via Watts Up With That?

https://ift.tt/FAGXL3v

July 16, 2025 at 04:05AM

By Paul Homewood

h/t Ian Cunningham

 Oh dear!

Mad Miliband’s Clean Power plans lie in tatters:

From the Telegraph:

Ed Miliband has opened the way for a fleet of new gas-fired power stations to back up Britain’s wind and solar farms.

He has told the National Energy System Operator (Neso) – the UK’s grid operator – that by the end of the decade it must keep 40 gigawatts (GW) of spare generating capacity on standby for days when wind and solar cannot keep the nation’s lights on.

The request is part of a system known as the capacity market, where companies are paid to keep generating capacity on standby for days when renewables output plummets or demand surges.

The capacity market already costs British consumers about £1.3bn a year – but this will surge to £4bn by 2030 as reliance on renewables increases, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has said.

Mr Miliband’s letter to Neso has told it to ensure it has 40GW-worth of back-up generating capacity on the system, roughly equating to the output of 35-40 large gas-fired power stations. About two thirds is expected to come from gas and the rest from batteries, interconnectors and other sources.

Full story here.

via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

https://ift.tt/XreGB73

July 16, 2025 at 03:20AM

Existing in the digital sphere as a business owner is an excellent method of making money, doing what you like and communicating to the global population. The internet provides you with a lot of business tools, no matter whether you sell handmade products, offer services, or even create content online. However, there are so many businesses out there, so how do you make yours one of them?

In this paper, you will be taught six easy steps to make your digital business ready to succeed.

Know Your Business and Audience

It is necessary to define your type of business, target client and products or services that you deal with before you begin to post or sell.

After getting the answers, your next target is the audience. For example, if you are marketing beauty products then your market can be the younger generation. If your interest is teaching online lessons you may have students or business people as your audience. The more you know about your audience, the easier the process of producing products and content that they will like.

Additionally, knowing who your audience is will also aid in determining the proper platforms and marketing style. Therefore, selling everything to everyone is not possible. Pay attention to a single group and provide it with the actual value.

Create an Effective Website

Your online shop is your online store. It is where individuals get to know about your business, view your products and purchase them. Therefore, it must be user-friendly, mobile phone optimized and self-explanatory.

It is not expensive to come up with a website. There are platforms such as Shopify, Wix, or WordPress, which even a beginner can easily figure out. Ensure that you have a contact page or a chat app on your site, so that customers can communicate with you on how to proceed and secure a checkout and payment method in case you are selling goods.

Make your design simple to navigate. Apply the colors of your brand and use simple fonts. An ugly site will send away the visitors.

Establish a Good Social Presence

Digital businesses have one of the most potent tools, like social media. It makes it easier to tell your story, meet new people, and touch your customers on a daily basis.

Instagram is one of the most effective services for businesspeople. It offers a perfect avenue to post photos, videos or update people about your business. The posts can be created on the new products, backstage shots, customer reviews and tips of the day. With time, people will learn about you and will trust your brand.

One way to grow faster and boost your Instagram visibility is to buy monthly Instagram likes for your posts on real accounts. This will enable you to raise engagement, particularly in the initial days when you do not have many followers. The more individuals like your post, the more it will be displayed to additional people. Thus, you will be able to grow naturally.

Make Useful and Interesting Content

One of the best ways in order to attract customers is content. Good content, be it a blog post, a video, a photo, or a tip is something which will provide people with reasons to follow you, share your posts and visit your site. In a way, your content must address the needs of your audience. Ask yourself the question, is it going to help or entertain my customer? And in case the answer is yes, then just post it.

Build Customers’ Trust

In any business, trust is a factor that is highly valued. Display visible images or videos of products and provide real reviews or testimonials from clients. Respond and answer questions promptly and be approachable. Provide a return/refund policy and safe and secure payment systems.

In case of delay in delivery or in case of any problem, inform your clients. A good reputation is made through good communications. Once customers trust you, they shall be returning and even referring other people to your business.

Track Your Progress and Keep Improving

You have to understand what is doing okay and what is not in order to increase your online business. Use available analysis tools to monitor the interactions with your webpage and social media accounts.

Monitor which posts receive the maximum number of likes or comments and the number of individuals visiting your website. In addition, identify products or services that are most in demand. Make wise decisions based on the information you analyse in order to keep your business running and growing.

via A Journey through Nature and Climate

https://ift.tt/yM8nbLx

July 16, 2025 at 01:39AM

The UK Met Office are on the hook and wriggling like mad to avoid answering very simple, but rather awkward, questions. Read all about it in this excellent summary. 

 Simple FOI Requests for Data Said to Back Non-existent Temperature Stations Refused on “Vexatious” Grounds by UK Met Office – The Daily Sceptic

It’s not only the Met Office that are feeling the heat, but their boss, the minister who has them in his portfolio. Peter Kyle MP has a choice. He can either defend the indefensible behaviour or he can demand changes. 

I have written to him via my MP to ask three simple questions:

1.   1.   Will
he ask the Met Office to issue a public apology for continuing to pass off data
as if it was from over 100 weather stations for many years after they had
closed them?

2.  2.  Will
he call for the Met Office to only use CIMO class 1 or 2 stations to announce
record temperatures?

3.   3.   Does
he agree that new weather stations should only be approved if they achieve CIMO
class 1 or 2 status?

via climate science

https://ift.tt/mTuXCVk

July 16, 2025 at 01:30AM