Scotland's Electricity base load from 2030

[ikarl]

When the SG was supporting the grid, the SG was still connected to the local infrastructure and therefore it's generator could be used to support "others", as it still had mains supply.

In the case of a black start situation, how would you convince these data centres to do something similar when the restoration time was so long? Would they need all their fuel to support themselves?

[robin]

If we're reliant on private backup generators for black start, I imagine we would find a way of getting them the diesel they need.

Cheers,
Robin

[graeme]

I had a great whisky-inspired idea at the weekend.

Dry-dock the Trident Vanguard subs, of which we have four, each containing a reactor and 2x GE turbines rated at 27,500hp = roughly 120MW total, so lets say 60MW with a 50% duty cycle for maintenance and tea breaks and stuff.

60MW would increase the UK's nuclear production by...







... a whopping 0.5%, or enough to power a small Amish community. Oh well, never mind, back to the drawing board.

[ikarl]

Getting diesel to private generators could be done, but like everything it's not as easy as that, who & how would it be coordinated? who would connect all of these generators "back" to the grid? who would balance the load? without electricity how do you pump the diesel into the tankers in the first place? - none of this is insurmountable, but it would only be a temporary fix to keep "some" people's lights on for a short period of time, these backup generators would not be able to black start Scotland.

Longannet was crucial to to Scotlands grid stability due to its design and ability to cope with disturbances in frequency and voltage (much of which is a result of wind turbines).

In the event of a major blackout, Cruachan (or possible Foyers if Cruachan is low) was to be used to "black start" Longannet which had the capability to meet the instantaneous surge load presented by the grid when restarting. Those generators would have been able to meet the surge in power required to get the grid up and running again. A similar analogy would be to compare it to the power surge required from a weight lifter in raising a bar from the floor. Renewables & back up generators simply will not have that instant punch of power to black start

[campbell]

Perhaps we could put that question to Princess Sturgeon, instead of banging on about tax. I think that bothers me more than fiddling on the margins of public revenue.

And it doesn't say much for the charge to independence if we'd need England to jump-start us!

[Sanjøy]

I had a great whisky-inspired idea at the weekend.

Dry-dock the Trident Vanguard subs, of which we have four, each containing a reactor and 2x GE turbines rated at 27,500hp = roughly 120MW total, so lets say 60MW with a 50% duty cycle for maintenance and tea breaks and stuff.

60MW would increase the UK's nuclear /quote]

That gives me a great idea for a truly green DC business....Tut is there someone you can call to ask them how much they want from them?

Getting diesel to private generators could be done, but like everything it's not as easy as that, who & how would it be coordinated? who would connect all of these generators "back" to the grid? who would balance the load? without electricity how do you pump the diesel into the tankers in the first place? - none of this is insurmountable, but it would only be a temporary fix to keep "some" people's lights on for a short period of time, these backup generators would not be able to black start Scotland.

Large DC operators are asked on occasion to come off grid and be self sufficient during large Coronation Street events etc. Does not happen that often but does happen. You also get calls from providers asking you to run your gensets and sell power back to the grid at peak times but I think these are fly by night companies who cream off the top while you have not done the math on operating them and what would happen if you needed them and as a result I dont know anyone who has done this.