Live data from Hacker News

Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

reuters.com

21–30 of 156 posts

Re: Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

#22
post #13

I am quite afraid of Russia shutting off the gas and oil supply. I hope Europe doesn't give up on sanctions then, at least not right away. Betting on Russia needing the income more than we need the resources. Power will go out completely around here and partially in many other regions, but we can live through that. Having solar (plus wind and batteries) is a major boon, and this would undoubtedly drive demand through…

I am certainly empathetic to having power and lights go out... In the midwestern USA, we survived last year with rotating blackouts during an unexpected winter storm that reached deep into Texas to parts that haven't seen snow in 50 years, and some parts ever receiving snow on recorded record. That being said, people are dying because of cheap power and gas. I know it's easy for me to say halfway across the world fro…

While what happened in Texas is good for empathy, it’s not exactly the same. The power outages there were due to a poorly regulated electrical market where the power stations froze in predictable ways.

Notice that it was only Texas utilities that experienced the most major issues.

Re: Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

#23
post #19
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

can solar run 24/7 factories?? it's not that simple guys

As I said, batteries of any kind... Nuclear would be better, but that takes time to build.

10000% Nuclear. France just announced a massive Nuclear project, meanwhile in the USA, the NRC bankrupts every project with non-stop delays instead of timely constructive work with designers, builders, and investors.

Re: Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

#24

I never knew until recently how tied up Russia's oil strategy was to their military / political thinking. If others are interested, this video has a great overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If61baWF4GE

if you need a crazy french canadian gaming warlord providing commentary, heres the xqc version (https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1409387850?t=00h58m50s)

Re: Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

#25
post #13

I am quite afraid of Russia shutting off the gas and oil supply. I hope Europe doesn't give up on sanctions then, at least not right away. Betting on Russia needing the income more than we need the resources. Power will go out completely around here and partially in many other regions, but we can live through that. Having solar (plus wind and batteries) is a major boon, and this would undoubtedly drive demand through…

No post body was provided.

Re: Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

#26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am certainly empathetic to having power and lights go out... In the midwestern USA, we survived last year with rotating blackouts during an unexpected winter storm that reached deep into Texas to parts that haven't seen snow in 50 years, and some parts ever receiving snow on recorded record. That being said, people are dying because of cheap power and gas. I know it's easy for me to say halfway across the world fro…

While what happened in Texas is good for empathy, it’s not exactly the same. The power outages there were due to a poorly regulated electrical market where the power stations froze in predictable ways. Notice that it was only Texas utilities that experienced the most major issues.

Neither statement is true but is oft repeated. I can bring some clarity:

A poorly regulated electrical market doesn't make a poor user experience. In fact, it was government meddling that created the crisis: Forced closure of coal plants before suitable replacements that could withstand 100 weather year events were available. The free market in Texas has and was leaps and bounds ahead of other markets in green energy production. Texas has also wanted to build countless nuclear projects that are stonewalled by the NRC and other green energy projects that die due to EPA or other local agencies. Believe it or not, green energy companies play dirty too and leverage government bureaucracy to stifle competition and expansion of green energy.

Secondly, it was not Only Texas. I live in Kansas and travel to Missouri weekly and we certainly had outages. The reason is all of these areas are covered by the "Southwest Power Pool" which is a generation pool which agree to sell energy to each other and help out during extreme events (an oversipmlication, but good enough for a HN comment). Texas operators trade energy in multiple markets so nearby locations were affected. My home state, produces nearly 2/3 of its energy from green sources: wind and nuclear and the excess is sold to the SPP and can be consumed in Texas.

Texas is in fact the _ideal_ energy market, as new ideas can compete immediately and directly and operate on small scales. We'd be doing ourselves a huge favor to operate more grids like this as it lower the entry bar for clean energy startups.

Re: Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

#27

For reference, Yamal was only re-opened a week or two ago. I don't think you can read too much into it closing again (yet). Yamal can give 33 billion cubic meters a year and Nord Stream 1 can give 55 billion. As far as "bids" remaining, it could be something as benign as not having any demand at the price, or currency/volatility issues.

There were already all kinds of "supply interruptions" in 2021 and escalating prices. The fossil fuel people digging their own graves.

Re: Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am certainly empathetic to having power and lights go out... In the midwestern USA, we survived last year with rotating blackouts during an unexpected winter storm that reached deep into Texas to parts that haven't seen snow in 50 years, and some parts ever receiving snow on recorded record. That being said, people are dying because of cheap power and gas. I know it's easy for me to say halfway across the world fro…

While what happened in Texas is good for empathy, it’s not exactly the same. The power outages there were due to a poorly regulated electrical market where the power stations froze in predictable ways. Notice that it was only Texas utilities that experienced the most major issues.

> The power outages there were due to a poorly regulated electrical market where the power stations froze in predictable ways.

There were plenty of issues with the electrical system, but the Texas Nat Gas infrastructure was also culpable. They had wells that froze up. Wells also often produce water that can freeze in cold conditions and block a well. There are mitigations for this that were often not in place in TX.

They had also failed to submit paperwork indicating their electrically pumping stations were critical infrastructure and should not be shut off as many of them were.

Re: Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

#29
What i didn't realize until very recently was that natural gas can be liquefied and sold on an open market like a barrel of oil. With that in mind, these pipelines are not as critical. Additionally, pipelines operate by contracts which offer very generous discounts years in advance; Liquefied gas, on the other hand, is a commodity and is sold at market prices. Seems logical to assume that Russian gas will still be sold, and that there will be buyers. Russia will be offering substantial discounts on it as well.

Re: Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany halt, bids remain

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While what happened in Texas is good for empathy, it’s not exactly the same. The power outages there were due to a poorly regulated electrical market where the power stations froze in predictable ways. Notice that it was only Texas utilities that experienced the most major issues.

Neither statement is true but is oft repeated. I can bring some clarity: A poorly regulated electrical market doesn't make a poor user experience. In fact, it was government meddling that created the crisis: Forced closure of coal plants before suitable replacements that could withstand 100 weather year events were available. The free market in Texas has and was leaps and bounds ahead of other markets in green energy…

I use the article from the Atlantic. And I did not say other areas didn’t have problems, only that it was Texas that suffered most: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/02/what-...
Post reply on HN