One of biggest batteries in Europe uses lots of water to stop blackouts

Posted by xps on Sunday May 25, 2025 @03:52AM
from the theguardian.com dept.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/24/europe-battery-gallons-water-dinorwig-wales

( 3 comments | 3 points | on HN )

Re:One of biggest batteries in Europe uses lots of water to ... by ggm on Sunday May 25, 2025 @04:03AM (#44086323)

Pumped hydro. Britain has four. Cruachan in Scotland near Oban you can visit, not sure about the others. When we all watched the same two TV channels, pre-emptive spin up was a thing to handle "put the kettle on love, Dallas has finished" power surges.

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Re:One of biggest batteries in Europe uses lots of water to ... by asdefghyk on Sunday May 25, 2025 @04:10AM (#44086338)

The hydro in the article - its IMMEDIATE activation still allowed a million people to experience a 45 minute blackout. Trains stopped etc . Pumped hydro will take anywhere from approximate 60 seconds to several minutes to generating power. It also obviously needs to always kept in reserve for such generator dropouts

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Re:One of biggest batteries in Europe uses lots of water to ... by ggm on Sunday May 25, 2025 @05:28AM (#44086640)

It was commissioned in 1984. It's not always kept in reserve. It has a component for black start, it also has a component for surge demand management.

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