Prices of the electricity we use to charge

[Ghost1951]

New concept for me - 'Gravitricity' - a grid storage system based on winding heavy weight up an old mine shaft when there is spare power, and then letting it descend to make power when needed - like my old grandfather clock.

 

[lenny]

 

[lenny]

 

[Woosh]

New concept for me - 'Gravitricity' - a grid storage system based on winding heavy weight up an old mine shaft when there is spare power, and then letting it descend to make power when needed - like my old grandfather clock.

The problems that caused the outage in the Iberian peninsular yesterday could well be down to 'flash overs' that is when the temperature is too high, the high voltage cable sags enough to cause arcing to the ground. Another possibility is equipment malfunctioning from one of the renewables suppliers causing oscillations in demand and supply.

China has completed the first 2MW Thorium Molten Salt Reactor in the Gobi desert last year. They are building the first 10MW commercial TMSR now. After completion in 2030, they will build 100MW containerised TMSR ready for sale in 2040. China has sufficient proven Thorium reserves in Mongolia to serve all human needs for at least 20,000 years and may be up to 60,000 years.
I suppose they will start taking orders around 2035-2040.

 

[MikelBikel]

"Net Zero" = Zero Sense

 

[flecc]

China has completed the first 2MW Thorium Molten Salt Reactor in the Gobi desert last year. They are building the first 10MW commercial TMSR now. After completion in 2030, they will build 100MW containerised TMSR ready for sale in 2040. China has sufficient proven Thorium reserves in Mongolia to serve all human needs for at least 20,000 years and may be up to 60,000 years.
I suppose they will start taking orders around 2035-2040.

It's good to see China is making progress with thorium at last. India, also with huge reserves, has been talking it up for many years but with little actual progress.

One way or another I can see our needs being satisfied eventually without ever achieving nuclear fusion.
.

 

[Ghost1951]

It's good to see China is making progress with thorium at last. India, also with huge reserves, has been talking it up for many years but with little actual progress.

One way or another I can see our needs being satisfied eventually without ever achieving nuclear fusion.
.

There is quite a bit of fusion power on the grid already, at least on a summer's day.

 

[saneagle]

The problems that caused the outage in the Iberian peninsular yesterday could well be down to 'flash overs' that is when the temperature is too high, the high voltage cable sags enough to cause arcing to the ground.

Really? It's not even summer yet. I was watching a Youtube video today of a guy going around Benidorm on an electric scooter. He said it was warm enough there to go out in a sweater.

More likely the outage was either a test or a cyber attack.

 

[Ghost1951]

Really? It's not even summer yet. I was watching a Youtube video today of a guy going around Benidorm on an electric scooter. He said it was warm enough there to go out in a sweater.

More likely the outage was either a test or a cyber attack.

It was neither. The grid got unbalanced because the weather was hot in the south and cloudy in the north, and a lot of solar power in the north could not deliver when the south all turned on their air conditioners. Then the big inter connector between Spain and Portugal was under-par because it was hot and its carrying capacity was inadequate for the demand . Once the grid frequency (supply / demand, gets out of balance, the system shuts down like a tower of cards toppling over.

Most of us have no idea of the important work that goes on behind the scenes to balance electrical supply and demand. These kinds of happenings have occurred in the USA recently too - a year or two back there were big black outs caused by similar issues.

It can take a long time to get everything back to normal too, because once large areas have shut down, and everyone's equipment is still switched on, it is difficult to start up again, because all the load demand is still switched on so when generators start up again, they have massive loads on them which in the end translate into possible mechanical failures from over stressing turbines and cables.

 

[saneagle]

It was neither. The grid got unbalanced because the weather was hot in the south and cloudy in the north, and a lot of solar power in the north could not deliver when the south all turned on their air conditioners. Then the big inter connector between Spain and Portugal was under-par because it was hot and its carrying capacity was inadequate for the demand . Once the grid frequency (supply / demand, gets out of balance, the system shuts down like a tower of cards toppling over.

Most of us have no idea of the important work that goes on behind the scenes to balance electrical supply and demand. These kinds of happenings have occurred in the USA recently too - a year or two back there were big black outs caused by similar issues.

It can take a long time to get everything back to normal too, because once large areas have shut down, and everyone's equipment is still switched on, it is difficult to start up again, because all the load demand is still switched on so when generators start up again, they have massive loads on them which in the end translate into possible mechanical failures from over stressing turbines and cables.

Nice theory, but completely wrong - not even feasible.

 

[Ghost1951]

Nice theory, but completely wrong - not even feasible.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-could-be-behind-iberian-power-outage-2025-04-29/#:~:text=%22The%20frequency%20decline%20likely%20began,atmospheric%20phenomenon%2C%22%20they%20said

.

 

[MikelBikel]

"Just turn the country off, then on again, easy"
"2 weeks to Reinitialize, and clap for the solar & windmills"
"Forgot to put ten Bob in the meter"
"On a plus note, no power, no surveillance "
"What happened that needed such a big distraction?"

 

[saneagle]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-could-be-behind-iberian-power-outage-2025-04-29/#:~:text=%22The%20frequency%20decline%20likely%20began,atmospheric%20phenomenon%2C%22%20they%20said

.

When the MSM comes up with A story, it's normally an attemp to hide THE story. This is from the teachings of the great Rush Limbaugh, writer of the New York Times best seller book "See, I told you so". Read it and learn from the master.

 

[lenny]

 

[soundwave]

what happens when the inverter caps run dead massive voltage spikes and coil wine then it blows the consumer unit off the wall

 

[MikelBikel]

"Spanish Prime minister is fan? of Georgi Zoroz and a full member of ???" Can't catch the word(s)!
Did they turn off the french power interconnect too?

"Closed last coal Fired power stations, they f...d around and found out". Ah, now we know why, stupidity.

Closure of Spain’s biggest coal plant makes way for massive wind power development

Spain is hastening towards a coal-free power sector, with the government accepting energy company Endesa’s request to close its 1,468 MW As Pontes coal plant by August 2024. It will be replaced by a portfolio of renewable energy projects across Galicia, including 1 GW of wind power capacity...

beyondfossilfuels.org

 

[MikelBikel]

"Since 2010, *EUSSR* legislation has been a major driver of Spain's coal mines closures: Decision 2010/787/EU called for Member States to cease "

Spain’s National Strategy to Transition Coal-Dependent Communities

Spain’s coal industry has been declining since the late 1990s, driven by external economic factors, domestic policy and European Union mandates. Coal mine employment has shrunk from 45,000 in 1990 to about 1,700 today.

www.wri.org

(Another "World" Organ, usual suspects )

 

[lenny]

 

[MikelBikel]

"Red Eléctrica’s Prieto said the blackout was caused by a “very strong oscillation in the electrical network,” which caused Spain’s power grid to “disconnect from the European system” and collapse the Iberian Peninsula’s electricity network. "

Europe Power Outages: Electricity 'Progressively' Restored In Some Regions (Live Updates)

Officials are investigating the cause of the outages, while smaller blackouts were also reported in France and Andorra.

www.forbes.com

 

[lenny]