Re: dams and electricity

[Larry Cartwright <exit60@CABLESPEED.COM>]

The desirability of pumped storage stems from the necessity of keeping
steam-operated generating plants running even when the distribution grid
is only calling for a small amount of power (an operational/engineering
decision).  Since the turbines are running all night and more power is
available than is being used, it makes sense to try to capture that
power and store it away for use during daytime peak demand periods (an
economic decision).

The Ludington facility here in Michigan is an important part of our
state's electrical supply strategy.  It is co-owned by our two major
players, Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy.  It provides approximately
10% of the peak supply capability for each utility, relatively
inexpensively.  The regulatory environment in Michigan has not been very
utility-friendly for years, so like many states we don't have much slack
in our grid during consumption peaks.

I suspect the utilities might have considered adding more pumped storage
facilities like Ludington; but environmental activists have made their
lives miserable for years over the issue of fish kill.  Electrical power
generation is a strong candidate for the most thankless job in the realm
of applied physics.

Best wishes,

Larry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larry Cartwright   <exit60@cablespeed.com>
Retired (June 2001) Physics Teacher
Charlotte MI 48813 USA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marc "Zeke" Kossover wrote:

> Several groups have proposed pumping water from the lake that is
> formed below the dam back up into Lake Hartwell. Why bother
> doing this? As far as I can tell, this creates a net loss in energy.
> Might it have something to do with differing demands for electricity
> depending on the time of day?