Thanks for the post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavytone
Some of you need to recognise even reputable journals such as IEEE Spectrum sometimes publish FUD articles - the "peer reviewers" may miss the most basic of commonsense checks and a stupid article - FUD in this case - is published.
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But there is no FUD - "Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt" - in the article.
The author is simply quoting the network operators as to their plans
in handling the event on the day.
If anything, the article is calming.
Quote:
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Engineers aren't stupid and as an EE who has a background in control systems and power distribution I can say this should never have got past the peer reviewers for the simple reason I pointed out - the disturbance caused by an eclipse is trivial compared to the day/night cycle.
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The fact that the coming of nightfall causes a total disruption in solar power
certainly isn't lost on anyone.
The point that the author, and in quoting them directly, the operators,
are making is that a solar eclipse nevertheless now requires
careful consideration and planning.
If we were to go back 20 years ago, with respect to the grid,
we would not have considered it.
California Independent System Operator (CAISO) oversees the operation of
California's power grid and electricity market. One of their guiding
principles is to operate the grid reliably and efficiently.
One would assume that when they planned for the solar eclipse months
before the event, they knew what they were doing.
In a report dated
1 May 2017, they wrote :-
Quote:
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Originally Posted by CAISO
Although a solar eclipse is perfectly predictable the transformation from solar radiation to electric power is associated with uncertainties which call for a careful coordination throughout the entire WECC interconnected power system.
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WECC refers to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council grid which
covers the west of the United States and Canada. A large area.
So given that the eclipse was a significant enough event to require
consideration, planning and intervention by the grid operators, reporting on it
by IEEE Spectrum was appropriate and would have easily passed peer review.
That May 1 2017 CAISO report here :-
http://www.caiso.com/Documents/Brief...t-May_2017.pdf