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In this episode, Nathan sits down with economist Ben Watts, the creator of the real-time energy dashboard at kilowatts.io. They explore the hidden "engine room" of the UK’s electricity system, the high-stakes market where power is traded in 30-minute blocks.

Ben explains why a single line on the map (the B6 Boundary) is costing consumers over £1 billion a year and how technology like heat pumps and EVs are moving from being "loads" to "assets" that help keep the grid balanced.

Key Jargon Buster: The Grid Boundaries

To help listeners follow the conversation, here is a quick guide to the "pinch points" Ben mentions:

• B6 Boundary: The most critical bottleneck in the UK. It runs along the Scottish-English border.
• B4 Boundary: A northern bottleneck separating the Scottish Highlands from the Central Belt.
• The "4.5 GW" Limit: The onshore overhead cables at B6 can securely handle about 4.5 GW. When combined with the Western HVDC subsea link (2.2 GW), the total limit is roughly 6.7 GW.
• Wind Curtailment: When there is more wind in Scotland than the B6 "pipes" can carry, NESO pays wind farms to stop generating while paying gas plants in the South to turn on.

Keywords & Themes

• kilowatts.io: Ben’s dashboard for visualising real-time grid data.
• NESO: The National Energy System Operator (the new name for the system operator in 2026).
• CCGT Maintenance: Why demineralised water is essential for the steam turbines in gas power plants.
• Flexibility Assets: Using heat pumps as "virtual power plants" to respond to grid signals at 50Hz.

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In this episode of BetaTalk, I talk about a subject I am deeply passionate about marketing within the UK heating sector.

The UK has the most competitive heating market in Europe, with the highest boiler sales across the continent. In such a competitive environment, marketing plays an essential role. I reflect on how, at times, marketing messages can move away from fundamental heating science. This is not about blame or intent, but about acknowledging how commercial pressure and fast-moving narratives can influence communication.

As scrutiny of the sector continues to increase from regulators, consumer bodies, and groups examining greenwashing, these gaps are becoming more noticeable. I talk about how this scrutiny is shaping conversations across the industry, including within marketing teams and trade bodies, where there can be tension between commercial expectations and technical accuracy.

I also share why I speak about my grandfather so often on this podcast, and how his influence shaped my views on engineering, responsibility, and honesty in how we communicate technical information.

This episode is a reflective discussion about marketing, science, and integrity, and how the heating industry can continue to communicate with clarity in an increasingly examined environment.

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BetaTalk Podcast Show Notes: Air-to-Air Heat Pump Pioneering with John

In this landmark episode of BetaTalk, the host sits down with John Ewbank to discuss his pioneering and invaluable research into the domestic application of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps (A2A HPs).

This conversation marks a potentially historical inflection point for the UK heating sector, as Ewbank’s practical, data-driven work pushes the boundaries of efficient home heating.

🔬 The Pioneers of UK Heating

The episode highlights a crucial lineage of highly skilled, 'geeky' homeowners and engineers who have collectively advanced the understanding and adoption of low-carbon domestic heating in the UK. Ewbank’s work stands alongside the incredible efforts of figures such as:

• Mick Wall
• John Cantor
• Trystan Lee
• Glyn Hudson

These individuals have performed & shared ground-breaking real-world research, often filling gaps left by industry.

💡 Collaboration with Nesta

A significant element of the discussion is John Ewbank's collaboration with Nesta, the UK's innovation foundation and think tank.

The host expresses great satisfaction that Nesta is engaging directly with practitioners and heating engineers like Ewbank. Their approach is highlighted as being uniquely effective among Third Sector entities in actively supporting and utilizing the crucial data generated by this community of independent researchers.

This is a vital episode for anyone interested in heat pumps, energy efficiency, and the future of UK home heating. Dive into the conversation, share it widely, and join the discussion around this incredible, pioneering work!

https://www.youtube.com/@TimAndKatsGreenWalk Have Toshiba Haori set up - Does interesting experiments.
https://x.com/timothymortimer Daikin Stylish installed very happy
https://x.com/jimmybb - Daikin Stylish installed very happy
https://www.youtube.com/@EVPuzzle has many videos on his air to air system
https://www.youtube.com/@MrEV - other perspective installed has mixed feelings, but thinks was system design. Units were not optimally placed or sized

My initial install & experience
https://johnewbank.co.uk/what-is-the-cheapest-way-to-heat-your-home/

My experience when I lived with it for a bit.
https://johnewbank.co.uk/living-with-an-air-to-air-heat-pump-installation-and-testing-notes/

COP calculations
https://johnewbank.co.uk/airtoairmonitoring/

Guild Patrons

PrimaryPro CastRads UK Radiators Renewables Centre

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Nathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky