Re: dams and electricity

[Joseph Bellina <jbellina@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

This is a marvelous example of how economics plays a key role in most
energy decisions.  You are absolutely correct, there is a net energy
loss, but given the cost of capitol to construct a plant, it may be
cheaper to build the pumps to run in the off peak periods, so that you
can shave peak demand.  Whether to do it is a complex question, as has
been pointed out.

I really hate to think of the bean counters having the upper hand, but
in this case they do.

cheers,

joe

On Mon, 18 Mar 2002, David Bowman wrote:

> After deciphering Mark Shipiro's MIME-laden comment
> contradicting my comment, it seems the Irrascible Professor
> may have more reliable information than my ignorant guess
> as to the usefulness of such a back-pumping arrangement.
>
> Maybe the system would be useful *if* cheap slack generating
> capacity from nuclear and *other* hard-to-quickly-throttle
> sources is used to store hydro energy for peak demand times.
>
> It sure doesn't make much sense to do it if one is only
> trying to save the energy in the reservoir itself.  In that
> case the smart thing to do is to just throttle back the water
> flow when demand is down.
>
> David Bowman

Joseph J. Bellina, Jr.               219-284-4662
Associate Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556