Off the grid

摘要

With energy prices rising and renewables gobbling up market share, grid storage batteries are emerging as a potentially huge market for a variety of minerals including lithium, graphite, and vanadium pentoxideThe World Cup brings hope and joy to many but to any national grid it represents an overwhelming challenge. In 2010, the UK National Grid had to make special plans for the World Cup which estimated record-breaking surges of 3,000MW during advertising breaks if England reached the World Cup Final. As one of the most-watched TV events in the world, this event puts great strain on the power grid but none so much as the strain placed on the system during advertising breaks when everyone makes a cup of tea - the kettle being one of the biggest energy hogs in a house.The largest ever surge in electricity demand seen in the UK, a renowned nation of tea drinkers, was during the World Cup semi-final in 1990 at about 10 p.m., after the penalties, when demand jumped by a record 2,800MW -the equivalent of 1.12m kettles being switched on at once.