Davies
No single US news source is consumed by more than 25% of Americans, whereas 60% of Brits regularly watch/read/listen to the BBC.
A single shared source of truth makes it harder for partisan echo chambers to form, or for divisive narratives to dominate. It’s good for social cohesion and compromise.
A single shared source of truth makes it harder for partisan echo chambers to form, or for divisive narratives to dominate. It’s good for social cohesion and compromise.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
No single US news source is consumed by more than 25% of Americans, whereas 60% of Brits regularly watch/read/listen to the BBC.
A single shared source of truth makes it harder for partisan echo chambers to form, or for divisive narratives to dominate. It’s good for social cohesion and compromise.
A single shared source of truth makes it harder for partisan echo chambers to form, or for divisive narratives to dominate. It’s good for social cohesion and compromise.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
This seems significant.
"U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology, according to Harvard economist Jason Furman."
"U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology, according to Harvard economist Jason Furman."
Without data centers, GDP growth was 0.1% in the first half of 2025, Harvard economist says | Fortune
Is a U.S. without data centers a country without GDP growth?
fortune.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This seems significant.
"U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology, according to Harvard economist Jason Furman."
"U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology, according to Harvard economist Jason Furman."
Reposted by Rhys Davies
MORE: Russian forces also recently advanced near Hulyaipole and in the Dobropillya tactical area.
The Kremlin continues to publicly and clearly reiterate its maximalist demands and unwillingness to engage in negotiations that result in anything less than full Ukrainian capitulation. 🧵(1/3)
The Kremlin continues to publicly and clearly reiterate its maximalist demands and unwillingness to engage in negotiations that result in anything less than full Ukrainian capitulation. 🧵(1/3)
November 11, 2025 at 2:48 AM
MORE: Russian forces also recently advanced near Hulyaipole and in the Dobropillya tactical area.
The Kremlin continues to publicly and clearly reiterate its maximalist demands and unwillingness to engage in negotiations that result in anything less than full Ukrainian capitulation. 🧵(1/3)
The Kremlin continues to publicly and clearly reiterate its maximalist demands and unwillingness to engage in negotiations that result in anything less than full Ukrainian capitulation. 🧵(1/3)
Reposted by Rhys Davies
On which point, if you haven’t watched this, you really should www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
The Age of Uncertainty - Series 1: 1. 1. The Prophets and Promise of Classical Capitalism
John Kenneth Galbraith tells the story of the men who laid the foundations of economics, including Adam Smith, David Ricardo and Thomas Malthus.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 8:40 AM
On which point, if you haven’t watched this, you really should www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Reposted by Rhys Davies
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
EVs put an end to China's usual holiday surge in gasoline use
Tianyu Jiang took a 2,000-km (1,200-mile) road trip this month during China's national holiday week, driving in his electric vehicle from the southwestern Sichuan basin to Beijing for the first time.
www.reuters.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
Can anyone help @rosieniven.bsky.social?
I am considering deleting my account on a certain other social network. I don't use it and it's in privacy mode. I don't want anyone to take it over, but at the same time, I don't want to lose the id in case things change. What have others done?
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Can anyone help @rosieniven.bsky.social?
Reposted by Rhys Davies
India has now electrified almost 100% of their tracks, a poorer country with vastly more track. Over half of that has happened in just the last decade. The UK's poverty of ambition by comparison is truly staggering (and sad...) earthbound.report/2025/02/03/i...
India’s electric railway revolution
Every day, India electrifies 19.6 kilometres of railway line. In the last decade the country has electrified 40,000 kilometres of track, and it is due to reach 100% electrification this year, exact…
earthbound.report
November 9, 2025 at 10:20 AM
India has now electrified almost 100% of their tracks, a poorer country with vastly more track. Over half of that has happened in just the last decade. The UK's poverty of ambition by comparison is truly staggering (and sad...) earthbound.report/2025/02/03/i...
😡😡😡
It's just embarrassing now. It's as if there is a department in government that is specifically tasked with striking off investment outside the South East, regardless of how necessary and obviously beneficial it may be.
It's just embarrassing now. It's as if there is a department in government that is specifically tasked with striking off investment outside the South East, regardless of how necessary and obviously beneficial it may be.
Govt scraps all electrification investment. Midland Main Line to stay forever diesel Leicester Nottingham Derby Sheffield. Hugely embarrassing and inexplicable
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’
Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2
www.ft.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
😡😡😡
It's just embarrassing now. It's as if there is a department in government that is specifically tasked with striking off investment outside the South East, regardless of how necessary and obviously beneficial it may be.
It's just embarrassing now. It's as if there is a department in government that is specifically tasked with striking off investment outside the South East, regardless of how necessary and obviously beneficial it may be.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
Erik Nielsen with another good example of why bureaucracy isn’t really Germanys main woe.
The US wastes 3x the resources on healthcare admin 👀
The US wastes 3x the resources on healthcare admin 👀
November 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Erik Nielsen with another good example of why bureaucracy isn’t really Germanys main woe.
The US wastes 3x the resources on healthcare admin 👀
The US wastes 3x the resources on healthcare admin 👀
Reposted by Rhys Davies
Sheaf-Binder, The after Millet - 1889
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/14649
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/14649
November 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Sheaf-Binder, The after Millet - 1889
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/14649
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/14649
Reposted by Rhys Davies
In Poland we have some problems with electrification - see the map from a decade ago (electrified in yellow), but it is considered a process which is continuing. Especially recently after we mostly finished building all important roads and railways are given a prorioty also due to military needs.
November 8, 2025 at 8:46 AM
In Poland we have some problems with electrification - see the map from a decade ago (electrified in yellow), but it is considered a process which is continuing. Especially recently after we mostly finished building all important roads and railways are given a prorioty also due to military needs.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
Meanwhile in a country not far away, but with half the rail passengers… and a far-right government…
€100Bn of new railway lines under construction.
And a rail & road bridge to Sicily.
€100Bn of new railway lines under construction.
And a rail & road bridge to Sicily.
November 8, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Meanwhile in a country not far away, but with half the rail passengers… and a far-right government…
€100Bn of new railway lines under construction.
And a rail & road bridge to Sicily.
€100Bn of new railway lines under construction.
And a rail & road bridge to Sicily.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
I think people have forgotten just how inexperienced Starmer is as a politician and his lack of roots/connection with Party members. Remember Ratner saying he was the least political person she knew? Turns out that’s a problem for a PM.
November 8, 2025 at 8:35 AM
I think people have forgotten just how inexperienced Starmer is as a politician and his lack of roots/connection with Party members. Remember Ratner saying he was the least political person she knew? Turns out that’s a problem for a PM.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
The relative underperformance of North England’s economy is a mystery…….
This isn't just poverty of aspiration, it is incompetence. www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’
Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The relative underperformance of North England’s economy is a mystery…….
Reposted by Rhys Davies
New report on the benefits of offshore wind for grid adequacy & reliability.
The contribution of offshore wind to grid reliability & resource adequacy | Reports | Charles River Associates
In this white paper, the authors assess the potential role of offshore wind (OSW) in addressing emerging reliability challenges under these conditions. The analysis finds that, from a resource adequac...
www.crai.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
New report on the benefits of offshore wind for grid adequacy & reliability.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
Remarkable how cavalier China's industrial ecosystem can be with large capital projects.
Weiqiao starts building a 470,000 tons/yr aluminum smelter in Binzhou, Shandong in 2014
It's built by Feb 2017
By 2020 it's being torn down
2024: a totally new workshop is using the site 🧵
Weiqiao starts building a 470,000 tons/yr aluminum smelter in Binzhou, Shandong in 2014
It's built by Feb 2017
By 2020 it's being torn down
2024: a totally new workshop is using the site 🧵
November 8, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Remarkable how cavalier China's industrial ecosystem can be with large capital projects.
Weiqiao starts building a 470,000 tons/yr aluminum smelter in Binzhou, Shandong in 2014
It's built by Feb 2017
By 2020 it's being torn down
2024: a totally new workshop is using the site 🧵
Weiqiao starts building a 470,000 tons/yr aluminum smelter in Binzhou, Shandong in 2014
It's built by Feb 2017
By 2020 it's being torn down
2024: a totally new workshop is using the site 🧵
Reposted by Rhys Davies
A weird inversion of normality if nobody did think that because outside of politics, everyone I knew thought that taxes had to go up, by a large amount.
“Nobody thought a Labour government would have to raise taxes by more than £70bn,” claims one insider in this excellent piece. Shows the problem of the climate of fear in meetings created by some of Starmer’s aides, in that plenty of Labour insiders, did, in fact, think this!
The politics of breaking manifesto promises
The history of politicians who go back on their words has lessons for Rachel Reeves as she mulls raising taxes
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:40 AM
A weird inversion of normality if nobody did think that because outside of politics, everyone I knew thought that taxes had to go up, by a large amount.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
China’s rise as the world’s clean energy superpower is reshaping global decarbonisation. The full implications are only starting to sink in.
An important new FT piece highlights that while much of the debate has focused on how Europe and the US should respond, the bigger story might be elsewhere.
An important new FT piece highlights that while much of the debate has focused on how Europe and the US should respond, the bigger story might be elsewhere.
November 8, 2025 at 7:51 AM
China’s rise as the world’s clean energy superpower is reshaping global decarbonisation. The full implications are only starting to sink in.
An important new FT piece highlights that while much of the debate has focused on how Europe and the US should respond, the bigger story might be elsewhere.
An important new FT piece highlights that while much of the debate has focused on how Europe and the US should respond, the bigger story might be elsewhere.
Reposted by Rhys Davies
Regardless of White House policy, farmers can benefit from solar panels on their land.
cleantechnica.com/2025/11/06/i...
#agrivoltaics #agrisolar #agripv #dualuse #agriculture #farms #farming #sustainable #sustainability #solar #solarenergy #solarpower #solarfarms #solarpowerplants #greenenergy
cleantechnica.com/2025/11/06/i...
#agrivoltaics #agrisolar #agripv #dualuse #agriculture #farms #farming #sustainable #sustainability #solar #solarenergy #solarpower #solarfarms #solarpowerplants #greenenergy
If The White House Won't Save US Farmers, Agrivoltaics Will
With agrivoltaic solar arrays, farmers can keep their land in production and preserve it from real estate development.
cleantechnica.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Regardless of White House policy, farmers can benefit from solar panels on their land.
cleantechnica.com/2025/11/06/i...
#agrivoltaics #agrisolar #agripv #dualuse #agriculture #farms #farming #sustainable #sustainability #solar #solarenergy #solarpower #solarfarms #solarpowerplants #greenenergy
cleantechnica.com/2025/11/06/i...
#agrivoltaics #agrisolar #agripv #dualuse #agriculture #farms #farming #sustainable #sustainability #solar #solarenergy #solarpower #solarfarms #solarpowerplants #greenenergy
Reposted by Rhys Davies
How to Live Van Life in a Car | Honda Element Camper Build
#HondaElement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zypk...
#HondaElement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zypk...
How to Live Van Life in a Car | Honda Element Camper Build
YouTube video by Van Kookz (Vankookz)
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:30 PM
How to Live Van Life in a Car | Honda Element Camper Build
#HondaElement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zypk...
#HondaElement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zypk...
Reposted by Rhys Davies
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
Reposted by Rhys Davies
Australia’s solar revolution is paying off: starting July 2026, millions will get up to 3 hours of free electricity daily thanks to surplus solar power. A major step toward equitable, renewable energy for all.🇦🇺
tinyurl.com/mtjmd4hj #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Energy
tinyurl.com/mtjmd4hj #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Energy
Millions to receive free electricity in 2026 thanks to Australia’s solar boom | TechCrunch
Australia now has so much solar power that the government will require utilities to sell customers free electricity for three hours per day.
tinyurl.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Australia’s solar revolution is paying off: starting July 2026, millions will get up to 3 hours of free electricity daily thanks to surplus solar power. A major step toward equitable, renewable energy for all.🇦🇺
tinyurl.com/mtjmd4hj #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Energy
tinyurl.com/mtjmd4hj #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Energy
Reposted by Rhys Davies
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...