Intermittent energy source: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:16, 18 April 2018

Revision as of 06:10, 10 July 2018

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* Some coal, gas, or hydro power plants are partially loaded and then controlled to change as demand changes or to replace rapidly lost generation. The ability to change as demand changes is termed "response." The ability to quickly replace lost generation, typically within timescales of 30 seconds to 30 minutes, is termed "spinning reserve."

* Generally thermal plants running as [[Peaking power plant|peaking plants]] will be less efficient than if they were running as [[Base load power plant|base load]].

* Hydroelectrichydro electric facilities with storage capacity (such as the traditional dam configuration) may be operated as base load or peaking plants.

* In practice, as the power output from wind varies, partially loaded conventional plants, which are already present to provide response and reserve, adjust their output to compensate.

* While low penetrations of intermittent power may utilize existing levels of response and spinning reserve, the larger overall variations at higher penetrations levels will require additional reserves or other means of compensation.