Sign up with GoogleTotal Blackout??
Back in the early 70's I was running the control room at one of Escom's (then) largests power stations in the ETvl. It's a long time ago so my memory's a bit fuzzy.
One night before midnight we suddenly lost the main transmission down to the Cape. Chaos followed as we were suddenly sitting with a massive oversupply on the grid. Generators starting to fall over as boilers couldn't cope fast enough at all power stations, resulting in the opposite - too much load on the grid. Soon we were dead in the water.
Before I went off shift at 7am most of our generation capacity was back on line.
Brings me to my point.
Apparently some 'expert' stated at a hearing this week that there is a greater than 50% chance of a total blackout. I cannot for the life of me see how this can be close to a valid statement.
In the above instance we suddenly lost a significant portion of demand. I can see how a blackout can result. Too much demand doesn't happen suddenly, it can be controlled easily.
To me it looks like blatant fear mongering. I'd say that a total blackout due to under supply is virtually impossible even if the people in regional control rooms only meet the most basic of skills. It's all pretty modular and simple to prevent the grid being dragged down by excess demand.
Maybe I'm missing something? I doubt it.
Back in the early 70's I was running the control room at one of Escom's (then) largests power stations in the ETvl. It's a long time ago so my memory's a bit fuzzy.
One night before midnight we suddenly lost the main transmission down to the Cape. Chaos followed as we were suddenly sitting with a massive oversupply on the grid. Generators starting to fall over as boilers couldn't cope fast enough at all power stations, resulting in the opposite - too much load on the grid. Soon we were dead in the water.
Before I went off shift at 7am most of our generation capacity was back on line.
Brings me to my point.
Apparently some 'expert' stated at a hearing this week that there is a greater than 50% chance of a total blackout. I cannot for the life of me see how this can be close to a valid statement.
In the above instance we suddenly lost a significant portion of demand. I can see how a blackout can result. Too much demand doesn't happen suddenly, it can be controlled easily.
To me it looks like blatant fear mongering. I'd say that a total blackout due to under supply is virtually impossible even if the people in regional control rooms only meet the most basic of skills. It's all pretty modular and simple to prevent the grid being dragged down by excess demand.
Maybe I'm missing something? I doubt it.
