Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
OK, I think I see what you're saying.
To elaborate on what I was saying though, there are basically two types of power generation capability:
"Base load" generation, which is always on-line and which deals with the the power requirements that are there 24/7. Such plants include coal, and nuclear plant - you can't just "switch off" a coal power station if it's not needed, or stop feeding coal into it. It takes days to safely shut it down.
"Transient" generation capacity, which can quickly be brought on-line and taken off-line to satisfy short-term power requirements - eg when everyone sits down to watch TV in the evening. This includes hydroelectric plants, as well as more "esoteric" types such as pump-storage power plants, AND things like wind and solar power.
So, as I was saying, it doesn't matter how many wind farms you build, you really can't use them for your base-load generating capacity. Only something like nuclear stations can replace coal power stations.
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Harry presumably knows better than I, as he's actually worked in that industry. That said, my readings suggest three broad categories, rather than two. First is "base load," essentially exactly as described by HarryT.
The other two categories appear to be a refinement (??) of Harry's second category. Books/articles I've read speak separately about "transient" and "peaking" capacity. I've not seen actual definitions, but the context appears to imply that "transient" is used for the plants used for things like "the working day has begun, so we'll fire up the plants that we leave idle overnight." By comparison "peaking" capacity shows up in contexts like "oh my G*d, it's a
really hot summer afternoon and
everyone has their air conditioner on. Fire up the peaking plants, too!" I've seen transient and peaking capacity used separately in individual articles, which implies that the authors thought they were different things.
HarryT -- does this fit anything in your professional knowledge? Or am I smoking crack? Or???
Xenophon