Si Cy
@sicy.bsky.social
In aviation but incurably curious about renewable energy & clean tech. Blame the Physics degree
Latest rage bait dragging in the old is about tomatoes being taken out of pasta sauces to comply with a sugar limit.
February 3, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Latest rage bait dragging in the old is about tomatoes being taken out of pasta sauces to comply with a sugar limit.
Reposted by Si Cy
And we're done for the season.
February 2, 2026 at 2:52 PM
And we're done for the season.
Reposted by Si Cy
News from Helsinki, Finland which recently became coal-free when the last two coal plants closed. The local government just released a statement that the coal exit led to very clear air quality improvements. Can you spot the coal exit in the graph of SO2 concentrations?
February 2, 2026 at 7:48 PM
News from Helsinki, Finland which recently became coal-free when the last two coal plants closed. The local government just released a statement that the coal exit led to very clear air quality improvements. Can you spot the coal exit in the graph of SO2 concentrations?
Reposted by Si Cy
Here's a sneaky peak the next release of the GB Renewables Map, or should I say the GB Not Just a Renewables Map…
That's right, all types of power assets are coming to the map! Plus a whole bunch of other improvements.
That's right, all types of power assets are coming to the map! Plus a whole bunch of other improvements.
February 3, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Here's a sneaky peak the next release of the GB Renewables Map, or should I say the GB Not Just a Renewables Map…
That's right, all types of power assets are coming to the map! Plus a whole bunch of other improvements.
That's right, all types of power assets are coming to the map! Plus a whole bunch of other improvements.
Reposted by Si Cy
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
February 1, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
Reposted by Si Cy
My comment to the misleading Ecotricity report post almost got more likes than their post - let’s at least match theirs.
www.linkedin.com/posts/ecotri...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ecotri...
A major new report using government data and a survey of 1,000+ heat-pump owners reveals a gap between promises and reality. Despite claims they cut bills, 85% of users saw no reduction and nearly 7… ...
A major new report using government data and a survey of 1,000+ heat-pump owners reveals a gap between promises and reality. Despite claims they cut bills, 85% of users saw no reduction and nearly 7 o...
www.linkedin.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:35 PM
My comment to the misleading Ecotricity report post almost got more likes than their post - let’s at least match theirs.
www.linkedin.com/posts/ecotri...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ecotri...
I bet it’s had the desired effect on any further developments though.
January 30, 2026 at 9:48 AM
I bet it’s had the desired effect on any further developments though.
Reposted by Si Cy
Europe is losing the race for rare earths. It is playing the long game. Will that be enough?
My latest for The @economist.com, with my fantastic colleague Matthieu Favas.
economist.com/europe/2026/...
My latest for The @economist.com, with my fantastic colleague Matthieu Favas.
economist.com/europe/2026/...
Europe is at China’s mercy to get crucial raw materials
And it is losing out to America in the race for alternatives
economist.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Europe is losing the race for rare earths. It is playing the long game. Will that be enough?
My latest for The @economist.com, with my fantastic colleague Matthieu Favas.
economist.com/europe/2026/...
My latest for The @economist.com, with my fantastic colleague Matthieu Favas.
economist.com/europe/2026/...
A full retrofit is not required. Some new rads & pipework perhaps, but €25k is pessimistic. €75k is ludicrous, that probably includes external wall insulation etc which is simply not necessary. That number *should* make your house passivhaus standard, far more than is necessary for a heat pump
January 29, 2026 at 4:30 PM
A full retrofit is not required. Some new rads & pipework perhaps, but €25k is pessimistic. €75k is ludicrous, that probably includes external wall insulation etc which is simply not necessary. That number *should* make your house passivhaus standard, far more than is necessary for a heat pump
I doubt that would be necessary, you’re probably being far too pessimistic.
This website gives you a rough idea of costs, you enter you address and it has an informed guess of your house age and construction so can give an approximate cost. See what it comes out with for you: upgrades.heatgeek.com
This website gives you a rough idea of costs, you enter you address and it has an informed guess of your house age and construction so can give an approximate cost. See what it comes out with for you: upgrades.heatgeek.com
Heat Geek Upgrades
upgrades.heatgeek.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:15 PM
I doubt that would be necessary, you’re probably being far too pessimistic.
This website gives you a rough idea of costs, you enter you address and it has an informed guess of your house age and construction so can give an approximate cost. See what it comes out with for you: upgrades.heatgeek.com
This website gives you a rough idea of costs, you enter you address and it has an informed guess of your house age and construction so can give an approximate cost. See what it comes out with for you: upgrades.heatgeek.com
The install for my house was £5k plus £5k grant (done by previous owners before the grant increased to £7.5k) so very reasonable.
The house is warm, the showers are hot and it costs a little less than gas to run. What’s not to like?
The house is warm, the showers are hot and it costs a little less than gas to run. What’s not to like?
January 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM
The install for my house was £5k plus £5k grant (done by previous owners before the grant increased to £7.5k) so very reasonable.
The house is warm, the showers are hot and it costs a little less than gas to run. What’s not to like?
The house is warm, the showers are hot and it costs a little less than gas to run. What’s not to like?
Jeremy, take a look at upgrades.heatgeek.com
Put your address in there and it’ll give you a ballpark cost for a heat pump install. £7,500 grant really brings costs right down, to comparable with a gas boiler replacement in a lot of cases.
Anything with SCOP >3.4ish will be cheaper to run than gas
Put your address in there and it’ll give you a ballpark cost for a heat pump install. £7,500 grant really brings costs right down, to comparable with a gas boiler replacement in a lot of cases.
Anything with SCOP >3.4ish will be cheaper to run than gas
Heat Geek Upgrades
upgrades.heatgeek.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Jeremy, take a look at upgrades.heatgeek.com
Put your address in there and it’ll give you a ballpark cost for a heat pump install. £7,500 grant really brings costs right down, to comparable with a gas boiler replacement in a lot of cases.
Anything with SCOP >3.4ish will be cheaper to run than gas
Put your address in there and it’ll give you a ballpark cost for a heat pump install. £7,500 grant really brings costs right down, to comparable with a gas boiler replacement in a lot of cases.
Anything with SCOP >3.4ish will be cheaper to run than gas
The heat pumps themselves cost about £3k, similar to a boiler. The rest of the installation is one-off configuration change to your heating system.
So no, they don’t increase costs. Unless, of course, you allow the cowboys in.
So no, they don’t increase costs. Unless, of course, you allow the cowboys in.
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
The heat pumps themselves cost about £3k, similar to a boiler. The rest of the installation is one-off configuration change to your heating system.
So no, they don’t increase costs. Unless, of course, you allow the cowboys in.
So no, they don’t increase costs. Unless, of course, you allow the cowboys in.
Aye but they won’t only do the full depth stuff so they’ll be playing every day I’d expect. Plus there’s the recharge/free charge from rainfall which they can exploit.
I guess the trick would be to time the top-ups to full just right. Weather forecasts need to be v good for that I guess
I guess the trick would be to time the top-ups to full just right. Weather forecasts need to be v good for that I guess
January 29, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Aye but they won’t only do the full depth stuff so they’ll be playing every day I’d expect. Plus there’s the recharge/free charge from rainfall which they can exploit.
I guess the trick would be to time the top-ups to full just right. Weather forecasts need to be v good for that I guess
I guess the trick would be to time the top-ups to full just right. Weather forecasts need to be v good for that I guess
Sadly, it’s had the desired effect on several people of that age
January 29, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Sadly, it’s had the desired effect on several people of that age
God knows but that has to be the most ridiculously brazen rage bait I’ve seen so far
January 29, 2026 at 10:56 AM
God knows but that has to be the most ridiculously brazen rage bait I’ve seen so far
Seems like a load of rage bait headlines about pensioners being targeted to pay more road tax have come out today. I’ve read the articles and it seems that an increase *for everyone* is being presented as a raid on pensioners. What am I missing here? Am I being a bit thick?
January 28, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Seems like a load of rage bait headlines about pensioners being targeted to pay more road tax have come out today. I’ve read the articles and it seems that an increase *for everyone* is being presented as a raid on pensioners. What am I missing here? Am I being a bit thick?
Reposted by Si Cy
🤯
Bloomberg: "China adds more power capacity in a year than most countries have total"
www.bloomberg.com/ne...
Bloomberg: "China adds more power capacity in a year than most countries have total"
www.bloomberg.com/ne...
January 28, 2026 at 9:46 AM
🤯
Bloomberg: "China adds more power capacity in a year than most countries have total"
www.bloomberg.com/ne...
Bloomberg: "China adds more power capacity in a year than most countries have total"
www.bloomberg.com/ne...
Reposted by Si Cy
a BONKERS end to the year for China🇨🇳 wind... in December alone they installed 37GW, almost as much as Texas has installed to date (44GW)🤯
January 28, 2026 at 10:09 AM
a BONKERS end to the year for China🇨🇳 wind... in December alone they installed 37GW, almost as much as Texas has installed to date (44GW)🤯
😂
I'm dead against the proposed new housing development near us but the group formed in opposition to it is so full of flag-shaggers, illiterates, reactionaries and general numpties that I'm actually coming around to the idea that some new neighbours might be a good thing.
January 27, 2026 at 9:59 AM
😂
Reposted by Si Cy
"Get it all on record now — get the films — get the witnesses — because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, in April 1945
🧵 (1/2)
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, in April 1945
🧵 (1/2)
January 25, 2026 at 8:00 AM
"Get it all on record now — get the films — get the witnesses — because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, in April 1945
🧵 (1/2)
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, in April 1945
🧵 (1/2)
Sorry Donald, what was that? I can’t hear you over the sound of you backtracking.
Closest anyone will ever get to an apology from The Orange ManBoy - now he should say something similar to the other 31 countries whose military he insulted
January 24, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Sorry Donald, what was that? I can’t hear you over the sound of you backtracking.