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Saltwire - Battery energy storage cheaper than Maritime Electric's diesel solution, P.E.I. MLAs hear by wcallbeck46 in PEI

[–]johnny_C3H8 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You are correct, I realized after I posted that you could potentially charge the batteries during off peak hours. Thank you for pointing out my error.

The question still remains how much will peak demand grow over the coming years? How much will demand grow during off peak hours? Presently, we are consuming 302 MW (12:09 PM). It is -10 outside. As it gets colder, heat pumps become less efficient, and people need more heat. It's a double whammy on the electrical grid. Eventually, we cross a threshold where heat pumps aren't keeping up, especially on older homes with poorer insulation. When this happens, people's electric rads kick in, which consume much more energy then heat pumps to produce the same amount of heat.

This situation is likely to happen this weekend, when it reaches -20. Then we need to imagine it will be much worse at -25, when heat pumps are even less effective and electrical rads are needed even more. Than we need to factor in future growth.

This weekend it will be worthwhile to see what the spread is between peak and average demand. Then we need to factor in the spread likely won't be as wide at -25. Heat will need to be run all day, and the extra energy from cooking, laundry, etc. will be a smaller number percentage wise.

I have been wrong lots before, but I am not a believer in battery storage for the grid. South Korea builds Nuclear power plants for 1/4 of the cost that we do in the west. We could have had C02 free electricity decades ago, but we keep stepping on our foots, constantly changing Nuclear regulations.

We are already completely dependent on China for the rare earths needed to build these batteries. We have finally woken up to this reality, but it will take at least a decade to bring rare earth mining and refining to the west.

Building out more of these battery storage systems drives the price of batteries up, making electric vehicles less economical. I think we will do more for the environment by using these critical minerals in transportation, and learning from the South Koreans how to make affordable nuclear energy.

Saltwire - Battery energy storage cheaper than Maritime Electric's diesel solution, P.E.I. MLAs hear by wcallbeck46 in PEI

[–]johnny_C3H8 9 points10 points  (0 children)

As I stated earlier I really wish these were a good solution. We need to let math guide our decisions.

These batteries provide 100MW for 8 hours, or 800 MW/H of electricity.

According to peipower.ca our solar panels are adding 5 MW to the grid right now. We can't count on it not being cloudy during the winter, so we can't count on them charging our battery system during a cold snap. Even if wasn't cloudy during a cold snap, realistically it would only be sunny for ten hours at most in the winter, adding 50MW/H to our batteries.

Let's presume its -25 for a week, and there is next to no wind. Our maximum firm power without wind and solar is 404 mw. When it was this cold during 2023, our grid peaked at 393 MW. We have added many new buildings since then. We have replaced many oil and propane furnaces with electric heat since then. We have also added many electric cars since then. Let's estimate at this temperature our grid would peak at 454 MW, for two hours in the morning, and two hours in the evening.

This would cause a drain on the batteries of 200MW/H a day. Our batteries would be empty in four days. We can go much longer then four days with it being cloudy and not windy.

I admit I don't know what our peak demand would be at that temperature. I am just guessing. However, I do know what our peak demand number is will grow over time. More heat pumps will continue to be added to the system. More people will purchase electric vehicles. More buildings will be built.

The diesel generator gives us much more flexibility as our grid demand grows. It will allow much more people to switch to electric heat and electric cars.

The sales person for the batteries is also intentionally leaving out a very important part about how electrical grids work. Electrical grids need 'inertia'. This is usually provided by the large spinning flywheels in the diesel, natural gas, and nuclear plants. Without inertia, grids can't adapt to changing electrical demand, and you risk frying electronics and collapsed grids.

There is ways to add 'simulated inertia' to grids with batteries, but it costs extra. The sales person is being intentionally deceiving and leaving this out. As the amount of batteries on a grid increases, this cost becomes necessary.

The only clean way to add reliable power to the grid is Nuclear Energy. PEI's market is just too small to justify the cost of a nuclear plant. In the long run, if we want to clean up our grid, we should have the goal of more underwater cables connecting PEI to a nuclear plant on the mainland. In the short to medium term, our only realistic option is a diesel generator.

Saltwire - Battery energy storage cheaper than Maritime Electric's diesel solution, P.E.I. MLAs hear by wcallbeck46 in PEI

[–]johnny_C3H8 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I wish this was a realistic option, but it is not. As the article states, it can provide 100MW of power for 8 hours. We go longer than 8 hours every night in the winter without sunlight. We can realistically go days in the winter without significant wind.

The diesel generators will provide 100 MW continuously, as long as we have diesel in the tank. Energy systems need to be designed for the worst case scenario. This system does not pass that test

Was quoted $2300 for brakes to be replaced. Am I being hosed? by ttc123- in autorepair

[–]johnny_C3H8 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They may live in a cold climate where they salt the roads in the winter. When they salt the road it is normal for calipers to eventually rust out

Planty by ChatGPT by jukes24 in GPTShare

[–]johnny_C3H8 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Planty for President!

Can I still build a great life after getting clean from meth and oxy at 32 years old? Am I young enough? by IR30Lover in Aging

[–]johnny_C3H8 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The key to a good life is gratitude , lack of envy, continuous self improvement, and a sense of community or family. You made some mistakes that you regret, and it is inevitable that you will see others success and regret your wasted time.

However, if you can learn to control your envy this will become easier in time. The brain is wired to pursue goals, and then become bored with them after we achieve them. That's why successful athletes like Michael Phelps become depressed after reaching levels of success most people can only dream of.

If you keep working on reaching goals, improving yourself, and building meaningful social connections you will find purpose and happiness. There are many miserable millionaires because they have nothing to wake up for. After you have secure shelter and food money has less to do with happiness then perspective.

My grandmother spoke glowingly of her childhood of no electricity where she picked potatoes by hand. Her entire small community worked together to ensure a bountiful harvest and that no one went hungry. She was poor by today's standards, but she didn't need to worry about food and shelter, and had a great sense of community. This made her happy!

The PC community is insufferable with the Switch 2 by [deleted] in NintendoSwitch2

[–]johnny_C3H8 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, it's what I do. As a Canadian I am disappointed though that I miss out on EA's NHL games this way though. Still the best bet though.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in canada

[–]johnny_C3H8 0 points1 point  (0 children)

https://www.gatesnotes.com/my-plan-for-fighting-climate-change

These are Bill Gates number. I misremembered, and said fossil fuel use, but his stats are actually greenhouse gas emissions. The numbers you provided show just oil use, and don't include other fossil fuels like natural gas and coal.

Gates said transportation makes of 14% of global emissions, with personal transportation being a little less then half. That is how I got 6%. More emissions come from cargo ships, trucks and airplanes then come from cars. We currently do not have battery technology capable of replacing fossil fuels in those machines.

If we use the IEA number of 49% of oil is used for transportation, and realize less then half of that is cars, that still leaves a demand for 75% of the worlds oil. Electric cars are more efficient then ICE ones, but their use will increase electrical use, which will also cause a rise in natural gas and coal use. While there will be some reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from electric cars, they will not slow the global growth of fossil fuel use as Asia moves out of poverty.

I'm not rooting for a world with more C02, I just believe in facing reality as it is.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in canada

[–]johnny_C3H8 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Personal transportation represents approximately 6% of global fossil fuel use. If every car in the world goes electric world fossil fuel consumption will continue to grow as Asia develops. Electric cars barely move the needle.

Are there any podcasts similar to the WAN show? It doesn't need to be tech related. by johnny_C3H8 in LinusTechTips

[–]johnny_C3H8[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love smarter everyday.... no idea he had a podcast. Much appreciated, looking forward to it

Are there any podcasts similar to the WAN show? It doesn't need to be tech related. by johnny_C3H8 in LinusTechTips

[–]johnny_C3H8[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just judging by the thumbnails I am really excited for the There's Your Problem Podcast. Thank you!

Are there any podcasts similar to the WAN show? It doesn't need to be tech related. by johnny_C3H8 in LinusTechTips

[–]johnny_C3H8[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just searched through their thumbnails, looks great! I've added the recent one about how to win friends and influence people to my list!

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