Finally catching up on this series, very helpful, thanks!
p.s. if your fridge is drawing 500kW.h/year, it’s time to throw it out (or at least retire it to the Pool Room). my bigarse ‘Americano’-style as they refer to them here in Portugal, is under 200kW.h/year. looking at its power/time graph is fascinating: the inverter-driven compressor is adjusted in whatever the smallest steps it’s capable of to be just over the temperature maintenance rate, and then turns off the compressor for a short while in its duty-cycle to hit the target temp. very impressive.
Nice one! fyi there seems to be an editing error - the explanation of Terawatt is a copy paste from Terawatt-hour. I thought this was an amazing coincidence, but then I thought this doesn't seem right. I'm tired, ok?
The NEM is a gross pool as you note and explain. I've always felt this term evokes images that are unhelpful. In a power system, supply must equal demand instantaneously or frequency drifts away from 50Hz and bad things happen when it drifts too far (the blackout thing). So all the electricity being fed into this pool must also be coming out of it at the same time, so where's this pool of electricity forming?! All it means is that every single connection to the grid (large or small, generator or consumer) within the boundaries of the NEM is participating in the wholesale electricity market, each one paying or being paid wholesale electricity prices for electricity flows into and out of the grid.
For example the vast majority of European markets (UK included) are classified as “net pool” markets. The underlying physical system does not operate on principles that are different from the AUS/NZ one, but the word “net” indicates not all electricity is sold to/bought from a central clearing counterparty.
I always thought the “pool” aspect came from the financial and commercial flows of it all and not so much from how the underlying physical power system operates.
Finally catching up on this series, very helpful, thanks!
p.s. if your fridge is drawing 500kW.h/year, it’s time to throw it out (or at least retire it to the Pool Room). my bigarse ‘Americano’-style as they refer to them here in Portugal, is under 200kW.h/year. looking at its power/time graph is fascinating: the inverter-driven compressor is adjusted in whatever the smallest steps it’s capable of to be just over the temperature maintenance rate, and then turns off the compressor for a short while in its duty-cycle to hit the target temp. very impressive.
Great idea, Declan! I can't wait for you to bring back the Castle characters, at some point...
Good call Greg, I reckon they can make an appearance!
Nice one! fyi there seems to be an editing error - the explanation of Terawatt is a copy paste from Terawatt-hour. I thought this was an amazing coincidence, but then I thought this doesn't seem right. I'm tired, ok?
Good pick up Fernando! Thanks for pointing it out, I've just fixed it
Good stuff Declan, well explained!
Nice work Declan, I look forward to seeing this series evolve.
The NEM is a gross pool as you note and explain. I've always felt this term evokes images that are unhelpful. In a power system, supply must equal demand instantaneously or frequency drifts away from 50Hz and bad things happen when it drifts too far (the blackout thing). So all the electricity being fed into this pool must also be coming out of it at the same time, so where's this pool of electricity forming?! All it means is that every single connection to the grid (large or small, generator or consumer) within the boundaries of the NEM is participating in the wholesale electricity market, each one paying or being paid wholesale electricity prices for electricity flows into and out of the grid.
For example the vast majority of European markets (UK included) are classified as “net pool” markets. The underlying physical system does not operate on principles that are different from the AUS/NZ one, but the word “net” indicates not all electricity is sold to/bought from a central clearing counterparty.
TL;DR it’s about the money, not the electrons.
I always thought the “pool” aspect came from the financial and commercial flows of it all and not so much from how the underlying physical power system operates.
Thanks, Istvan - that's my understanding too but I don't think it is obvious to anyone that doesn't swim in those lanes... (have I pushed it too far?)
OMG 😂 You have, but I kinda like it. Please continue!
I would, but I think I'm getting out of my depth...