HVDC Interconnectors

[dan_b]

Have a gander at this article

https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/en ... on-records

[nowty]

Have a gander at this article

https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/en ... on-records

I think I'll give myself a D minus with a comment of "must try harder".

[Tinbum]

Not HVDC but I've noticed that one line of pylons coming out of Drax is being rewired and new insulators fitted. The interesting thing is that each of the original conductors were made up of 4 individual cables but they are being replaced with 3. They do look to be slightly increased diameter.

[dan_b]

Wee update on ElecLink - this is the one that has been installed within one of the running tunnels in the Channel Tunnel.

Active power testing to begin 1st September and into October with bi-directional power flows of increasing power, including evaluation of how it integrates with the active running of trains through the tunnel.

[AE-NMidlands]

Not HVDC but I've noticed that one line of pylons coming out of Drax is being rewired and new insulators fitted. The interesting thing is that each of the original conductors were made up of 4 individual cables but they are being replaced with 3. They do look to be slightly increased diameter.

Could they be aluminium conductors replacing copper?
A

[dan_b]

Alas it doesn't say here

https://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/electri ... x-thornton

[nowty]

Alas it doesn't say here

https://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/electri ... x-thornton

Wow, in one of the factsheets it says,

In rare cases where it’s not possible to run the wires from ground level, we may use helicopters to pull them through.

https://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/electri ... 6/download

[dan_b]

Brief HVDC Interconnector update!
On 20th August, the UK grid saw a new record for net import levels on its interconnetors, peaking at 5.847GW around lunchtime.
There was import on all active connectors (including from Ireland), and the Norway Link was being tested with near full import levels for the first time.
This apparently was 17% of UK demand at the time!

ElecLink should start active power transfer testing next week too, which gives another 1GW to the mix.

[ALAN/ALAN D]

Hello Gents

U.K. Cable input has been at 20% of U.K. capacity twice in the last ten days.
If France turns it off the lights will go off. How are cars going to be charged
and heat pumps going to work. ?

[nowty]

Hello Gents

U.K. Cable input has been at 20% of U.K. capacity twice in the last ten days.
If France turns it off the lights will go off. How are cars going to be charged
and heat pumps going to work. ?

This summer has been a bit out of the ordinary as several Nukes out and some not coming back, Heysham nuke still mostly down till end of the month after a breakdown. There is still loads of spare gas generation available but its going to get a bit tighter in the winter months if we get a similar area of high pressure with very cold temperatures and little wind.

There is still plenty of spare capacity overnight for car chargers as long as folk wait till after midnight to charge, but the problem is heatpumps as you cannot load time shift them very easily for heating. Well, I can a fair bit with my large battery bank but I am an exception.

Hinkley Point C Power station (3GW) is still 5 years away from going operational.