[Taf]

A friend, a concrete engineer, is involved in works in Finland that will mean the end of cheap off-peak electricity for the public all over the country, and eventually far wider.

Power is bought off-peak to heat sand in large silos, then converted back into electricity at above 85% efficiency when demand rises. Or the silos can provide cheap heating for homes and businesses. It is expected that this system will flatten-out the price increase per kWh that applies at peak periods that consumers are charged via their smart meters.