The general theme of the article is about charging varying rates for electrical power depending on the time of day. It seems counterintuitive to anticipate cheaper rates for power at night since the 'effort' to deliver the energy to you is the same regardless. However, there is an additional consideration regarding the general 'strength' of the power grid and that consideration makes it beneficial to offset some of the load by calling for it during non-prime hours.
For example, it should be cheaper to charge a cellphone at night rather than during the day, etc. Charging the cellphone usually isn't a time-critical thing, it only has to be completed by morning, etc.
Science Daily: Balancing energy demand could save money
Through a $153,689 National Science Foundation grant, Hansen will examine how an end-user distribution plan could help balance the demand for electricity and ease pressure on aging transmission lines. He will collaborate with Colorado State University researchers, who received a separate NSF award. Total funding for the three-year project is $425,000.
"This project is a formal method for trying to balance consumption with minimal intrusiveness based on customer willingness to reduce electricity demand during peak times," explained Hansen. That could mean, for instance, changing the time and day they do laundry.
The distribution grid has lower voltage and power, while the transmission grid uses higher voltage and power, Hansen explained. However, most of the nation's transmission lines were constructed in the 70s and have exceeded their estimated life span of approximately 30 years.
"We will determine if this is a viable option for operators to look into," Hansen said. The researchers are also working with the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard in France, the National Renewable Energy Lab, Siemens Corporation and a Fort Collins, Colorado, utilities company.
For example, it should be cheaper to charge a cellphone at night rather than during the day, etc. Charging the cellphone usually isn't a time-critical thing, it only has to be completed by morning, etc.
Science Daily: Balancing energy demand could save money
Through a $153,689 National Science Foundation grant, Hansen will examine how an end-user distribution plan could help balance the demand for electricity and ease pressure on aging transmission lines. He will collaborate with Colorado State University researchers, who received a separate NSF award. Total funding for the three-year project is $425,000.
"This project is a formal method for trying to balance consumption with minimal intrusiveness based on customer willingness to reduce electricity demand during peak times," explained Hansen. That could mean, for instance, changing the time and day they do laundry.
- Science Daily
There may be power companies which already give price breaks for energy obtained during non-prime hours but, in general, we see the intention of what they're doing toward encouraging more of that for general cost benefits all around.
The thing we did not see previously was their concern regarding the power grid so now we have One More Thing to Kill Us All.
- Science Daily
This consideration was a surprise here at the Rockhouse since there is such immense demand for electricity and has been for so long, we mistakenly believed the infrastructure was keeping up with the evolution. Apparently it was not and consequently the surprise.
This is NOT a disaster movie and we don't have Woody Harrelson to dance about on the top of a mountain forecasting the end of civilization. We were surprised is all. (Ref: "2012" which was great for disasters but not so good for sci fi)
We have no need for a less than witty crack about politics at this point since we all want good and reliable infrastructure. The task is obvious to get it that way and maybe we ask whether concerns about the time of day for obtaining energy would still matter after doing that ... but we can ask again when it's completed.
In closing, they emphasize again the point about the strength of the power grid.
Using algorithms, the researchers will determine when and how much energy must be shifted to balance the energy draw and reduce pressure on the transmission grid. Two doctoral students will work on the project.
"We will determine if this is a viable option for operators to look into," Hansen said. The researchers are also working with the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard in France, the National Renewable Energy Lab, Siemens Corporation and a Fort Collins, Colorado, utilities company.
- Science Daily
Cripes, Cap'n, it sounds like she's goin' to blow. I dinna know if I can hold it together.
The emphasis on a problem we didn't know existed is disturbing but don't be running off to Alex Jones with this since he will blame it on Russia and forecast Armageddon. At worst, we see a public works project to upgrade power lines and neither Jones nor Armageddon are part of that.
2 comments:
If you get your buddy elon on this.
Seems the quick fix is to use his house batteries that store solar generated power for night use.
Then yiu could two step your conversion.But the batteries now and charge them at night.
And later begin to add solar cells that can be added in stages as they are modular.
I may do that someday but the generator I added burns fossils and was added for storms since his batteries do not fill that kind of need.
Once his roof shingles are viable I will reshingle my houses with those as solar cells are hideously ugly
This modular independent home sounds possible. The house still needs city water but it's a big jump cutting off the power grid although I assume any 'excess' would feed out to the grid to sell or so ... because blowing up a Samsung battery is one thing but it would be a bitch to blow up the house.
There's a bit of curiosity as to whether it's better to centralize the power to distribute it as to whether that confers any benefit doing it independently would not or the other way around. It seems the biggest reason for central is some crack cadre of fixers who keep it working. Independent sells because everything is cheaper if you do it yourself.
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