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No generator runs 100%. Not so long ago the UK nuke fleet was managing only about 60% caopacity factor. The grid system runs as a whole with generators backin
by DamonHD 1y ago
No generator runs 100%. Not so long ago the UK nuke fleet was managing only about 60% caopacity factor. The grid system runs as a whole with generators backing one another up. The last two big load shedding incidents (since the turn of the century, ~500k people had power cut to keep the rest of the grid up) on the GB grid involved thermal generators tripping; the older one was nuke+coal, the newer one gas+wind. And in general we know when the sun is going down a long time in advance so grid operators can plan for it!
- cesarb 1y ago> And in general we know when the sun is going down a long time in advance so grid operators can plan for it! This is even more important for solar eclipses: unlike normal sunrise and sunset which are gradual, the ramp in a solar eclipse is very steep, so the grid operator has to have enough reserve prepared in advance and ready to absorb the sudden decrease (and increase) in solar generation.