UK Wind Record

[Joeboy]

Anyone know why?

I see we're generating still from coal, and also oil/OCGT?
Could they be cheaper than ramping up CCGT at the moment?
But OCGT is less efficient? So perhaps it's just oil?
Also bio-mass looks low, which makes sense with so much wind, as it can demand follow, but runs contra to the oil bit?

Just wondering, as it really is quite fascinating, so any thoughts, ideas, or even wild ponderings would be appreciated.

I've seen on other websites which split out oil and OCGT that oil is currently zero. A theory could be that this winter you need to minimise any unavailability so coal and OCGT need may need regular exercising.

Or for coal, stocks at power station are full but trainloads of the stuff are still being delivered so we have to use some to make space for the deliveries. I know that won't apply to the OCGT though.

Test run the systems and standby by for whT comes.

[Mart]

Cheers everyone. Hadn't thought about OCGT testing, makes sense.

Weirdly I was looking at some of the longer term studies for around the World approaching 100% low carbon, and what surprised me was that CCGT capacity and generation declines, but OCGT grows (long term, not short term predictions). But I suppose if you are going to use gas less and less for top ups, then it makes sense deploying cheap OCGT, rather than high CAPEX CCGT that runs little, even if it is more efficient.

So many changes coming.

[Oldgreybeard]

I remember someone (perhaps on another forum) saying that they needed to fire up coal and gas generators from time to time, even if the power wasn't needed. Something to do with them not liking being shut down and being cold for long periods of time. No idea if that's true, but it may be, especially for generators still using steam, rather than the gas turbine generators.

[nowty]

Demand getting to its peak now but its the gas taking the strain.

I notice several offshore windfarms in the NE are at very low output, they are either constrained or on reduced output because the wind is too strong.

But I'm gobsmacked I think the highest was a little after midday, around 21.1 GW on Energy Numbers and around 16.7 GW on Gridwatch. Looks like the record will have been surpassed by around 1 GW.

Now were just humming along at a mere 20.5 GW which would be a record if not for earlier.

[chris_n]

Definitely been constrained, the line is flat on Gridwatch.

[ecogeorge]

Wow , highest i've seen -had to screenshot it.
George

[nowty]

Wow , highest i've seen -had to screenshot it.
George

It did get to 21.1 GW earlier, but I forgot to screenshot it.

[GarethC]

ESO app says the official record for today was 20.9GW

[nowty]

Last weeks record beat the previous one by only 0.02 GW from 19.916 GW in May 2022 to 19.936 GW.

Today it was smashed by 0.975 GW from 19.936 GW to 20.911 GW.

Ripple WT1 contributed 0.002+ GW to those records.




Smashed, made me think of,

[Joeboy]

Wow , highest i've seen -had to screenshot it.
George

It did get to 21.1 GW earlier, but I forgot to screenshot it.

It sat at 21.1GW for quite a while too.