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Grid energy sources vary in how dispatchable and dependable they are. Fossil fuel plants are generally quite dispatchable and dependable, in the sense that you
by bee_rider 2y ago
Grid energy sources vary in how dispatchable and dependable they are. Fossil fuel plants are generally quite dispatchable and dependable, in the sense that you can spin up or shut down the generator (there are different types of fossil fuel power plants actually, the some of the worst ones environmentally are called “peaker plants,” they only turn on when there is very high demand, so they tend not to be very efficient).
Renewables obviously have some dependability problems (the sun might not be shining one day, the wind might not be blowing). These can be dealt with, but it isn’t free, it should be seen as an engineering opportunity.
I did an EE degree, but was more interested in digital and electronics stuff. But they talked enough about the grid a bit in my intro classes before everyone specialized… I’m confused that somebody would respond “as an EE” and ignore the grid. Everyone knew we were hiding a lot behind the circle with the little sin wave on it.
- throw0101c 2y ago> I’m confused that somebody would respond “as an EE” and ignore the grid. This thread is generally talking about electricity, and give that most 'traditional' methods of generation involve boiling water to make steam, there's nothing special about coal or atoms generating the heat. Dispatchability is an important element of the grid, but that is also possible with nuclear: one can keep the reactor thermally running, but have mechanisms to divert the generated steam away from the turbines and quench it. Given the up-front capex (and low marginal cost of megawatts) of nuclear this is not economically ideal, but it is not technically impossible.
- bee_rider 2y agoThat’s fair. Looking at the other comments in the thread, I think I gave your comment an unfairly pessimistic read and the other comment an unreasonably optimistic one.