Peat Briquette RIP

rtron

SouthWesterly wrote: »

What memories it brings back. Getting my fingers cut to bits by the binding straps.

Trick was to twist it and open it from the underside...
You have 3 years left to use that knowledge :-)

machiavellianme

washiskin wrote: »

Jayziz.... I thought ye were all on about the guitarist from the Boomtown Rats! Phew.

Pete lives on my guitar. That's the sticker I posted above!

Patrick "Pete Briquette" Cusack is a bassist who is very much alive and well, but never burned as hot as the true Pete!

josip

saabsaab wrote: »

You giving them a bad name see below

'Peat briquettes remain the domestic fuel of choice for many as they are economical, slow-burning, give off tremendous heat and little smoke. ... This domestic fuel is often marketed as an environmentally friendly and safer fuel because they typically have a low ash and low sulphur content'

Here's the full article you quoted from in case anyone wants to read it.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Peat-Briquettes-Environmentally-Friendly?&id=6985951

The author is obviously an expert in the field, his 8 other articles in that publication including some ground breaking investigations as

"How to pick a winner at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival"

and

"What happens to a racehorse after it retires"

1874

beerguts wrote: »

100% correct sir. Even though it isn't common here in Ireland we can get depressions without any substantial wind for weeks at a time. I would be afraid that we could have our grid collapse from this and if it goes down like that it can be very difficult to get it back and running quickly when conditions improve. Bring back coal or let's start planning for Nuclear.

Peat isn't really the way to go, there are ways to improve the efficiencies available from large plants producing electricity on a large scale, potentially combined with savings (in cost to generate and reductions in co2 and a means to capture by products simply not possible in one off domestic setups). Added to benefits made by individual set ups of solar thermal which is a proven functional technology, the Germans and Austrians have been using for a long time at similar latitude to us.


Increasing domestic efficiencies is possible with passive measures such as external insulation and airtightness, with heat pumps saving up to the COP possible from any given heat pump.


Coal is even possible imo in a modern set up on a large scale (not as clean as oil or gas but there are measure to reduce the pollutants, (it might even be necessary rather than finding out in 20 years we need solid fuel burning stations and all the skills gone), BnM skills and experience and people should be saved (cant see any Govt caring) both to help preserve employment and to keep our options open.
We still need oil/maybe coal and gas
But open stove? solid fuel burning in a fireplace is inefficient for the user, produces pollution worse than larger fulltime managed installations.


Nuclear, this was where I was wondering if you were being sarcastic? maybe, years of planning, pouring concrete (co2) along with the waste products, the full lifecycle cost of Nuclear doesnt take into account the storage of the byproducts, the hazard they present, and the other obvious, this is Ireland and the State doesnt seem to have the nounce to deal with private companies, ie we are past 100 billion for a hospital, instead of pouring money down the drain like that on a Nuclear project, it would be better to give grants (or very low cost loans, or tax incentives/rebates) for people who pay for it themselves to as many people as possible to have Engineered/designed solutions for the housing/buildings (schools/hospitals) we have existing for insulation/airtightness/Solar thermal/PV where suitable, rather than fund some business to bilk us all/the state for billions.


I still think, some restoration could/should be carried out on lands where peat was extracted, restored for wildlife, so hopefully not sitka spruce.
I think misuse and poor planning has led us to where we are, so flooding in areas of the West, not saying it is down to BnM or all, but something needs to be done about that and while I cant say for certain, wetlands/bogs do have some role in soaking up water and sequestering carbon. BnM and the State should move along with that.
We cant move wholesale in one go, or it will be a trainwreck, leave it too late by continually pushing the problem into the future by not tackling it as soon as possible only increases the cost of implementing something that needs to be done.


BnM/peat/Briquettes, nice to sit by a fire occasionally, maybe not anymore or only for the tourists (is there enough even to do that for effect),
BnM had its place in Ireland regarding jobs and training and the nation needed the fuel, but it is time to move on now.

edit, added to that
I think the Green party are the equivalent of champagne socialists,
I believe in realistic green, do as much as is possible, not airy fairly nonsense, I mean they supported Diesels when they only suited certain requirements, they were harping on about filament bulbs when the water was contaminated in the west and decades later its contaminated eleswhere (no surprises), the State is a house of cards.
Champagne Greens, idiots, that doesnt mean we dont need to change though.

Car99

Ubbquittious wrote: »

I will miss them. A pity they wont keep them around. Everything is going in the direction of dull boring and expensive heat pumps with smart controls that spy on you.

You have 3 years to stockpile them, tons and tons of them to future proof yourself .

saabsaab

washiskin wrote: »

Jayziz.... I thought ye were all on about the guitarist from the Boomtown Rats! Phew.

Not you too!

Mimon

Amazing how much ignorance there is about the harm digging up and ruining a unique ecosystem does.

Turning a highly efficient carbon sink into something we throw into our fires.

Doctors room ghost

I’m going to buy a bale and have it kept in one of them IKEA display cabinets in the sitting room.
They’ll be worth money in time.
I can imagine the baldy lad on pawn stars looking at a bale.
“Mmm best I can do is 5 dollars, and I’m taking a huge risk at that.it could be sitting in my shop for years” lol

statesaver

So what will people who use briquettes use instead ?

punisher5112

One of the messiest to clean after, ash everywhere, all over the house.

Take a box of firelighters to get going as previously said, weigh an absolute ton and burn very short and hardly any heat at all imo.

Do see the trucks delivering and they can't even stack them high due to the weight so much space unused.

On the heat pump issues if people have solar battery backup that will be a plus or a small generator for the just in case moments.

As new homes no longer have fires it's a thought one would need to have, also a small gas camping heater or similar as a backup.


Huge huge amount of carbon are stored and water in the bogs and we need them back to what they do best and that's absorbing this.

Big issue now is what works can you give a guy that's at that all their life and I do hear retrofitting etc, a lot will be at the age where this just wouldn't be in them to do anymore as they ain't young and I've heard quite a few stating this.

Alf Veedersane

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Ireland's Climate Action Plan which sounded the death knell for the peat harvesting industry was an initiative of the last FG Government. Richard Bruton I believe.

Still, it was a misguided attempt to get a dig in at the Green Party. Always worth a few thanks.

This move is part of a BnM 'Brown to Green' strategy that predates the Climate Action Plan. Was launched in 2018.

whisky_galore

statesaver wrote: »

So what will people who use briquettes use instead ?

A windmill outside their house, you can only heat the house when there's wind.

punisher5112

statesaver wrote: »

So what will people who use briquettes use instead ?

Coal or wood but these are been pushed out too, Gas, kerosene, electric.

The ban on solid fuels is coming....

hammerdub

Rubberchikken wrote:

The green party - a complete and utter waste of effort. Useless morons who never actually think any of their plans through properly.

statesaver wrote:

So what will people who use briquettes use instead ?

Use the polish imports. I'm using them now quiet good.

Parabellum9

statesaver wrote: »

So what will people who use briquettes use instead ?

I’m going to replace them with aeroboard and household plastic

Ginger83

They'll be bought by the pallet load as they are phased out.

Ubbquittious

punisher5112 wrote: »

One of the messiest to clean after, ash everywhere, all over the house.

Take a box of firelighters to get going as previously said, weigh an absolute ton and burn very short and hardly any heat at all imo.

Do see the trucks delivering and they can't even stack them high due to the weight so much space unused.

On the heat pump issues if people have solar battery backup that will be a plus or a small generator for the just in case moments.

As new homes no longer have fires it's a thought one would need to have, also a small gas camping heater or similar as a backup.


Huge huge amount of carbon are stored and water in the bogs and we need them back to what they do best and that's absorbing this.

Big issue now is what works can you give a guy that's at that all their life and I do hear retrofitting etc, a lot will be at the age where this just wouldn't be in them to do anymore as they ain't young and I've heard quite a few stating this.

If you're trying to light turf using only firelighters you are living a life of sin. Shame! Shame!

*rings Game of Thrones shame bell*

um7y1h83ge06nx

No huge loss for me, never really bought them myself - turf, wood and coal for our stoves here.

However I think we as a country should be careful in ensuring we make environmental changes that are sustainable from an economic and quality of life perspective.

Our grid is in a precarious position at the moment. No point back patting ourselves about how environmentally friendly we are if we have issues powering our homes and industries.

gozunda

punisher5112 wrote: »

Coal or wood but these are been pushed out too, Gas, kerosene, electric.

The ban on solid fuels is coming....

Gas & Kerosene = fossil fuels- they're been targeted as well.

Hydroelectric is also now targeted

saabsaab

statesaver wrote: »

So what will people who use briquettes use instead ?

Those with access to woodlands can use fallen trees etc need to cut them up and let dry though so not for everyone.

punisher5112

Ubbquittious wrote: »

If you're trying to light turf using only firelighters you are living a life of sin. Shame! Shame!

*rings Game of Thrones shame bell*

Petrol

punisher5112

gozunda wrote: »

Gas & Kerosene = fossil fuels- they're been targeted as well.

Hydroelectric ditto ...

I know hence why slightly lower down the list.
Kerosene and gas much cleaner then any of the others....

degsie

It's worth repeating but there is no use getting bogged down on this as that wooden help anybody

OldRio

punisher5112 wrote: »

I know hence why slightly lower down the list.
Kerosene and gas much cleaner then any of the others....

Diesel was better than petrol once. Only a matter of time before another source of fuel will be put on the naughty step.

elperello

Before they started baling them with plastic strips they used wire.

Fine strong stuff it was and always saved.

Briquette wire was the the great standby for all bodgers and running repairs merchants.

Exhaust falling down on car - Briquette wire.

Loose mudguard on bike - Briquette wire.

And 101 other uses.

Dravokivich

saabsaab wrote: »

I'll miss them really they gave a nice flame burned well but I won't get too fired up about it like some. Hope new jobs are made in those areas affected, solar farms, carbon capture etc etc.

You don't want solar farms. They can have a bad impact on local ecology.

punisher5112

Dravokivich wrote: »

You don't want solar farms. They can have a bad impact on local ecology.

Plenty of houses and business they could all be fitted to.

Galwayguy35

statesaver wrote: »

So what will people who use briquettes use instead ?

Back to the turf for me, will probably work out cheaper really.

beggars_bush

Even though my parents use briquettes, i agree with this

BnM have basically strip mined the bogs for 70 years.
There's nothing left.

Drive through parts of longford, Westmeath, roscommon and offaly and there are large areas of hollowed out ground either side of roads. They've cleaned it out down to the base

And there are numerous private companies still doing this strip mining to produce peat compost for the uk, dutch and german markets

Butson

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Those BNM briquettes were junk, needed a firelighter to get them going and never a roaring flame. Now turf brought in from the bog was a different matter, once sufficiently dried the heat generated was something else. Even if they burned up in a hurry. Nostalgia from my childhood footing the stuff, different times however I'm sorry to see the peat bogs being phased out.

Even the best dried turf was still half moisture.
A briquette is essentially 4 sods of turf compressed with the moisture squeezed out.

beggars_bush

Also? Surely its time to get more poorer farming land growing timber suitable for pellets or for general household stove burning?

punisher5112

beggars_bush wrote: »

Also? Surely its time to get more poorer farming land growing timber suitable for pellets or for general household stove burning?

Wood burning has been found to cause huge pollutants.

Butson

beggars_bush wrote: »

Even though my parents use briquettes, i agree with this

BnM have basically strip mined the bogs for 70 years.
There's nothing left.

Drive through parts of longford, Westmeath, roscommon and offaly and there are large areas of hollowed out ground either side of roads. They've cleaned it out down to the base

And there are numerous private companies still doing this strip mining to produce peat compost for the uk, dutch and german markets

It's incredible how quickly wildlife takes over though. A bog near me closed at end of November. Was down there last weekend for a walk, full of wildlife. Whooper Swans in particular.
Oweninny Bog up in Mayo closed in the 90s, place has been colonised by animals since.

punisher5112

Butson wrote: »

It's incredible how quickly wildlife takes over though. A bog near me closed at end of November. Was down there last weekend for a walk, full of wildlife. Whooper Swans in particular.
Oweninny Bog up in Mayo closed in the 90s, place has been colonised by animals since.

But it's not just the animals, it needs the water and dead plant matter etc to work.

Huge amount of carbon absorbed which is great for us.

CoBo55

No loss, dirty yokes not worth a fcuk to heat water.

CFlat

Don't worry, some scientist somewhere in the future will say that electricity has a detrimental impact on the environment. And the circle of blame for destroying the earth will continue ad nauseum.

CoBo55

elperello wrote: »

Before they started baling them with plastic strips they used wire.

Fine strong stuff it was and always saved.

Briquette wire was the the great standby for all bodgers and running repairs merchants.

Exhaust falling down on car - Briquette wire.

Loose mudguard on bike - Briquette wire.

And 101 other uses.

No clothes hanger for the aerial on the hunter, Briquette wire.
A quare name but great stuff (cheno unction)

1874

1874 wrote: »

If done correctly, airtightness and insulation (external imo), done correctly, heat pumps are a good way to go, a huge potential saving in cost if done right with Coefficients (COP) of x, lets say 2.5-3.5, you are getting that much (or whatever the COP is) 2-5 to 3-5 times energy usage per per kwh, so possibly 3 times cheaper than what you are paying per unit of electricity charged.

So about the same price as gas but at a massive initial outlay?


I'm all in favour of wind and solar and as electric cars become more widespread and smart-metering/home batteries come online it'll be grand, but as far as heating goes the government need to get their heads out of their arses.

For years they (perhaps correctly pushed gas. I remember 25 years ago all the streets where I lived were dug up for the summer for them to lay the gas lines.
Now they want to ban gas boilers in new houses in 2023. For some reason they want to ban gas burners before oil burners.
New house regulations are a complete and utter joke. Heat pumps are expensive and even if they run perfectly are no cheaper per unit than gas.

My parents rebuilt their house about 25 years ago (just before gas was available) and put in an oil burner. I doubt they've spent 500 quid on maintenance and it's still running perfectly.

Thelonious Monk

_Brian wrote: »

Everything has its day and the day of peat extraction has gone.

We’ve absolutely destroyed a vast natural resource. Something like 80% is beyond returning to its former state.

With work it should again start storing carbon and storing water that it’s supposed to rather than flooding happening.

Great to see a farmer talking sense on this, the others on this site were thanking the posts lamenting the fact we wont be tearing them apart any more.

Capt'n Midnight

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

There should also be a ban on households harvesting turf.

People who have rights to turf should still be allowed harvest it. Themselves. By hand. No resale of turf or right and no help from family or friends.

Happy4all

what kind of banana republic are we living in?

Thelonious Monk

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

People who have rights to turf should still be allowed harvest it. Themselves. By hand. No resale of turf or right and no help from family or friends.

For how long? Until it's all gone? Why not try and preserve it after we've done so much damage already? Over time if we allowed policies like this, it'll cause massive damage.
People are going to do it anyway, so you needn't worry about them.

mikeym

Coal will be next to get banned.

punisher5112

I find it nuts that people still do footing of the turf, back breaking work and not really much benefit.

Capt'n Midnight

beerguts wrote: »

100% correct sir. Even though it isn't common here in Ireland we can get depressions without any substantial wind for weeks at a time. I would be afraid that we could have our grid collapse from this and if it goes down like that it can be very difficult to get it back and running quickly when conditions improve. Bring back coal or let's start planning for Nuclear.

Our grid is fine. Recent warnings were a reminder to suppliers to be on stand by.


Gas from Norway today will be gas from Galway and Cork tomorrow and can be topped up with hydrogen from renewables at minimal outlay compared to the money pit that is nuclear.

We don't have the bulk buying power or experience with nuclear power like the neighbours who've been doing it since 1953 and right now they are getting screwed over on cost by Johnny Foreigner and will be in hoc to Chinese money lenders for ages.


Insulate the crap out of old housing stock would be the easiest way to remove the demand.

Galwayguy35

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

People who have rights to turf should still be allowed harvest it. Themselves. By hand. No resale of turf or right and no help from family or friends.

Turf cutting will be around for a long time yet, there's a reason the Greens are hated outside urban areas.

Thelonious Monk

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Turf cutting will be around for a long time yet, there's a reason the Greens are hated outside urban areas.

But FG brought in this initiative, why are you talking about the greens?
FG also signed up for the Paris agreement and introduced carbon taxes you know.
Maybe you guys should hate FG instead?

saabsaab

I remember a few foreign gentlemen (involved in some arts project) marveling at our pete briquettes in the late 1970's. They loved them so much they asked could they take a few back home!

Capt'n Midnight

Ubbquittious wrote: »

If you're trying to light turf using only firelighters you are living a life of sin. Shame! Shame!

*rings Game of Thrones shame bell*

Get two briquettes and bang them together sideways to separate the layers. Dead easy to light the thinnest ones.

bassy

what will this mean for private bog owners,who produce there own turf?.