Yes, this means more reliance on gas and diesel standby generation when there are not sufficient renewables hitting the grid. Also most would have heard about the moves to limit rooftop solar feed in when there is an excess of energy being produced during the day - the reasons are twofold - the ROI on new solar farms is now so low that unless rooftop solar output is restricted, the business case for new solar farms collapses. That doesn't suit the narrative, so rooftop solar owners are screwed. The other reason is that the many small ( rooftop) solar generators lead to issues with grid instabilty as they all need to synch to the 50hz mains frequency. That (is) was easy when there is a large predominant "reference point" generator ( ie coal fired power plant ), but close to impossible when there are now tens of thousands of small, equal generators feeding the grid, with each trying to sync with each other. M
And this is because the distributors had their heads in the sand for so long and refused to acknowledge that large solar inputs were coming; coupled with the fact that ‘old’ generators have caved in to the inevitable much quicker than expected (helped along by having skimped on maintenance for so many years). It is the distribution network that now needs attention, not the generating sources per se.
Have you ever talked to someone who runs or designs power distribution networks? If you did, you'd realise how wrong your assumptions are. The whole situation is a clusterfark, beginning with virtue signalling and politically motivated subsidies. Grid instability is now baked in. My conclusion after some weeks of understanding the situation is to buy a diesel Genset for my house.
That’s what we were talking about a while ago Ian…So what I was thinking is have a physical generator that is dual fuel ( diesel and solar )…Then use this to run your property and totally bypass the grid..It would be harder for residential living I guess because of noise pollution and space…Thoughts?…
This whole rush for alternate energy is ludicrous, all because one idiot at the IPCC said if you cannot find the reason for the temp going up blame humans and industry..
Has nothing to do with distribution, read the post again, the grid instability has to do with many small generators trying to "syncronise "their 50z A/C sine wave to the "grid" when there is no large , stable reference point to do that with. "AEMO is particularly concerned that the degradation of frequency response from the big thermal generators over the last decade means that the system now relies on industrial and consumer loads being switched off when such events occur. This event indicates that the resulting decrease in primary frequency control has significantly reduced the ability of the power system to arrest the impact of non-credible contingency events in time to avoid the risk of cascading failures. caused by widening dead band setting" And the reason why big thermal generators are no longer providing as much frequency response is because many have been shut down, which has to do with the oversupply of renewables and the negative publicity associated with operating thermal plants. As Ian said, its a complete mess One thing is sure though, energy prices wont be decreasing. Really, the solution is nuclear power, clean and reliable, runs day and night, but I can't see that happening. BTW, I was Chairman of the Board of an energy retailer for 5 years until 2020, so I have some knowledge about the subject. M
Two things, the cost to build nuclear plants is really the only down side and why nuclear plants have been on hold for some time ..... and what energy retailer were you chairman of ? Asking for a friend
Best analogy yet, sad part is there isn't even an oil crisis, as crude oil it not a fossil fuel oil as it predates the dinosaurs by millions of years. Most of the CO2 is in the soil. The burning of oil/ coal gas, pulled the earth out of a CO2 drought at 180ppm, as that's when plants die. Image Unavailable, Please Login
If you reckon you mob had an ordinary arvo,try missing the head of your cold chisel and smacking something softer with yer 3lb hammer: Image Unavailable, Please Login
At least it’s warm where you live, but then first thing in the morning here at -2 you would not. know you had done it till you’d washed your hands!
