National Grid reliability

[brackwell]

Many are quick to say "what happens when the wind does not blow" but what about when a power station gives up. see http://www.bmreports.com/bsp/bsp_home.htm generation by fuel type see 10.30am  Instantaneous 10Gw loss!!

Wish i had a way of recording this for the next time somebody says.....

Ken

[billt]

Are you sure that that's a real event rather than a logging/website glitch? Generation dropping from 46GW to 23GW would have massive network effects, like massive voltage/frequency reductions and large scale disconnections.

If it is a real event it would prove the reliability of the grid; i.e. its ability to maintain supply even with a major generator failure. Of course it can only do this because there an adequate supply of fossil fueled generators ready to take over in such an eventuality. When all we've got is wind and a tiny amount of hydro there'll just be blackouts when the wind doesn't blow.

Grid demand now 52.5GW, wind contribution 0.56GW out of a possible 3ish GW, or about 1% of demand.

Wouldn't a screen grab record it for posterity?

[smegal]

Many are quick to say "what happens when the wind does not blow" but what about when a power station gives up. see http://www.bmreports.com/bsp/bsp_home.htm generation by fuel type see 10.30am  Instantaneous 10Gw loss!!

Wish i had a way of recording this for the next time somebody says.....

Ken

Run your mouse over the different fuels. The numbers look correct. I think this is just an error in how it is displayed on the graph.


Nice link by the way.