3 ms·
A plant following the demand curve is called a load-following power plant, and France's NPP are quite good at it, but most recent EU NPP should be able to do it
by Kuinox 3y ago
A plant following the demand curve is called a load-following power plant, and France's NPP are quite good at it, but most recent EU NPP should be able to do it.
> According to the current version of the European
Utility Requirements (EUR) the NPP must be capable
of a minimum daily load cycling operation between
50% and 100% P r, with a rate of change of electric
output of 3-5% P r /minute.
https://www.oecd-nea.org/nea-news/2011/29-2/nea-news-29-2-load-following-e.pdf https://www.oecd-nea.org/nea-news/2011/29-2/nea-news-29-2-lo...
> France in particular has a long history of utilizing aggressive load following with their PWRs [...] These reactors have the capability to regularly vary their output between 30–100% of rated power
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Load-following_power_plant#Nuclear_power_plants https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Load-following_power_plant#Nuc...
- Retric 3y agoLoad following Nuclear costs more per kWh because you’re getting less energy when the capacity factor drops and as is often said fuel isn’t the largest cost for nuclear. So you still need to pay just as much for for salaries, maintenance, construction, decommissioning etc when output is 10% or 100%. But you also need a more complex design with higher inherent costs.
- Kuinox 3y agoIf you switch off the solar panels instead, it will be the solar panels that costs more.
- Retric 3y agoIt’s a percentage increase so the vastly lower price per kWh of solar remains. Which is why everyone wants to use Solar to charge batteries, but nobody suggests that for nuclear even though it has similar issues just at different times of the day. Also, when given the option your better off reducing nuclear as it does have fuel costs.