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.
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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...
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Not all that much...
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Reposted by Dan Grey
It's important not to sugarcoat the govt's decision to scrap ECO. It is the UK's most important scheme to address fuel poverty. It has helped 15 million people over three decades. By scrapping it, E3G calculates that the government is cutting 10,000 skilled jobs in the places that need them the most
November 26, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It's important not to sugarcoat the govt's decision to scrap ECO. It is the UK's most important scheme to address fuel poverty. It has helped 15 million people over three decades. By scrapping it, E3G calculates that the government is cutting 10,000 skilled jobs in the places that need them the most
Reposted by Dan Grey
The good, the bad and the ugly of the Budget:
The bad: the Budget contained no significant tax reforms, and almost nothing in the way of pro-growth measures. The capital allowance change will reduce business investment - it's positively anti-growth.
The bad: the Budget contained no significant tax reforms, and almost nothing in the way of pro-growth measures. The capital allowance change will reduce business investment - it's positively anti-growth.
November 26, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The good, the bad and the ugly of the Budget:
The bad: the Budget contained no significant tax reforms, and almost nothing in the way of pro-growth measures. The capital allowance change will reduce business investment - it's positively anti-growth.
The bad: the Budget contained no significant tax reforms, and almost nothing in the way of pro-growth measures. The capital allowance change will reduce business investment - it's positively anti-growth.
This 1,000x.
Everyone will be worse off from the frozen income tax thresholds (even pensioners on full state pension)
Few are going to benefit enough from the retail policies to be net better off
I've not found any pro-growth reforms yet
Everyone will be worse off from the frozen income tax thresholds (even pensioners on full state pension)
Few are going to benefit enough from the retail policies to be net better off
I've not found any pro-growth reforms yet
I am a literal minded wonk, and so I simply find it confusing how the Chancellor "helps" people with lots of micro-cost of living items like fuel and rail freezes and whatnot, but takes a lot more in income tax threshold freezes. I just think it is finicky and misleading. Just pick one thing.
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
This 1,000x.
Everyone will be worse off from the frozen income tax thresholds (even pensioners on full state pension)
Few are going to benefit enough from the retail policies to be net better off
I've not found any pro-growth reforms yet
Everyone will be worse off from the frozen income tax thresholds (even pensioners on full state pension)
Few are going to benefit enough from the retail policies to be net better off
I've not found any pro-growth reforms yet
Reposted by Dan Grey
you don't have to squint very hard to see the effect of that Truss interlude on this country. If she was responsible for half of that gap with the G7 average, that turns into tens of billions of debt interest. It could be ... 0.8% of GDP less? £24bn less?
November 26, 2025 at 1:35 PM
you don't have to squint very hard to see the effect of that Truss interlude on this country. If she was responsible for half of that gap with the G7 average, that turns into tens of billions of debt interest. It could be ... 0.8% of GDP less? £24bn less?
Reposted by Dan Grey
Big news on Fuel Duty - the 5p cut will be removed gradually from September. A good way to end this giveaway without pushing up inflation
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Big news on Fuel Duty - the 5p cut will be removed gradually from September. A good way to end this giveaway without pushing up inflation
ECO is being scrapped entirely 😯
The Energy Company Obligation streamed money from bill payers to measures that improve the ability of low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes.
Not clear if anything is replacing the lost funding
The Energy Company Obligation streamed money from bill payers to measures that improve the ability of low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes.
Not clear if anything is replacing the lost funding
November 26, 2025 at 1:39 PM
ECO is being scrapped entirely 😯
The Energy Company Obligation streamed money from bill payers to measures that improve the ability of low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes.
Not clear if anything is replacing the lost funding
The Energy Company Obligation streamed money from bill payers to measures that improve the ability of low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes.
Not clear if anything is replacing the lost funding
Confirmed.
"...a new mileage-based charge on electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028 at around half the fuel duty rate paid by drivers of petrol cars (raising £1.4bn)"
Fuel duty on petrol and diesel is currently 52.95p; I actually calculated the EV mileage charge at 26p but rounded down
"...a new mileage-based charge on electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028 at around half the fuel duty rate paid by drivers of petrol cars (raising £1.4bn)"
Fuel duty on petrol and diesel is currently 52.95p; I actually calculated the EV mileage charge at 26p but rounded down
If the EV road charge is set at 3p per mile tomorrow, that's about the same as adding 25p per litre to fuel duty.
Let that sink in.
Let that sink in.
This afternoon the government has again been briefing a tax on driving electric vehicles.
Brilliant 🤦.
Brilliant 🤦.
November 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Confirmed.
"...a new mileage-based charge on electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028 at around half the fuel duty rate paid by drivers of petrol cars (raising £1.4bn)"
Fuel duty on petrol and diesel is currently 52.95p; I actually calculated the EV mileage charge at 26p but rounded down
"...a new mileage-based charge on electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028 at around half the fuel duty rate paid by drivers of petrol cars (raising £1.4bn)"
Fuel duty on petrol and diesel is currently 52.95p; I actually calculated the EV mileage charge at 26p but rounded down
Oh for goodness sake
North Sea exploration rules to be relaxed in new Labour plan
The chancellor will unveil the North Sea Strategy in her Budget speech, the BBC understands.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Oh for goodness sake
A quick budget prediction; a dozen-plus fiddly, complicated half-arsed measures that only make life more complicated for those affected and garner a huge amount of bad publicity for the sums of money raised
November 25, 2025 at 11:23 PM
A quick budget prediction; a dozen-plus fiddly, complicated half-arsed measures that only make life more complicated for those affected and garner a huge amount of bad publicity for the sums of money raised
Reposted by Dan Grey
The map on the left shades constituencies by % of top council tax band properties (Band H in England, Band H and I in Wales)
The map on the right shades by median house prices.
Very different maps. That's the problem with council tax.
The map on the right shades by median house prices.
Very different maps. That's the problem with council tax.
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The map on the left shades constituencies by % of top council tax band properties (Band H in England, Band H and I in Wales)
The map on the right shades by median house prices.
Very different maps. That's the problem with council tax.
The map on the right shades by median house prices.
Very different maps. That's the problem with council tax.
If the EV road charge is set at 3p per mile tomorrow, that's about the same as adding 25p per litre to fuel duty.
Let that sink in.
Let that sink in.
This afternoon the government has again been briefing a tax on driving electric vehicles.
Brilliant 🤦.
Brilliant 🤦.
Goverment pledges £1.3bn to EV grants but will still tax pay-per-mile
The Chancellor is still expected to announce a controversial pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles in the Budget on Wednesday.
www.thisismoney.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
If the EV road charge is set at 3p per mile tomorrow, that's about the same as adding 25p per litre to fuel duty.
Let that sink in.
Let that sink in.
"The changes - to begin on 1 January 2028"
TWENTY TWENTY-EIGHT. Two years. Two years to make a simple tax change.
TWENTY TWENTY-EIGHT. Two years. Two years to make a simple tax change.
Budget live updates: Packaged milkshakes and lattes to be included in sugar tax for first time in UK
The changes mean packaged, sugary milk drinks will get more expensive - unless their sugar content is cut below the threshold.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 2:01 PM
"The changes - to begin on 1 January 2028"
TWENTY TWENTY-EIGHT. Two years. Two years to make a simple tax change.
TWENTY TWENTY-EIGHT. Two years. Two years to make a simple tax change.
'Transport secretary Heidi Alexander rejected a rival proposal from Arora Group, saying Heathrow’s own plans were "the most credible and deliverable option"'
Literally the opposite; as if putting a 12 lane motorway into a tunnel or a tight S bend is easier than building a shorter runway instead
Literally the opposite; as if putting a 12 lane motorway into a tunnel or a tight S bend is easier than building a shorter runway instead
Heidi Alexander chooses larger of two options for Heathrow 3rd runway, requiring part of M25 to be moved - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
November 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
'Transport secretary Heidi Alexander rejected a rival proposal from Arora Group, saying Heathrow’s own plans were "the most credible and deliverable option"'
Literally the opposite; as if putting a 12 lane motorway into a tunnel or a tight S bend is easier than building a shorter runway instead
Literally the opposite; as if putting a 12 lane motorway into a tunnel or a tight S bend is easier than building a shorter runway instead
Surprise surprise.
Ministers are considering gutting a scheme to restore England’s habitats for wildlife, leading the former environment secretary Lord Gove to accuse Labour of a retreat on protecting nature.
Latest on biodiversity net gain here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Latest on biodiversity net gain here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Michael Gove accuses Labour of ‘profound biodiversity mistake’
The former environment secretary has criticised the government over plans to exempt small plots from biodiversity net gain rules
www.thetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Surprise surprise.
This afternoon the government has again been briefing a tax on driving electric vehicles.
Brilliant 🤦.
Brilliant 🤦.
Goverment pledges £1.3bn to EV grants but will still tax pay-per-mile
The Chancellor is still expected to announce a controversial pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles in the Budget on Wednesday.
www.thisismoney.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This afternoon the government has again been briefing a tax on driving electric vehicles.
Brilliant 🤦.
Brilliant 🤦.
It's actually at least 18 changes; I missed scaling back/scrapping ECO, which funds insulation and low-carbon technologies for poorer households.
The last person to make such a cut was David Cameron, when he told ministers to "cut the green crap"
The last person to make such a cut was David Cameron, when he told ministers to "cut the green crap"
So far the government has briefed out to journalists "on background" (and usually subsequently withdrawn) SEVENTEEN tax and spend changes:
–Income tax threshold freeze extension
–Income tax rate rise
–Council tax changes
–Cash ISA allowance reduction
–EV road pricing
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#r4today
–Income tax threshold freeze extension
–Income tax rate rise
–Council tax changes
–Cash ISA allowance reduction
–EV road pricing
1/
#r4today
November 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM
It's actually at least 18 changes; I missed scaling back/scrapping ECO, which funds insulation and low-carbon technologies for poorer households.
The last person to make such a cut was David Cameron, when he told ministers to "cut the green crap"
The last person to make such a cut was David Cameron, when he told ministers to "cut the green crap"
Nuclear power is expensive because it's *extremely dangerous*. It takes a vast amount of money, resources, time and effort to reduce the risk it poses to a level that our democracies have judged to be safe.
People seem to be slowly forgetting just how unforgiving and devastating nuclear can be.
People seem to be slowly forgetting just how unforgiving and devastating nuclear can be.
UK most expensive place to develop nuclear power, report says
Experts criticise “overly complex” rules and call for an overhaul of Britain's nuclear strategy.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Nuclear power is expensive because it's *extremely dangerous*. It takes a vast amount of money, resources, time and effort to reduce the risk it poses to a level that our democracies have judged to be safe.
People seem to be slowly forgetting just how unforgiving and devastating nuclear can be.
People seem to be slowly forgetting just how unforgiving and devastating nuclear can be.
So far the government has briefed out to journalists "on background" (and usually subsequently withdrawn) SEVENTEEN tax and spend changes:
–Income tax threshold freeze extension
–Income tax rate rise
–Council tax changes
–Cash ISA allowance reduction
–EV road pricing
1/
#r4today
–Income tax threshold freeze extension
–Income tax rate rise
–Council tax changes
–Cash ISA allowance reduction
–EV road pricing
1/
#r4today
November 24, 2025 at 8:53 AM
So far the government has briefed out to journalists "on background" (and usually subsequently withdrawn) SEVENTEEN tax and spend changes:
–Income tax threshold freeze extension
–Income tax rate rise
–Council tax changes
–Cash ISA allowance reduction
–EV road pricing
1/
#r4today
–Income tax threshold freeze extension
–Income tax rate rise
–Council tax changes
–Cash ISA allowance reduction
–EV road pricing
1/
#r4today
Exeter is getting a repair cafe for the first time, as far as I know!
The first event will be held in the Digital Maker Space in the Forum library at the university, 11am to 3pm Tuesday 25 November (it's open to everyone)
Clothing repairs, small electrical repairs 👍
The first event will be held in the Digital Maker Space in the Forum library at the university, 11am to 3pm Tuesday 25 November (it's open to everyone)
Clothing repairs, small electrical repairs 👍
November 24, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Exeter is getting a repair cafe for the first time, as far as I know!
The first event will be held in the Digital Maker Space in the Forum library at the university, 11am to 3pm Tuesday 25 November (it's open to everyone)
Clothing repairs, small electrical repairs 👍
The first event will be held in the Digital Maker Space in the Forum library at the university, 11am to 3pm Tuesday 25 November (it's open to everyone)
Clothing repairs, small electrical repairs 👍
I love the Guardian's budget game, which tells me it's apparently very easy to be the Chancellor
November 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I love the Guardian's budget game, which tells me it's apparently very easy to be the Chancellor
Reposted by Dan Grey
🚨 SCOOP: Toyota and Aston Martin secretly lobbied a Conservative cabinet minister to weaken Britain’s climate policy.
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
Victory! We’ve won major legal battle exposing car industry lobbying
After two years we can finally reveal “backdoor channels where corporate money hijacks our democracy.”
democracyforsale.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:57 AM
🚨 SCOOP: Toyota and Aston Martin secretly lobbied a Conservative cabinet minister to weaken Britain’s climate policy.
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
@nestauk.bsky.social have pointed out that this means that the price of a unit of electricity is now above 4x the price of gas.
Heat pumps typically have an efficiency of 300-400%, i.e. they cut the price of heating by electricity by 3-4x.
Heat pumps are now more expensive to run than boilers ☹️
Heat pumps typically have an efficiency of 300-400%, i.e. they cut the price of heating by electricity by 3-4x.
Heat pumps are now more expensive to run than boilers ☹️
Sizewell C is responsible for a quarter of the rise in the unit price of electricity from 1 January.
Meanwhile the unit price of gas has *fallen*.
The opposite of what we want!
From 1 Jan ⚡ goes up just over 1p; 0.35p of that is the new nuclear levy. ⚡ will be 27.7p per kWh, up from 26.4p.
1/
Meanwhile the unit price of gas has *fallen*.
The opposite of what we want!
From 1 Jan ⚡ goes up just over 1p; 0.35p of that is the new nuclear levy. ⚡ will be 27.7p per kWh, up from 26.4p.
1/
November 22, 2025 at 5:53 PM
@nestauk.bsky.social have pointed out that this means that the price of a unit of electricity is now above 4x the price of gas.
Heat pumps typically have an efficiency of 300-400%, i.e. they cut the price of heating by electricity by 3-4x.
Heat pumps are now more expensive to run than boilers ☹️
Heat pumps typically have an efficiency of 300-400%, i.e. they cut the price of heating by electricity by 3-4x.
Heat pumps are now more expensive to run than boilers ☹️
While the consumption of coal for generating electricity is declining, consumption of coal in industry is likely increasing ☹️.
About a third of coal consumption is not for electricity, and
–about half of that is for iron/steel
–the rest breaks down fairly evenly between cement, chemicals, and heat
About a third of coal consumption is not for electricity, and
–about half of that is for iron/steel
–the rest breaks down fairly evenly between cement, chemicals, and heat
The sector will be "non power", so industry & some small things. Coal in power has gone down in India, EU, China, which would imply industry has grown (perhaps even on trend). So yes, extrapolate that to all countries... If coal is flat in power globally, then I would expect coal up in total.
November 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
While the consumption of coal for generating electricity is declining, consumption of coal in industry is likely increasing ☹️.
About a third of coal consumption is not for electricity, and
–about half of that is for iron/steel
–the rest breaks down fairly evenly between cement, chemicals, and heat
About a third of coal consumption is not for electricity, and
–about half of that is for iron/steel
–the rest breaks down fairly evenly between cement, chemicals, and heat
Sizewell C is responsible for a quarter of the rise in the unit price of electricity from 1 January.
Meanwhile the unit price of gas has *fallen*.
The opposite of what we want!
From 1 Jan ⚡ goes up just over 1p; 0.35p of that is the new nuclear levy. ⚡ will be 27.7p per kWh, up from 26.4p.
1/
Meanwhile the unit price of gas has *fallen*.
The opposite of what we want!
From 1 Jan ⚡ goes up just over 1p; 0.35p of that is the new nuclear levy. ⚡ will be 27.7p per kWh, up from 26.4p.
1/
November 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Sizewell C is responsible for a quarter of the rise in the unit price of electricity from 1 January.
Meanwhile the unit price of gas has *fallen*.
The opposite of what we want!
From 1 Jan ⚡ goes up just over 1p; 0.35p of that is the new nuclear levy. ⚡ will be 27.7p per kWh, up from 26.4p.
1/
Meanwhile the unit price of gas has *fallen*.
The opposite of what we want!
From 1 Jan ⚡ goes up just over 1p; 0.35p of that is the new nuclear levy. ⚡ will be 27.7p per kWh, up from 26.4p.
1/
Reposted by Dan Grey
Join the GSI for our debrief on this year’s COP with a panel of University of Exeter delegates who will share their experiences and views on how this year’s conference has played out, its outcomes, and the impact research from Exeter has had on negotiations.
#GSIExeter #COP30 #ClimateAction
#GSIExeter #COP30 #ClimateAction
November 20, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Join the GSI for our debrief on this year’s COP with a panel of University of Exeter delegates who will share their experiences and views on how this year’s conference has played out, its outcomes, and the impact research from Exeter has had on negotiations.
#GSIExeter #COP30 #ClimateAction
#GSIExeter #COP30 #ClimateAction