Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by logfromblammo on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @12:40PM
(#9765801)
There are three ways to handle the difference between relatively fixed base load power generation and highly variable grid usage.
First, you can add variable load power generation facilities, that are less efficient overall, but can change output levels more quickly.
Second, you can add an energy storage and return capacity to the grid. For this, you need a reversible process and good efficiency.
Third, you can add variable usage. "Smart grid" appliances, particularly air conditioners, are good for this. But an energy-intensive industrial process co-located with the power plant, that could be scaled up or down automatically, would be better.
The fact that most solutions to the problem of handling variable load when it is most efficient to have near-constant production are of the first variety is easily explained by the economic factors. A power generating company understands power generation better than any other industry, therefore has a bias towards solving its power generation problems with different kinds of power generation.
It is only relatively recently that computing made it possible for automated usage negotiations could take place between producer and consumer on a scale that would be significant. And we still don't quite have batteries good enough to make peak-leveling storage practical or cost-effective. Pumped hydro is about the only game in town, and that depends heavily on appropriate terrain.
First, you can add variable load power generation facilities, that are less efficient overall, but can change output levels more quickly.
Second, you can add an energy storage and return capacity to the grid. For this, you need a reversible process and good efficiency.
Third, you can add variable usage. "Smart grid" appliances, particularly air conditioners, are good for this. But an energy-intensive industrial process co-located with the power plant, that could be scaled up or down automatically, would be better.
The fact that most solutions to the problem of handling variable load when it is most efficient to have near-constant production are of the first variety is easily explained by the economic factors. A power generating company understands power generation better than any other industry, therefore has a bias towards solving its power generation problems with different kinds of power generation.
It is only relatively recently that computing made it possible for automated usage negotiations could take place between producer and consumer on a scale that would be significant. And we still don't quite have batteries good enough to make peak-leveling storage practical or cost-effective. Pumped hydro is about the only game in town, and that depends heavily on appropriate terrain.