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I'm confused, what does "source of power" have to do with the grid itself? Why macro vs micro applications for source power? The grid itself can be improved for distribution, and part of the DOE modernization document I linked to (above) states:
Selection of these projects allows DOE to build on its past successes in superconductivity, which include operating two distribution-level voltage superconducting cables and utility grids. Superconductors - solid ceramic compounds that conduct electricity more efficiently than traditional copper wires - can be a key to improving the capacity, efficiency, and reliability of electric power equipment. A major challenge prior to commercialization is to develop superconductors that can operate at relatively “high” temperatures, from approximately -320 to -370 degrees Fahrenheit (50 to 77 Kelvin), and in magnetic fields from 1 to 4 Tesla.
DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) will oversee the research projects announced today. OE leads national efforts to modernize the electric grid; enhance the security and reliability of the energy infrastructure; and facilitate recovery from disruptions to the energy supply.
Suppose you describe the means by which the grid distinguishes the energy it tranmits and distributes by source.
Sure, thats called Power Factor or Power Quailty. Generation assets have to produce electricity at 60 Hertz or cycles this is mesured in VARS and enough MW (Megawatts) to meet the demand of the end users at that rate (60hz). While the cycles have to remain constant the amout of electricity need is allways changeing. Think of a mug of beer: The beer is the MWs and the Vars are the foam on top, a little foam is good it helps the beer, to much foam and your mad at the bartender.
The balance of electrical system Power Factor is a minute to minute struggle that power marketers,dispatchers, generation managers deal with all the time.
Now lets install 1000 Mws of say...wind powered generation on the system, (Note wind towers are not typically good producers of VARs and adversely affect power quality) When the wind blows some big units (typically coal of nuk) have to back down 1000 Mws when the wind stops blowing those units have to pick up the load again but are not able to swing fast enough sooo there goes the foam on the beer and your power quality just dropped in the toilet. The relay protection circuts of the grid sees that as fault and will try to save itself from complete shutdown by dumping sections but now other sections see that as an Over frequency (to much foam) and dump generation units to control... Tgis si called a cascadeing failure........A similar problem happened a few years ago on the East Coast....
So you see it does matter what kind of generation is connected to the grid.....
I'm confused, what does "source of power" have to do with the grid itself? Why macro vs micro applications for source power? The grid itself can be improved for distribution, and part of the DOE modernization document I linked to (above) states:
Selection of these projects allows DOE to build on its past successes in superconductivity, which include operating two distribution-level voltage superconducting cables and utility grids. Superconductors - solid ceramic compounds that conduct electricity more efficiently than traditional copper wires - can be a key to improving the capacity, efficiency, and reliability of electric power equipment. A major challenge prior to commercialization is to develop superconductors that can operate at relatively “high” temperatures, from approximately -320 to -370 degrees Fahrenheit (50 to 77 Kelvin), and in magnetic fields from 1 to 4 Tesla.
DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) will oversee the research projects announced today. OE leads national efforts to modernize the electric grid; enhance the security and reliability of the energy infrastructure; and facilitate recovery from disruptions to the energy supply.
The grid just delivers the power. yes many things can be done to improve the deliverability of the power but a machine has to produce it in ever increasing amounts
So you see it does matter what kind of generation is connected to the grid.....
No, it doesn't matter what sort of generator you have. The grid sees a modern wind-turbine in exactly the same way that it would see a hydro-electric turbine. But if you want to talk beer, head over to Germany and have one. While you're there, ask them to explain how they get their 20,000 MW of wind-generated power onto the grid so smoothly...
The other interesting thing going on in Germany is the proliferation of small solar power generating units that back feeding into the grid. This sounds contradictory, because Germany is located in the northern latitudes mostly above 50*N and they get a lot of cloudy weather. However I visited a former Russian air force base outside Leipzig that is now the site of one of the largest solar power panel factories in the world. With some government tax incentives, they figure that solar power generation is a long term payback that can eliminate the need to add more power plants fueled by Russian natural gas or Middle East oil. Somehow Germany is among the largest producers of solar power along with wind generated power feeding the grid.
No, it doesn't matter what sort of generator you have. The grid sees a modern wind-turbine in exactly the same way that it would see a hydro-electric turbine. But if you want to talk beer, head over to Germany and have one. While you're there, ask them to explain how they get their 20,000 MW of wind-generated power onto the grid so smoothly...
LOL They don't! If you ever come to MN let me know and I'll take you to system control center and you can see what it does Also it is interesting to note the the EU interconnected grid is supported largely by Nuk plants in France
The fact that France, and hence at times its grid partners, rely in significant part on French nuclear generating capacity may be interesting, indeed. But it does not advance any point in an argument against the practicality of wind-generated power, nor that which favors the idea of it mattering to the grid which source the power it carries was generated by. Each of these comes up against the established fact that people are doing it. Efficiently. German wind-power is estimated to be saving its consumers about a billion euros per year. That's a significant chunk of change...especially at today's exchange rates...
Well sir I bow to your complete understanding of the Power Generation/Distributation industry here in the USA. Guess I'll go off vacation tomarrow and tell 18 communities in Mn that we're not smart enough to run 600mws of generation and we better shut it down........
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