Starlink seeking licence to provide internet service in Guyana
A Pathway to Global Markets
Revolutionising STEM Education With Innovative Digital Tools And GamificationBelieve it or not, Cowboys might have hope yet after chaotic win at Washington
Claro Enterprise Solutions Expands Technology Service Offerings to Accelerate Mergers and Acquisitions IntegrationsExelixis stock hits 52-week high at $36.6 amid robust growth
Trump calls for Russia to reach 'immediate' settlement with UkraineThe hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers
I’m A Celebrity’s GK Barry’s shock confession about her sexuality after opening up about girlfriend Ella Rutherford
I'M A Celebrity star GK Barry made a shock confession about her sexuality. She previously ended her relationship with boyfriend Billy Hunt as she embarked on a new romance with girlfriend Ella Rutherford . On the long-running ITV endurance show, the influencer made a surprising revelation about her current preferences. It seems GK Barry now fully embraces the LGBTQ+ part of her identity as she admitted that she could never see herself with another man. The presenter grew close with TV star Reverend Richard Coles, who asked whether she had "airbrushed her life." The Loose Women star enthusiastically engaged with his line of questioning as she replied: "Absolutely. "The thought of sleeping with a man again makes me want to claw my skin off. "And I always thought why do I always lay there with the lights off and top on waiting for it to be over. "[It's] because I like women. It makes a lot of sense, took me 25 years but that's where we are." Richard asked for clarification as he said: "Lights off, top off, waiting to be over?" "Yeah, that was story of my life for a hot minute," she stated back. "I think that's a rather common experience," he jokingly replied back to her. Tonight's episode of I'm A Celebrity saw GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles grow closer together in camp. Both of the new duo confessed to being each other's favourite campmate, despite Richard's late arrival with Maura Higgins. GK admitted in the Bush Telegraph: “I came into this jungle, maybe not knowing who I would gel with or who I would be close with in here and never in a million years if you told me that I would be getting on best with a reverend would I have believed you. "But, he is honestly... I think he might be my favourite person in here.” i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth." I'm A Celebrity continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.Prosecutor: Lions' Williams won't face gun charges
Woot Expands Apple Watch Band Sale With Even More Solo/Braided Loops at Massive Discounts
The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers
Davis scores 15, Southern Illinois knocks off Florida Tech 81-54
NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. Michael R. Sisak And Cedar Attanasio, The Associated PressNoneBy Evolve Editors Hailey Welch , also known as “Hawk Tuah girl,” first found fame through her popular catchphrase “Hawk Tuah.” However, she drew widespread criticism following the collapse of her cryptocurrency meme coin , $HAWK. She has now released a statement on the fiasco, promising full cooperation. Hailey Welch, who became known as “Hawk Tuah girl” after a viral clip circulated online in June 2024, took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the rapid crumbling of $HAWK. She launched the coin on December 4 on the Solana blockchain. It reportedly experienced an immediate surge. The coin reached a market capitalization of $491 million before undergoing a severe 95% drop shortly after. “I take this situation extremely seriously and want to address my fans, the investors who have been affected, and the broader community,” Welch posted on X on Friday, December 20. “I am fully cooperating with and am committed to assisting the legal team representing the individuals impacted, as well as to help uncover the truth, hold the responsible parties accountable, and resolve this matter.” Welch proceeded to ask those who have sustained financial losses because of $HAWK to contact the law firm Burwick PLLC. Per Binance , the firm has claimed that it does not represent Welch. It also underscored its objective to gain compensation for the impacted parties and arrive at the best possible outcome. On December 4, Hailey Welch, a.k.a. “Hawk Tuah girl,” claimed on X that her “team hasn’t sold one token and not 1 KOL was given 1 free token.” However, a community note refuting her statement has since been added to the post. Some observers have alleged that the drop happened due to the actions of the snipers. These are parties who acquire a significant portion of tokens when they go public. $HAWK’s creators now face a lawsuit in New York from investors. They are reportedly seeking for more than $150,000 in damages. Besides her prominent presence on social media, Hailey Welch, also known as “Hawk Tuah girl,” hosts the Talk Tuah podcast. The podcast is backed by Jake Paul’s media company, Betr. Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on ComingSoon . Evolve Media is a publisher of leading enthusiast destinations. Share article
California could offer state EV subsidy if federal credit is axedBOISE, Idaho — Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of double overtime and Jordan Hansen ended the game on a fourth-down sack to give Northern Illinois a 28-20 victory over Fresno State on Monday in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season. Holst, a freshman walk-on, was making just his third start at quarterback as NIU was without starter Ethan Hampton, who entered with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with six interceptions. Holst completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (8-5). He was also intercepted on the first play of the game. Both teams missed a 35-yard field goal in the final three minutes of regulation, including Dylan Lynch's third miss of the game on the final play to send it to overtime. Fresno State started overtime with a touchdown when Bryson Donelson was left wide open out of the backfield to haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass. NIU needed five plays, and a defensive holding penalty, to score as Holst found Grayson Barnes for a 3-yard touchdown. Donelson finished with 15 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-7). He added three catches for 28 yards and another score. Dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood was 16 of 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards to help go over 1,000 yards for the season. Fresno State was without 14 players, including starting quarterback Mikey Keene after he transferred to Michigan. Two top-three receivers, Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, also did not play as the Bulldogs were forced to use five new starters. UTSA 44, COASTAL CAROLINA 15: Owen McCown threw for 254 yards and a touchdown and UTSA scored the opening 27 points of the Myrtle Beach Bowl to cruise past short-handed Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. UTSA (7-6) broke away in the second quarter by scoring a touchdown on three straight drives for a 21-0 lead. McCown was 14 of 17 in the first half, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer. McCown also scored on a 35-yard run after breaking two tackles near the end zone. The other score was a 9-yard touchdown run by Brandon High. Coastal Carolina (6-7) finished the first half with just 140 total yards — 60 coming on the final drive. The Chanticleers punted on five straight drives to begin the game — with the longest possession lasting seven plays for 25 yards. UTSA added short field goals on its opening two drives of the second half, while Coastal Carolina started with two straight three-and-out drives. UTSA ended CCU’s third drive on Jakevian Rodgers’ first career interception to extend the program's single-game streak with an interception and a sack to 23 games. CCU’s first touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Bryson Graves caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tad Hudson. But UTSA’s Chris Carpenter returned the ensuing kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown to make it 34-7. It was the largest margin of victory in the five-year history of the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
SPRING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PPIH) announced today financial results for the second quarter and fiscal year-to-date period ended October 31, 2024. "Net sales for the third quarter were $41.6 million, a decrease of $4.1 million, as compared to the same quarter last year. Net income attributable to common stock of $2.5 million was an increase of $0.5 million, or 29%, compared to $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2023. For the nine months ended October 31, 2024, net sales of $113.4 million represent an increase of 3% compared to the nine months ended October 31, 2023. The net income attributable to common stock of $7.2 million was an increase of $5.4 million, or 294%, compared to net income attributable to common stock of $1.8 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2023,” noted President and CEO David Mansfield. “Backlog in the third quarter shows considerable growth and now stands at $114.2 million. This is the equivalent to approximately nine months revenue based upon prior years’ revenues. The continual strengthening of our backlog over the past two quarters is encouraging and provides a sense of optimism heading into next year. Additionally, backlog at the end of the third quarter represents the highest level since transitioning from MFRI to Perma-Pipe, which occurred in March 2017,” Mr. Mansfield continued. “Our third quarter and fiscal 2024 year-to-date results continue to reflect exceptional performance, which has remained consistent throughout the year. It is worth noting that our net income attributable to common stock for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, represents the highest level of earnings on a year-to-date basis since transitioning from MFRI to Perma-Pipe,” said Mr. Mansfield. “We are pleased with the level of business activity we have experienced and continue to see, as supported by the significant rise in backlog and share price. The increases in infrastructure spending in Saudi Arabia, India, and the U.A.E., represent key drivers of our overall improvement, for which the strength of our financial results further enables us to continue to execute on strategic initiatives,” concluded Mr. Mansfield. Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results Net sales were $41.6 million and $45.7 million in the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease of $4.1 million, or 9%, was a result of the timing of project execution. Gross profit was $14.1 million, or 34% of net sales, and $13.2 million, or 29% of net sales, in the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $0.9 million, was driven primarily by better margins due to product mix. General and administrative expenses were $7.3 million and $5.7 million in the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $1.6 million, was due to higher payroll expenses and professional fees in the quarter. Selling expenses were $1.2 million and $1.5 million in the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease of $0.3 million, was due to lower payroll expense in the quarter. Net interest expense remained consistent and was $0.5 million and $0.6 million in the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Other expense was $0.1 million and $0.5 million in the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease of $0.4 million, was due primarily to exchange rate fluctuations in foreign currency transactions. The Company's ETR was 32% and 31% in the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The change in the ETR is due to the ability to recognize tax benefits on losses in the United States in the current year whereas the prior year had a full valuation allowance and changes to the mix of income and loss in various jurisdictions. Net income attributable to common stock was $2.5 million and $1.9 million in the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $0.6 million, was mainly due to better project execution in the quarter. Fiscal 2024 Year-to-Date Results Net sales were $113.4 million and $110.5 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $2.9 million, or 3%, was a result of increased sales volumes in the Middle East. Gross profit was $38.1 million, or 34% of net sales, and $29.4 million, or 27% of net sales, in the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $8.7 million, was driven primarily by better margins due to product mix. General and administrative expenses were $19.5 million and $16.4 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $3.1 million, was due to higher payroll expenses and professional fees. Selling expenses were $3.8 million and $4.2 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease of $0.4 million, was due to lower payroll expenses. Net interest expense was $1.5 million and $1.8 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease of $0.3 million, was due primarily to declining interest rates on certain variable rate debt. Other expense was $0.2 million and $0.4 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The change was due primarily to exchange rate fluctuations in foreign currency transactions. The Company's ETR was 28% and 49% in the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The change in the ETR is due to the ability to recognize tax benefits on losses in the United States in the current year whereas the prior year had a full valuation allowance and changes to the mix of income and loss in various jurisdictions. Net income attributable to common stock was $7.2 million and $1.8 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $5.4 million, was mainly due to better project execution during the year. Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) is a global leader in pre-insulated piping and leak detection systems for oil and gas gathering, district heating and cooling, and other applications. It uses its extensive engineering and fabrication expertise to develop piping solutions that solve complex challenges regarding the safe and efficient transportation of many types of liquids. In total, the Company has operations at fourteen locations in six countries. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements and other information contained in this press release that can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby, including, without limitation, statements regarding the expected future performance and operations of the Company. These statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations and business environment. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) fluctuations in the price of oil and natural gas and its impact on customer order volume for the Company's products; (ii) the Company’s ability to purchase raw materials at favorable prices and to maintain beneficial relationships with its suppliers; (iii) decreases in government spending on projects using the Company’s products, and challenges to the Company’s non-government customers’ liquidity and access to capital funds; (iv) the Company’s ability to repay its debt and renew expiring international credit facilities; (v) the Company’s ability to effectively execute its strategic plan and achieve sustained profitability and positive cash flows; (vi) the Company's ability to collect a long-term account receivable related to a project in the Middle East; (vii) the Company’s ability to interpret changes in tax regulations and legislation; (viii) the Company's ability to use its net operating loss carryforwards; (ix) reversals of previously recorded revenue and profits resulting from inaccurate estimates made in connection with the Company’s "over-time" revenue recognition; (x) the Company’s failure to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; (xi) the timing of order receipt, execution, delivery and acceptance for the Company’s products; (xii) the Company’s ability to successfully negotiate progress-billing arrangements for its large contracts; (xiii) aggressive pricing by existing competitors and the entrance of new competitors in the markets in which the Company operates; (xiv) the Company’s ability to manufacture products free of latent defects and to recover from suppliers who may provide defective materials to the Company; (xv) reductions or cancellations of orders included in the Company’s backlog; (xvi) risks and uncertainties specific to the Company's international business operations; (xvii) the Company’s ability to attract and retain senior management and key personnel; (xviii) the Company’s ability to achieve the expected benefits of its growth initiatives; (xix) the impact of pandemics and other public health crises on the Company and its operations; and (xx) the impact of cybersecurity threats on the Company’s information technology systems. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More detailed information about factors that may affect our performance may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at https://www.sec.gov and under the Investor Center section of our website ( http://investors.permapipe.com .) Additional information regarding the Company's financial results for the three months ended October 31, 2024, including management's discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations, is contained in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended October 31, 2024, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof and will be accessible at www.sec.gov and www.permapipe.com . For more information, visit the Company's website. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223777874/en/ CONTACT: Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. David Mansfield, President and CEO Perma-Pipe Investor Relations (847) 929-1200 investor@permapipe.com KEYWORD: TEXAS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENGINEERING CHEMICALS/PLASTICS OTHER ENERGY OIL/GAS MANUFACTURING ENERGY SOURCE: Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/23/2024 12:43 PM/DISC: 12/23/2024 12:43 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223777874/enAdetutu Sobowale A Nigerian scholar, Adebola Adeniji, has proffered solutions to the biodiversity crisis by ensuring endangered wildlife gets suitable habitats. Adeniji, who is a PhD student in the Ecological Science and Engineering interdisciplinary program at Purdue University, said the research was her contribution to the global effort to combat the escalating biodiversity crisis. The scholar, in a statement on Monday, explained that she used machine learning and artificial intelligence to model suitable habitats for endangered species. “The biodiversity crisis, driven by habitat loss and degradation, climate change, over-exploitation of species, and pollution, poses one of the greatest challenges of our time. Many species are being driven to the brink of extinction, threatening the natural world and human survival,” Adeniji said. According to her, the research focuses on using passive acoustic monitoring to record sounds of vocalizing biodiversity in different ecosystems. “I employed a convolutional neural network, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence technique, to detect species from their vocalizations. This innovative approach enables the accurate identification of species and their habitats, crucial information for conservation efforts,” the scholar added. Adeniji explained further that her application of machine learning modelling to predict suitable habitats for endangered wildlife, with a focus on birds and mammals, is instrumental in protecting and preserving these species. “My pioneering work on modelling the suitable habitat for the white-bellied pangolin in Nigeria fills a critical research gap and contributes to the protection of this endangered species. The research also uncovers factors that influence the occurrence of endangered species, which will be used to predict their potential habitat. “This study is essential for conservation efforts, helping to prioritize and protect critical areas for the species’ survival,” the scholar said. Giving further insights, Adeniji said she leveraged Geographic Information System software such as ArcGIS to analyze the environmental variables that would be used in the model. “The research will play a crucial role in the conservation and restoration of habitats for endangered species, contributing to their preservation and preventing their extinction. As the world grapples with the challenges of biodiversity loss, the work demonstrates the power of innovation and technology in protecting the natural world,” she added. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: health_wise@punchng. com Tags #Climate change biodiversity conservation
Steelers Likely To Have A Big Weakness Exposed Against The Bengals In Week 13Grieving dad supportive as Australia nears social media ban for children
Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgenderEd Miliband’s plans for cheap green energy are based on the assumption that the , according to critics. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has admitted that their estimates for the energy capacity of in an official report on energy costs rest on the assumption that they “operate at their technical maximum”. The admission was made by a senior department official in a letter to Gordon Hughes, emeritus professor at Edinburgh University and Andrew Montford, director of the campaign group Net Zero Watch. Professor Hughes and Mr Montford wrote to the DESNZ permanent secretary to question why one of the department’s major reports into energy costs relies on the assumption that an offshore wind farm will deliver an average of 61 per cent of its capacity each year - the so-called “load factor” or “capacity factor”. They argue that the fleet average capacity factor has been around 40 per cent for many years and is “only rising very slowly”. In response, a DESNZ official explained that it is “standard” practice for such estimates to be calculated “assuming that they operate at their technical maximum” in order to enable comparison across technology classes. But critics have said using such a figure for offshore wind farms could lead to an to consumers of green energy. Lord Frost, a Tory peer and trustee of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, accused the government of . “The department assumes that wind farms ‘operate at their technical maximum’ - in simpler language, that the wind is blowing a gale at all times over their decades-long lifetime,” he said. “They are not looking at the reality that sometimes the wind isn’t blowing at all and sometimes it is only blowing a bit. They are assuming it is always blowing at full pelt.” Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, warned that the department’s current modelling “doesn’t factor in the true price of renewables”. She also urged caution over the figures used in the recent National Energy System Operator (Neso) report on Mr Miliband’s plans to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030. “Using the wrong load factor makes renewables look artificially cheaper compared to nuclear or gas,” Ms Coutinho said. “The British public deserve urgent answers as Ed Miliband promised to save people £300, but between this and the Neso report, it’s clear the figures are being statistically gerrymandered. If you plug in the right figures it shows his plans will mean ruinously expensive electricity.” It comes after that Ed Miliband’s promise of cheap green electricity by 2030 is based on inflated figures. The Energy Secretary has said his target for the grid to be run on zero carbon power within six years can bring cheaper electricity to households across the country. He has cited a report from Neso, an independent public body, which was commissioned by his department after the election. The report, which investigates the feasibility of reaching the 2030 goal, found that overall costs to consumers would not increase from the shift to a clean power system. It looks at the costs of accelerating the mass deployment of offshore and onshore wind and solar panels, including the rollout of hundreds of miles of pylons and cables. It compares that to the counterfactual of going slower on renewables and continuing to use gas to produce a significant amount of the UK’s electricity. But the conclusion that Mr Miliband’s plans will not raise bills re until the end of the decade, the Centre for Policy Studies, a centre-Right think tank, said in a report.