tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post1487100517877123704..comments2023-10-25T07:29:40.789-02:30Comments on UNCLE GNARLEY: POWER BLACK-OUTS AN EPIPHANY FOR FORTIS Des Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02566013585647491614noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-474407454416789542014-02-11T17:10:35.392-03:302014-02-11T17:10:35.392-03:30As for Holyrood closing and being decommissioned.....As for Holyrood closing and being decommissioned.....Holyrood consists of three large generators, and the associated thermal oil fired equipments that make the steam, and the turbines that are driven by the steam, which in turn makes the generators spin, all in one big structure and the three large smoke stacks.<br /> It's location, on the Avalon has two great advantages; 1. It is close the the large loads at St Johns and others on the Avalon. Therefore transmission losses are likely only 2 percent versus 10 percent from Muskrat falls. The losses is power produced that never gets to the consumer, so is inefficiency. 2. Reliability, avoiding the vulnerable ismis of the Avalon, where icing can, and has taken down the 230KV lines. MF has a whole array of obstacles in terms of reliability, and so is far inferior to Holyrood, (assuming Holyrood has proper maintenance and upkeep).<br /> The plan for Holyrood is too keep some of those assets. But the steam generators and turbines will not be needed. But the huge generators will be needed, but not for power generation. They will be used as "syncronous condensers" These huge generators will rotate and run freely, electrically connected to the grid and at a speed of 60 hz, or 60 cycle per second. The purpose is to stabilize the frequency and voltage of our grid . It is essential that the frequency not deviate much from 60 Hz, as all the customers motors and appliances are designed to have this speed. If the speed goes to 59 or 61 it is a serious issue, and may cause a cascade of outages. The big generators are made from a lot of steel and copper and have a lot of rotating inertia. And they can run without consuming any energy, once disconnected from all the other mechanical apparatus. This inertia aids the stabilization of the electrical system, from a fault elsewhere that may change the voltage of frequency, so these big generators can use its inertia to help keep the systems together, electrically speaking. So I assune the building, the switchyard and lines in and out will stay put, and will require its own continued maintenance and upgrades when needed.<br /> The question of MF reliability begs the question of the wisdom of decommissioning the other components of Holyrood, which is necessary for a functioning thermal generation plant.<br /> Gas turbines are much more efficient and fast responding. They allow better efficiency when connected to wind generators, which in itself has proven extremely efficient in recent high wind condition, reaching 87 percent of capacity on Jan 4 instead of the average 43 percent. <br /> It seems Holyrood as a generation plant will be essential. The existing has about half it useful life left, but is inefficient and doesn't work well with wind generators. Past time to assess this properly, in light of the recent brown outs. <br />it seems wise to have gas turbines that are fast acting in emergency conditions and add efficiencies to wind generators,and to also add more wind generators. And with increased efficiencies for home heating (essential to lower the winter peak load)..... the whole idea of a need for MF for the island seems a folly. A proper assessment a few years ago would have reached this conclusion. Winston Adams Logy Bay<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-87145880803431107462014-02-10T17:56:38.936-03:302014-02-10T17:56:38.936-03:30There is no such thing as "Nfld Hydro". ...There is no such thing as "Nfld Hydro". Maybe if people stopped referring to the non-existend "Nfld. Hydro", there'd be less confusion with Nfld. Power.WJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08070910923518931583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-76875247888021624632014-02-10T17:37:53.420-03:302014-02-10T17:37:53.420-03:30Once again, your blog has raised the disturbing sp...Once again, your blog has raised the disturbing spectre of corporate and government complicity, insofar as Newfoundland Power's unwillingness to challenge their rationale on Muskrat Falls and to allow this sorry state of affairs to develop. By not challenging their absurd assertions, Newfoundland Power can be considered complicit in the development of this disastrous project. <br /><br />Yet, they will be held to task if power supply is not reliable or secure in the wake of Muskrat Falls, because they knew the implications of not having a reliable stand by system once that project goes on line. After all, only a fool would assume that these power lines, extending over difficult terrain and subject to some of the foulest weather on the planet, would NEVER go down and for how long. A week or two weeks is not out of the question and what would happen then, in the event the Avalon experiences a cold snap and there is no Holyrood or other themal system in place. From my perspective, it gives the lie to the alleged purpose of Muskrat….namely, to rid the province of Holyrood…as some sort of thermal is both essential and prudent.<br /><br />Further, NALCOR's neglect of vital infrastructure makes reliability and security of supply even more unlikely going forward.<br /><br />Yes, Newfoundland Power, the decision has been made but it is still not too late to unmake it and pull the plug while the PUB undertakes a thorough review, as it should have been allowed to do prior to sanctioning. It is a scandal in the making and many of our current politicians and business elite will have much to answer for in about 5 years.Cyril Rogersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-28703745840647300062014-02-10T17:37:45.424-03:302014-02-10T17:37:45.424-03:30I suggest few people know the difference between N...I suggest few people know the difference between Nfld Power and Nfld Hydro. Nfld Power has the public face and send out the power bills, and upkeep the local distribution lines. I suspect 90 percent of the population think they are also the source of all or most all of the generation And Nfld Power have the most to lose from customer good will, when serious outages occur.<br />This crisis was so serious that Nfld Power fears the fallout of more crisis events down the road. What will happen to their surveys showing 96 percent customer satisfaction. now and post Muskrat Falls. Reliability for power is a shared responsibility. Should Nfld Power get blame for government folly, with MF power being unreliable.<br /> But Nfld Power have been in bed with Nfld Hydro on the Take Charge program. A program that gives no meaningful benefit to residential consumers in energy savings, But worse, the program gives no benefit to help reduce the winter peak load. Nfld Hyrdo keep building the costly new generation infrastructure, increase the rates on the public, Nfld Power just increase their profits and revenue by just being the distributor of this expensive power. Why speak up against this approach. Why take the lead in reducing winter peak loads with robust efficiency -conservation plans. Such plans, while beneficial for the homeowner, can also reduce and impact their profit .Better to stay silent. Go lockstep with Nfld Hydro on the Take Charge program, which ignores the growing winter peak load. Do nothing and hope for the best. On this they can`t divorce themselves from Nfld Hydro. The were in bed together, having the worse Plan In north America to shave our growing peak load, while having a load profile and climate others would envy, in terms of what could have been done, and needs to be done, to reduce the risk of more outages. Winston Adams. Logy Bay. . Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-31996817656300418682014-02-10T13:18:32.685-03:302014-02-10T13:18:32.685-03:30Fortis, by its' silence, could in fact be cons...Fortis, by its' silence, could in fact be considered complicit with both Nalcor and the Williams/Dunderdale administrations on MF. I've been asking these very questions for at least two years. Thanks for calling them out Des.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-20502799797848527682014-02-10T09:21:44.304-03:302014-02-10T09:21:44.304-03:30Des. This is a very powerful post. Perhaps one of ...Des. This is a very powerful post. Perhaps one of your best, on its pure simplicity. What is Nalcor trying to hide.<br /><br />The question for me is, and always been, are we getting access to the power in winter which was assumed by Nalcor when they determined MF was the lowest cost option Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com