Dials and graphs

Post by **adam2** » 24 Mar 2013, 12:17

odaeio wrote:Good question, perhaps the dials calibrate according to display, if not, then we only have another half a gig to come from France. Dunno what the max is that we can pull through the cable. Adam2? can you help?

2GW, or 2,000MW is the maximum continous rating, or a little more for short term operation.

Post by **adam2** » 24 Mar 2013, 12:30

odaeio wrote:You seem quite unperturbed Adam2, but seriously, is this a first for wind, or have we just not used the capacity in this way before. Doesn't seem to have happened over the past year according to the graphs. If it has been available for days or weeks on end, why not use it, anything to do with testing etc, not wanting to break things perhaps?

In the near term I am relatively unperturbed.
The wind power output is indeed impressive and is significantly reducing gas burn thereby leaving a bit more in storage.
Not only is the weather ideal, but remember that the installed wind turbine capacity is increasing, therefore one would expect output to be on an upward trend, though with considerable fluctuations due to changable weather.

In the longer term I am concerned at both the potential lack of electrical generating capacity, and the potential shortage of natural gas.

odaeio · Post by **odaeio** » 24 Mar 2013, 13:19

Thanks for all the info, am not worried for myself - live aboard my narrow boat and provide my own 'leccy, no gas all electric, but the in-efficiency of the generator/charger/batt system is sickening. I use 12.5 Kw/h of diesel for 1 Kw/h stored in the battery bank - horrendous! I get about 4 Kw/h a day out of the solar PV per day in high Summer, but only 10% of that now in Winter. Where oh where are those "free energy" machines!

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 25 Mar 2013, 03:15

Can you not use the generator cooling to heat the boat? According to your figures you should have about 11kw available.

Potemkin Villager · Post by **Potemkin Villager** » 25 Mar 2013, 09:11

adam2 wrote:

....... but apart from the cost, I dont like the idea of becoming too reliant on France.

Those unreliable garlic eaters at EDF must surely not be allowed to control
the UK's atomic generation fleet?

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 25 Mar 2013, 15:57

Absofeckinglutely, mon ami

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 23 Dec 2013, 12:46

Question (spotted by Fille, who's been revising her Physics): why does "Pumped Storage" only go one way (i.e., why isn't there a range of negative values for when Dinorwig etc are buying-in, in the same way that there are both positive and negative values on the Interconnector dials)?

odaeio · Post by **odaeio** » 23 Dec 2013, 13:02

It's just included in the "demand" totals. I would also like to see it as a "negative" value, as then we could see what "one way" demand actually was.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 23 Dec 2013, 13:05

Oh right, thanks. But yes, it'd be interesting to see it as a separate figure.

odaeio · Post by **odaeio** » 23 Dec 2013, 14:16

Heheheh, human psychology is really weird, I watch this National Grid goings on daily, I am well interested in what all is happening - yet it is entirely insignificant to me!!! I have lived totally, 100% off-grid for the last 5 years!!!! Whether the lights stay on or not would not affect my personal energy supply in any way, so why on earth would I take such a keen interest in the grid? Oil, sure, am still heavily dependent on diesel, but I have no gas or electrical dependency on a "grid" supply. I keep on surprising myself as to why I would take such a keen interest in things which don't materially affect me.........seems a bit daft!

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 23 Dec 2013, 15:39

You need fuel for your boat, and fuel for your generator and you need, er, food. If the lights went out, ie part of the grid was shut down, in the end you would run out of some useful resources. If you have a wood burner you would be ok as long as you knew some whereabouts of pet rabbits and other tasty morsels.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 23 Dec 2013, 18:59

Odaeio, I believe the correct term here is "schadenfreude"

Good for you!

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 14 Mar 2014, 18:43

Hey they've got a new "FRANCE" button! Top corner of http://gridwatch.templar.co.uk/index.php

...and you get http://gridwatch.templar.co.uk/france/

Tarrel · Post by **Tarrel** » 15 Mar 2014, 20:48

Wow, look at their demand! (52GW, compared to 36GW for the UK, at 20.46 Sat evening). Would this be due to greater amount of electric heating as a result of cheap, abundant electricity I wonder?

They certainly don't seem to have any short-term worries!

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 15 Mar 2014, 22:33

Yes electric heating is widespread in France. They went straight from woodburning stoves to electric heaters: damn wasteful if you ask me, given that nuclear (their gen-of-choice) is a thermal technology.

Note that they have a bit less fluctuarion through the day than we do: makes it easier for nuclear stations to deal with the grid. If they know in advance that there's a big breakdown or emand surge they announce an "EJP" (Jour de Point", erm peaking-day) and up the tariff so that people can know to get things done before that day.

Look at the number of countries they export/import with! With 6 countries, it's much easier to find a market for the pretty-well-constant nuclear output: we won't have that option.