Large Scale Electricity Interconnection
We have several related problems with electricity.
- We are using more and more.
- Electric cars, buses and trucks will mean, that we’ll use even more.
- A lot of electricity will be produced in the wrong place and at the wrong time.
- Not everybody uses the same local voltages as our 250 VAC.
- We need ways of storing electricity.
- Some methods of generating electricity, emit a large amount of green-house gases.
In the UK, we have a very sophisticated energy grid, which includes a certain amount of energy storage, that moves energy around from where it is generated to where it is needed.
As an example, I’m sure we’ll see industries that need a lot of electricity, taking advantage of wind energy generated at night.
In my lifetime, I can only remember two periods of severe power shortages.
- In the 1950s, as people bought more electrical equipment like fridges, cookers, kettles and TVs, there was sometimes power cuts at Christmas.
- In theb1970s, shortages were caused by industrial action.
But in recent decades the National Grid has generally kept the electricity flowing.
Most power cuts have been local equipment failure or weather-related.
As the future unfolds, the grid will get better and of a higher capacity to handle all the extra needs of our lifestyle.
Countries, states, towns and cities will develop their own sophisticated networks to look after their people, industry and transport.
Regional Electricity Networks
These smaller networks are now increasingly being connected together to create larger networks.
One of the first interconnectors was the HVDC Cross-Channel between England and France. Wikipedia gives this history.
The first Cross-Channel link was a 160 MW link completed in 1961 and decommissioned in 1984, while the second was a 2000 MW link completed in 1986.
The current 2000 MW link, like the original link, is bi-directional and France and Britain can import/export depending upon market demands.
I’ve read that in recent years, we’ve been using French nuclear power and they’ve been using our wind power.
According to this page on UtilityWise, there are.
- Four operational interconnectors are operational.
- Four interconnectors are being constructed.
- Seven interconnectors are being planned.
They also have this diagrammatic map.
Note.
- If the Icelandic interconnector gets built, it could be a big source of zero-carbon power for the UK and Europe and a large income for Iceland.
- Two big interconnectors to Norway are planned, where there is lots of hydro-electric power.
- A big interconnector is being built between Germany and Norway, which is not shown.
- There will be seven links to France to tap into their nuclear network.
- Our contribution to Western Europe’s power will be mainly from our extensive wind farms, which will soon contribute twenty percent of our power needs.
It will all grow like a gigantic spider’s web, connecting excess power in one place to users, who need it, in another.
Large Scale Electricity Interconnection
This document on the International Energy Agency web site, gives a lot more information about Large Scale Electricity Interconnection.
HVDC Connections
Although, domestic connections have used alternating current (AC) for over a hundred years, these interconnectors use High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)
This means the following.
- Terminal costs at the end of a link are more expensive.
- The cost of the cable is less per kilometre.
- Longer interconnectors have a cheaper cost per kilometre over about 600-800 km.
- Current technologies give a break-even distance of about 600-800 km.
The article says this about future projects.
With the increase in demand for long-distance interconnection, a number of projects have been envisioned that would greatly improve upon the current status. Projects in the pipeline include the undersea North Sea Network (NSN) link between the Nordic zone and the United Kingdom, which will deliver up to 1.4 GW of power through an undersea cable 730 km in length.
This entry in Wikipedia gives more details on the Norway-UK Interconnector.
Connecting Asynchronous Grids
The document says this.
When AC systems are to be connected, they must be synchronised.
This means that they should operate at the same voltage and frequency, which can be difficult to achieve. Since HVDC is asynchronous it can adapt to any rated voltage and frequency it receives. Hence, HVDC is used to connect large AC systems in many parts of the world.
This may seem technical, but it is important.
Connecting Large Energy Resources And Loads
As the voltage in the interconnector increases, it makes it more economic to connect remote energy resources to where the power is needed.
It gives these examples from around the world.
- Distant hydro resources in the Chilean Patagonia or in Brazil
- Hydro power in Western China
- Solar power in the Rajasthan desert in India.
In the Uk, we ae developing two long interconnectors to Norway and one to Iceland.
Acommodating Variable Renewable Electricity
The document says this.
Variable renewable energy (VRE) deployment requires flexible transmission links. One of the key drivers behind HVDC lines and interconnectors is the ability to shift intermittent renewables to areas of high demand when conditions would otherwise lead to curtailment.
Hopefully, the wind will be blowing somewhere, when the sun isn’t shining somewhere else.
Conclusion
Interconnectors will become a massive part of our distributed electricity system.
I must also say something about energy storage.
Electric vehicles could eventually turn out to be a large part of our mechanism to store excess energy.
Suppose there is excess energy at night, perhaps from wind, waves and tides and it is used to charge the batteries of electric vehicles. It has not gone to waste and is now stored for use when required.
The corollary of this will be, that every parking space or garage, where vehicles are left overnight will have to have a charging point for an electric car.
British Steel Secures Major Contract From Deutsche Bahn
The title of this post is the same as this article on Global Rail News.
I thought the article had a touch of Coals-to-Newcastle about it.
But read the article and there are a lot of things coming together to enable the order.
- British Steel have spent a seven-figure-sum at Scunthorpe, to make the longer rails, that the Germans use.
- Deutsche Bahn are Europe’s largest purchaser of rail.
- The initial order is for 20,000 tonnes of rail.
- Rails can be delivered in 120 metre lengths through the Channel Tunnel.
I should say, that I’ve read in the past, that Scunthorpe makes a quality product.
I found this video on the British Steel web site.
It all brings back memories of the time, I spent as a sixteen-year-old putting automation on heavy machines use to roll non-ferrous metals.
I doubt you get work experience like that these days!
Is The World Cup In Russia Going To Be A Disaster For England?
A few weeks ago, I was travelling on a train to Southend and I was sitting opposite a guy about fifty.
He noticed my Ipswich Town bobble hat and we got talking about football.
Talk turned to the World Cup in Russia this Summer, after I said that I’d been to Moscow to support Ipswich about twenty years ago.
It turned out he was an analyst for one of the big betting firms and they felt from their research, that there were an awful lot of shenanigans being planned.
We parted by agreeing that the best place to watch the World Cup would be at home or in a friendly pub.
Can I Have Some Serious Rain, Please?
I haven’t really felt well since, I went to Sunderland a few weeks ago!
I’ve searched weather maps and systems and I can’t find any serious rain, anywhere!
Even Manchester hasn’t got any!
It’s all a Russian plot to kill me! Or at least get me seriously ill!
When Will The United States Learn That Guns Kill People?
Trump may blame mental health for the shootings in Florida, but then anybody can vere from their normal safe state to a dangerous one!
A Quick Visit To The German Museum Of Technology
I had time before my train left for Munich to have a quick visit to the German Museum of Technology.
As I do in most museums of this sort, I ended up in the printing section.
Germany’s Next Top Model
I found this advert in several cities I visited in Germany.
I’m nopt bothered but, would an advert like this be allowed in the UK?
Gravitricity Sets Sights On South Africa To Test Green Energy Tech
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on ESI Africa, which describes itself as Africa’s Power Journal.
This is the first two paragraphs.
Disused mine shafts in South Africa have been identified as an ideal location to test UK-based energy start-up Gravitricity’s green energy technology.
The company announced plans to transform disused mine shafts into hi-tech green energy generation facilities through a system that uses gravity and massive weights.
This is surely a classic fit, as Africa has plenty of sun and some of the mine shafts in South Africa, like the TauTona mine are getting towards two miles deep.
A weight of 1,000 tonnes in a two mile deep shaft would store nearly nine MWh. By comparison, Dinorwig Power Station or Electric Mountain, has a capacity of 500 MWh.
But Electric Mountain was built in the 1970s, cost £425 million and took ten years to construct.
Islamic State ‘Beatles’ Duo ‘should be tried at The Hague’
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the first two paragraphs.
Two captured British fighters should be tried in an international criminal court, rather than sent to Guantanamo Bay, a defence minister has said.
Tobias Ellwood told two newspapers it was important that “terrorists from any origin are transparently and fairly held account for their actions”.
I feel that Tobias Ellwood has got this absolutely right.
I suspect that Donald Trump, will not go along with the plan!
Will Some Of The New Buildings For Heathrow Be Built In Scotland?
It’s all explained in this article on the Offsite Hub website, which is entitled Heathrow To Offer Offsite Hubs To Other Mega Projects.
This is the first two paragrahs.
Airport says schemes such as HS2 and Hinkley could make use of planned offsite manufacturing hubs
Heathrow Airport has said it hopes its idea for a series of offsite manufacturing hubs to help with its £16bn expansion plans will be used by other major projects, including the new nuclear power station at Hinkley and the HS2 railway.
Sounds a good idea to me.
A few other points.
- Offsite accounts for 10% of the construction industry.
- Heathrow are aiming for between 25% and 40%.
- It will reduce the peak on-site workforce at Heathrow.
- Offsite was safer, cleaner and less weather dependent.
- Four hubs are plans, with one definitely in Scxotland.
A few months ago I talked to one of the managers building Custom House station, which was largely built offsite in Sheffield.
He told me, that the quality was so much better, than if it had been built traditionally.
The quality certainly wasn’t traditional pre-fab either.
Could this be part of the solution to our housing crisis?
The Anonymous Widower 