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> They are sugar-coated to hide that the root cause is the failure of the UK energy policy over the last decades No, No matter how much power is used and how m

> They are sugar-coated to hide that the root cause is the failure of the UK energy policy over the last decades No, No matter how much power is used and how many power stations any country has, power usage goes up and down, to cope with that some power stations are paid to be be dormant but ready to come online at periods of high demand (usually the highest cost, easiest to start and/or polluting ones). What these experiments are doing is testing if its cheaper/easier to pay consumers to reduce demand than it costs to bring those power stations online. This will only get more sophisticated as dishwashers/washing machines get smart enough to do there work and and cars charge when the power is cheapest (even paying electric car owners to put a few kWh into the grid at peak early evening times)

mytailorisrich 4y ago
> to cope with that some power stations are paid to be be dormant but ready to come online at periods of high demand If that's the problem then it's entirely self-inflicted... It's a classic: the problem is actually in the premise and presented as a matter of fact to justify 'solutions'... > cars charge when the power is cheapest What if I told you that some countries have had off-peak pricing for decades? There is no need for anything new and high tech for that.
- helsinkiandrew 4y ago
  That's how electric grids work all over the world. Why are you saying that's a problem? What's the alternative? If the power in doesn't match the power out there will be a black out and if there wasn't why would you produce more power than is being used? Individual wind turbines are often turned off when there's too much power going into the grid. https://www.energuide.be/en/questions-answers/why-does-the-electricity-grid-have-to-stay-in-balance/2136/ https://www.energuide.be/en/questions-answers/why-does-the-e...
  - mytailorisrich 4y ago
    That's not the same as your previous statement... Of course usage goes up and down. The problem you previously stated is that power plants are paid to shut down, which is not the way it has to be but rather the consequence of the chosen system of production. In any case, that's not the reason of the current "saving sessions" in the UK, as already said.
    - helsinkiandrew 4y ago
      No I said: > some power stations are paid to be be dormant but ready to come online at periods of high demand
cjrp 4y ago
> cars charge when the power is cheapest Octopus encourage that on certain tariffs. Something like £0.10/kWh during the night if you schedule EV charging using their app (and linked charger).

mytailorisrich 4y ago

> to cope with that some power stations are paid to be be dormant but ready to come online at periods of high demand If that's the problem then it's entirely self-inflicted... It's a classic: the problem is actually in the premise and presented as a matter of fact to justify 'solutions'... > cars charge when the power is cheapest What if I told you that some countries have had off-peak pricing for decades? There is no need for anything new and high tech for that.

helsinkiandrew 4y ago
That's how electric grids work all over the world. Why are you saying that's a problem? What's the alternative? If the power in doesn't match the power out there will be a black out and if there wasn't why would you produce more power than is being used? Individual wind turbines are often turned off when there's too much power going into the grid. https://www.energuide.be/en/questions-answers/why-does-the-electricity-grid-have-to-stay-in-balance/2136/ https://www.energuide.be/en/questions-answers/why-does-the-e...
- mytailorisrich 4y ago
  That's not the same as your previous statement... Of course usage goes up and down. The problem you previously stated is that power plants are paid to shut down, which is not the way it has to be but rather the consequence of the chosen system of production. In any case, that's not the reason of the current "saving sessions" in the UK, as already said.
  - helsinkiandrew 4y ago
    No I said: > some power stations are paid to be be dormant but ready to come online at periods of high demand

cjrp 4y ago

> cars charge when the power is cheapest Octopus encourage that on certain tariffs. Something like £0.10/kWh during the night if you schedule EV charging using their app (and linked charger).