Chris Goodall
@chrisgoodall2.bsky.social
Writer on the energy transition. Angel investor in climatetech.
Hello David, I think your team used 4 of the 12 stories from my Sunday newsletter and put them on BlueSky within the last couple of hours. Could I ask if they'd give me a credit, or suggest that readers sign up at Substack? It takes a huge amount of work to find stories that no-one else has covered!
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Hello David, I think your team used 4 of the 12 stories from my Sunday newsletter and put them on BlueSky within the last couple of hours. Could I ask if they'd give me a credit, or suggest that readers sign up at Substack? It takes a huge amount of work to find stories that no-one else has covered!
In France, solar more likely to be given OK if combined with agriculture, and land is more productive than before. In our commune, an application has been made for long raised beds growing veg. between PV rows . Irrigation (v. important some years) from gutters suspended below PV and kept in tank.
October 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
In France, solar more likely to be given OK if combined with agriculture, and land is more productive than before. In our commune, an application has been made for long raised beds growing veg. between PV rows . Irrigation (v. important some years) from gutters suspended below PV and kept in tank.
By a coincidence, we were there as well today. Didn't know before that dahlias were an import from North America and didn't exist in Europe.
October 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
By a coincidence, we were there as well today. Didn't know before that dahlias were an import from North America and didn't exist in Europe.
Oxford Clarion: funny, accurate, incisive.
September 15, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Oxford Clarion: funny, accurate, incisive.
Also worth looking at Boston Metal and Electra, which will both use direct electrolysis of ore. Electricity consumption per tonne of iron about the same as hydrogen DRI but big advantages include the ability to use low grade ore and to make the iron in much smaller facilities than a large DRI plant.
July 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Also worth looking at Boston Metal and Electra, which will both use direct electrolysis of ore. Electricity consumption per tonne of iron about the same as hydrogen DRI but big advantages include the ability to use low grade ore and to make the iron in much smaller facilities than a large DRI plant.
To be devil's advocate, because EPRs are absurdly over-complicated and it would be far cheaper to get a South Korean company to build nuclear in the UK at a third the price.
June 11, 2025 at 9:34 AM
To be devil's advocate, because EPRs are absurdly over-complicated and it would be far cheaper to get a South Korean company to build nuclear in the UK at a third the price.
Perfectly possible to use Wylfa (Anglesey/Ynys Môn) which Great British Energy now owns. EdF has previously expressed interest in putting an EPR there but the decision as to which technology to proceed with appears not to have been made.
June 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Perfectly possible to use Wylfa (Anglesey/Ynys Môn) which Great British Energy now owns. EdF has previously expressed interest in putting an EPR there but the decision as to which technology to proceed with appears not to have been made.
Yes, very much better diffusing the relatively low temperature heat. That's why new houses with heat pumps will have underfloor heating, at least on the ground floor.
April 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Yes, very much better diffusing the relatively low temperature heat. That's why new houses with heat pumps will have underfloor heating, at least on the ground floor.
This might work well
February 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This might work well
Not sure about this. The investment going on life sciences to the immediate west and north of Oxford looks impressive to me, even alongside Harwell and Didcot (or Milton Park actually).
February 7, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Not sure about this. The investment going on life sciences to the immediate west and north of Oxford looks impressive to me, even alongside Harwell and Didcot (or Milton Park actually).
About 3% of the value of the US housing stock. In other words, not a huge percentage.
February 3, 2025 at 10:58 PM
About 3% of the value of the US housing stock. In other words, not a huge percentage.
The largest UK solar farm in planning (Botley West) uses 1,000ha for 840MW (1.19 ha/MW). Let's allow a generous 1.5 ha/MW. DESNZ target 45-47GW by 2030, of which 8GW are on roofs today. Max. 39GW will be needed on fields. At 1.5 ha/MW, this means 58,500ha, or 225 sq miles (22.5 miles by 10 miles).
January 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
The largest UK solar farm in planning (Botley West) uses 1,000ha for 840MW (1.19 ha/MW). Let's allow a generous 1.5 ha/MW. DESNZ target 45-47GW by 2030, of which 8GW are on roofs today. Max. 39GW will be needed on fields. At 1.5 ha/MW, this means 58,500ha, or 225 sq miles (22.5 miles by 10 miles).