Engineer. Historian. Beer-Drinker. Publican's Friend. Hi-Fi Anorak. Technocrat. Patriot. Improving Husband. Feminist. “The Attenborough of the Relay Room”
London
Joined November 2011
- Tweets26.7K
- Following449
- Followers6.3K
- Likes27.2K
Pinned Tweet
We are not the BEST commissioning engineers on the British power system, but we are in the top two 💁🏻♂️
!⃝ 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 ⚡️👆🏻
Nobody ever gets interrupted. In the
British media it’s always “plunged into darkness”. I guess breaking a circuit in 100ms ish is a rapid enough de-energisation to be a plunge, but these dramatic phrases have been used for years. It’s a very British way of writing
Simulating a persistent feeder fault (rare in practice) on a 132 composite feeder. For this I always use my Bhosale Box ofc. Note the re-energisation attempt bang on 15s and the trip on close is what you’d see for a real fault. Then lockout. Nothing more to see after that ⚡️⏱️☺️
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
I think you are correct.
The 1st was following successive PS trips starting in Scotland over a period of a couple of minutes
The 2nd following a lightning strike in Bedfordshire with successful DAR (😉) of a circuit some asynchronous generation failed to fault ride through.
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
The opportunity for Wales and the whole country - building the next generation of nuclear with good jobs in every part of Britain.
Good growth in every postcode. Hope in every heart! ❤️
Really enjoyed speaking to SMEs about the opportunities in the @RollsRoyce SMR supply chain today.
xitter.cf/engineerlondon/status/…
#BlackStart has been called Electricity System Restoration (ESR) since about 2019 in GB. Many still use the old term
Considering there is really little chance of war or a cyber attack causing a 3-day UK shutdown, I would suggest the government has finally been told there is a likely electricity grid failure coming this winter.
The link describes what could happen if the grid trips. Only 60% of power will likely be restored in 24 hours. It could take 5–7 days for power to be completely restored. In the worst case, it could be 14 days.
theblackoutreport.co.uk/2023…
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
Considering there is really little chance of war or a cyber attack causing a 3-day UK shutdown, I would suggest the government has finally been told there is a likely electricity grid failure coming this winter.
The link describes what could happen if the grid trips. Only 60% of power will likely be restored in 24 hours. It could take 5–7 days for power to be completely restored. In the worst case, it could be 14 days.
theblackoutreport.co.uk/2023…
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
NESO expects secure supplies this winter with a 5.9GW margin, though tight days may need extra generation. If shortfalls hit, the Demand Control Rotation Protocol allows rotating 3-hour blackouts by area (load blocks) with 8 hours notice as a last resort. Smart meters support voluntary demand flexibility and some load control, but rolling cuts disconnect network sections, not by shutting individual meters.
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
Just so. Nobody involved in any complex technical enterprise can guarantee 100% uptime, but "best endeavours" frequently deliver something pretty close.
Having said that there are scoundrels operating in Sales & Media who suggest a guarantee is possible.
I’ve been in electricity supply since my teens. One of my stock phrases was “come the blackout - there’ll be a reckoning!” I’ve been saying it for years, in jest ofc. Now with all the armchair experts on socials, people are repeating it. My tongue in cheek quip gone mainstream 😳
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
132kV Wood Poles are not uncommon. You see some of them in Northern England anyway.
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
We lost Goose, we lost Ice, we just lost Viper too 🇺🇸🦅
We will miss you Tom Skerritt, you were a great actor, we will remember you from Top Gun, MASH all the way to Alien 🫡
One of us 💔
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
“Good Morning Gentlemen…”
Sad to hear of the passing of Tom Skerritt famous for being ‘Viper’ and so many other great roles. Some may not know that he was actually an Air Force veteran himself and whilst he was never a flyer, his brother flew P-51’s in WW2. Sad he never made it to any of the sequels. Maybe a mention or nod to him would be appropriate if they ever do another.
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
An unfathomable act of economic self-harm by Plaid Cymru, supported it seems, by the Tories.
This will mean fewer renewable projects, fewer jobs created in rural Wales, greater environmental harm, and more expensive electricity bills for us all.
Utter madness.
Wales plans to ban steel pylons as government launches consultation bbc.in/4z7nnMx
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
This is highly unusual: Rampion wind farm output close to max in winds that are almost at cut out speed. So Shoreham is running at 70% and acting as spinning reserve in case that happens.
This is mad. 11-66 and even some 132 goes on wood. Of those voltages, only 132 would use lattice. So they want to use 132 cable, damaging the landscape, and at 15-20x the cost per km depending on installation method and route. 🤯🤯
(Towers) 😘
What do the Welsh want them made from then? Bamboo? 🫣
Wales plans to ban steel pylons as government launches consultation bbc.in/4z7nnMx
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
We are monitoring Storm Austen and the disruption it is having on the electricity network.
My thanks to all the engineers out in difficult conditions. They have already reconnected over 23,000 customers and are working to get the remainder back on power as soon as possible.
#OTD 2019 and a rare photo of the five OG members of “stop for safety”. Justin, me, Ross, Matt and Liam, aka “the boy”.
We were then, and we remain now, utility engineers, powering nations across Europe nowadays 💪🏻☺️
James Watson CEng, FIET retweeted
Opening Jackdaw = less imported LNG.
UK North Sea Gas: Emits ~21..28 kg of CO₂ per barrel of oil equivalent (boe).
Imported LNG: Emits ~79..85 kg of CO₂ per boe.
Opening up Jackdaw produces less CO₂, and generates £b's in revenue isn't that a good thing?
I am furious that the government approved Jackdaw - a gas field that will do nothing for jobs, bills, or energy security.
This climate vandalism has to stop.
The answer is No To Rosebank.
huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/g…
