But everybody gets power cuts, whether it’s from a disaster such as a hurricane, or just a drunk ramming into a pole, people lose power all the time, and it’s worth having something of your own that will continue to work. Take Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria, for example. Most of the power generation was done on, I believe, the south side of the island, and they had one single high tension line running to the north side. And so when that line snapped, everybody on half the island lost power at the same time. Now I know that their power grid was very underfunded and barely staying afloat anyway, but that’s still not a good thing.
I think I have only had 1 power cut longer than 5 mins in the last 15 years (SE England), it’s not a big problem here. (Bigger issue in Scotland/Wales/Cornwall as they get bigger storms)
The grid already allows some areas to be cut off and others continue when there is a problem or lack of generation (see ZA load shedding for an extreme example).
I think what you are asking for is for the generation to be spread out so that everywhere is almost self sufficient, but can rely on others when they are not?
It’s a nice idea, but I don’t think it’s feasible as the economies of scale make big power plants/big offshore farms more efficient. Generation will almost always be concentrated into a small number of locations. It’s also much harder to balance load/demand on a smaller grid - if your street was a grid and had to operate off grid off rooftop solar for example how would it cope when everyone turns on the oven for dinner?
Yeah, that’s exactly what I mean is more decentralized generation as you mentioned. Here, our power is not often interrupted, but when it is, it can be for hours at a time or longer depending on how strong the hurricane or whatever that knocked it out was.
Many smaller, unconnected grids would also allow more resilience against something like solar flares as there aren’t nearly as long of wires to build up a charge over and fry things.
I don’t think that is its official name - but currently, if you have solar panels on your roof and there is a power cut, you still lose power. this is done so you are not electrifying the disconnected grid, risking the safety of those trying to fix it.
However, you can get some equipment that separates you from the grid in a power cut, so your house can continue under its own power
this is done so you are not electrifying the disconnected grid, risking the safety of those trying to fix it.
totally understandable. doesn’t the two-way meter achieve this? ( the one used in a grid-tie system)
you can get some equipment that separates you from the grid in a power cut, so your house can continue under its own power
thats basically batteries.
well to avoid a global outage, each community or a state should have Gwh scale of battery storage already charged, that way only the affected area is offline and the rest stay somewhat energized
totally understandable. doesn’t the two-way meter achieve this? ( the one used in a grid-tie system)
Not by default - only expensive ones.
thats basically batteries.
even if you have home sized batteries (Tesla PowerWall etc), they will not be allowed to discharge to run your house unless you have that fancy switch to disconnect you from the grid
well to avoid a global outage, each community or a state should have Gwh scale of battery storage already charged, that way only the affected area is offline and the rest stay somewhat energized
if there is grid damage, its going to have to be turned off to repair it anyway. The batteries would be great for allowing the green transition though.
even if you have home sized batteries (Tesla PowerWall etc), they will not be allowed to discharge to run your house unless you have that fancy switch to disconnect you from the grid
well, fancy switch and batteries it is then
if there is grid damage, its going to have to be turned off to repair it anyway. The batteries would be great for allowing the green transition though.
well i was meaning megapacks powering separate suburbs until the problem is sorted in the neighbourhood in question for exemple, or at the substation. such megapacks could be funded by city councel or something. no need for every house to have their own powerwall. and yea, batteries are cool.
The bigger the grid the more resilient it is because it can cope with localised issues better.
You only need the transfer switch (expensive!) On your solar installation if you actually get power cuts.
But everybody gets power cuts, whether it’s from a disaster such as a hurricane, or just a drunk ramming into a pole, people lose power all the time, and it’s worth having something of your own that will continue to work. Take Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria, for example. Most of the power generation was done on, I believe, the south side of the island, and they had one single high tension line running to the north side. And so when that line snapped, everybody on half the island lost power at the same time. Now I know that their power grid was very underfunded and barely staying afloat anyway, but that’s still not a good thing.
I think I have only had 1 power cut longer than 5 mins in the last 15 years (SE England), it’s not a big problem here. (Bigger issue in Scotland/Wales/Cornwall as they get bigger storms)
The grid already allows some areas to be cut off and others continue when there is a problem or lack of generation (see ZA load shedding for an extreme example).
I think what you are asking for is for the generation to be spread out so that everywhere is almost self sufficient, but can rely on others when they are not?
It’s a nice idea, but I don’t think it’s feasible as the economies of scale make big power plants/big offshore farms more efficient. Generation will almost always be concentrated into a small number of locations. It’s also much harder to balance load/demand on a smaller grid - if your street was a grid and had to operate off grid off rooftop solar for example how would it cope when everyone turns on the oven for dinner?
Yeah, that’s exactly what I mean is more decentralized generation as you mentioned. Here, our power is not often interrupted, but when it is, it can be for hours at a time or longer depending on how strong the hurricane or whatever that knocked it out was.
I don’t think the solution to that problem though is having multiple, smaller, unconnected grids.
I think it’s to just have a more resilient grid system that doesn’t have any areas that are a single point of a failure
Many smaller, unconnected grids would also allow more resilience against something like solar flares as there aren’t nearly as long of wires to build up a charge over and fry things.
what does a transfer switch do ?
I don’t think that is its official name - but currently, if you have solar panels on your roof and there is a power cut, you still lose power. this is done so you are not electrifying the disconnected grid, risking the safety of those trying to fix it.
However, you can get some equipment that separates you from the grid in a power cut, so your house can continue under its own power
totally understandable. doesn’t the two-way meter achieve this? ( the one used in a grid-tie system)
thats basically batteries.
well to avoid a global outage, each community or a state should have Gwh scale of battery storage already charged, that way only the affected area is offline and the rest stay somewhat energized
Not by default - only expensive ones.
even if you have home sized batteries (Tesla PowerWall etc), they will not be allowed to discharge to run your house unless you have that fancy switch to disconnect you from the grid
if there is grid damage, its going to have to be turned off to repair it anyway. The batteries would be great for allowing the green transition though.
well, fancy switch and batteries it is then
well i was meaning megapacks powering separate suburbs until the problem is sorted in the neighbourhood in question for exemple, or at the substation. such megapacks could be funded by city councel or something. no need for every house to have their own powerwall. and yea, batteries are cool.