3 ms·

Nuclear capacity should be around 90% when running baseload, with < 1 unplanned trip per year. The US have been very successful at getting the capacity factor h

Nuclear capacity should be around 90% when running baseload, with < 1 unplanned trip per year. The US have been very successful at getting the capacity factor higher; it is the cheapest way of producing more from the given assets. In addition the 10% unavailability is predictable and can be planned many months in advance (and can be delayed by a few weeks or so at lower power output). So multiple plants can plan their outages to not coincide ... one backup plant will serve as backup for more than one nuclear power stations. However offshore wind has a capacity factor of 40% to 50%, and its lack of output is correlated with other wind farms. Therefore one backup power station can only really serve one wind farm. Not only is it capacity factor but demand correlation that weights against the intermittents.

blitzar 2y ago
The UK’s average nuclear load factor for 1970 to 2017 was 67.4 per cent. Furthermore, France demonstrated the correlation of nuclear downtime in the summer of 2022 when it was too summery, compounded with overrunning maintenance. At its lowest point, France’s nuclear availability sat at around 40% of maximum capacity for about a month. All single power generators need to be backed up for downtime.
- chickenbig 2y ago
  > The UK’s average nuclear load factor for 1970 to 2017 was 67.4 per cent. Finland's load factor over the last 3 years has been above 90%, as was the USA. Germany was up at 94% until ... stuff happened. > At its lowest point, France’s nuclear availability sat at around 40% of maximum capacity for about a month. Would they have shut down those reactors if alternatives were unavailable? I think they would have probably continued to run them, with permission of the regulators (at the behest of the government). > All single power generators need to be backed up for downtime. I'm not sure I follow what this statement means. What does "single" mean, as the preceeding comment talks about correlated downtime. Should we ensure that all methane plants are backed up too?
- DrBazza 2y ago
  The French nuclear power stations are often built near rivers where the water was too hot for cooling or just not enough due to drought. The UK nuclear power stations are all on the coast drawing in much cooler sea water.
  - chickenbig 2y ago
    France has around 20GW on the coast (21,444MW including Flamanville 3). Also France looks to have winter-dominated electrical demand (50TWh in January 2023, 40TWh in April, 37TWh in August, 46TWh in November). See https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/monthly-electricity-statistics https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/monthly-e... and select France.
    - DrBazza 2y ago
      Indeed. Though, as I said there are others next to rivers. The map here: https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/map-where-are-frances-nuclear-reactors-and-what-is-planned-for-more/654036 https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/map-where-are-frances-n... shows 6 reactors on the coast, and 12 inland on rivers which are susceptible to summer river water temperatures and levels.
      - chickenbig 2y ago
        > susceptible to summer river water temperatures and levels Yes, when the French grid needs them the least.

blitzar 2y ago

The UK’s average nuclear load factor for 1970 to 2017 was 67.4 per cent. Furthermore, France demonstrated the correlation of nuclear downtime in the summer of 2022 when it was too summery, compounded with overrunning maintenance. At its lowest point, France’s nuclear availability sat at around 40% of maximum capacity for about a month. All single power generators need to be backed up for downtime.

chickenbig 2y ago
> The UK’s average nuclear load factor for 1970 to 2017 was 67.4 per cent. Finland's load factor over the last 3 years has been above 90%, as was the USA. Germany was up at 94% until ... stuff happened. > At its lowest point, France’s nuclear availability sat at around 40% of maximum capacity for about a month. Would they have shut down those reactors if alternatives were unavailable? I think they would have probably continued to run them, with permission of the regulators (at the behest of the government). > All single power generators need to be backed up for downtime. I'm not sure I follow what this statement means. What does "single" mean, as the preceeding comment talks about correlated downtime. Should we ensure that all methane plants are backed up too?
DrBazza 2y ago
The French nuclear power stations are often built near rivers where the water was too hot for cooling or just not enough due to drought. The UK nuclear power stations are all on the coast drawing in much cooler sea water.
- chickenbig 2y ago
  France has around 20GW on the coast (21,444MW including Flamanville 3). Also France looks to have winter-dominated electrical demand (50TWh in January 2023, 40TWh in April, 37TWh in August, 46TWh in November). See https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/monthly-electricity-statistics https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/monthly-e... and select France.
  - DrBazza 2y ago
    Indeed. Though, as I said there are others next to rivers. The map here: https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/map-where-are-frances-nuclear-reactors-and-what-is-planned-for-more/654036 https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/map-where-are-frances-n... shows 6 reactors on the coast, and 12 inland on rivers which are susceptible to summer river water temperatures and levels.
    - chickenbig 2y ago
      > susceptible to summer river water temperatures and levels Yes, when the French grid needs them the least.