Electric Grid Alert

[elkhunter11]

So another electric grid alert and we are being advised to conserve electricity. So lets add another million electric vehicles or so, and watch what happens.

[Fish along]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

So another electric grid alert and we are being advised to conserve electricity. So lets add another million electric vehicles or so, and watch what happens.

Our grid wont be able to handle it.at some point E vehicles will be a serious threat to our power supplies.and the greenest place will be the graveyards.

[Dick284]

Let’s put up more wind generation, because we all know how windy Alberta gets when it’s really cold or hot after all….

It’ll save the world you know…..

[elkhunter11]

Switzerland is severely restricting electric vehicles this winter, because of power supply concerns.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...shortages.html

[Dick284]

If you aren’t in favour of carbon based generation (fossil fuels/coal) then you better accept the nuclear generation option. Relying on the so called “green” generation options is a road to ruin in the less than temperate climate zones.

[ruffy71]

Originally Posted by Dick284

If you aren’t in favour of carbon based generation (fossil fuels/coal) then you better accept the nuclear generation option. Relying on the so called “green” generation options is a road to ruin in the less than temperate climate zones.

Absolutely. We will not ever be "off of oil", but it will eventually disappear. Nuclear is a good option, especially if you live in an area that doesn't experience richter 7 earthquakes, tsunamis and tidal waves.

Alberta should use oil revenues to help start the transition sooner rather than later.

[Albertajeff]

Alberta’s live Current Electrical Supply/Demand Report.


http://ets.aeso.ca/ets_web/ip/Market...DReportServlet

[gunluvr]

Originally Posted by Dick284

If you aren’t in favour of carbon based generation (fossil fuels/coal) then you better accept the nuclear generation option. Relying on the so called “green” generation options is a road to ruin in the less than temperate climate zones.

Without abundant hydroelectric generation this is absolutely the only currently sensible option. Everything else is a waste of money that will eventually be decommissioned.

[The Cook]

Minus 28 here last night. One vehicle plugged in all night because you just can't count on an ambulance like you used to. Maybe shut off some lights in the downtown office towers for a start.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by gunluvr

Without abundant hydroelectric generation this is absolutely the only currently sensible option. Everything else is a waste of money that will eventually be decommissioned.

Hydroelectric is pretty much dead as a door knob in Alberta right now, currently proposed or on the drawing board projects are a long way off, and of negligible capacity to begin with. Coupled with limited water flows, flow mandates, and even a bigger NIMBY out cry, maybe 200 mega watts capacity could be added to the grid in maybe 10 years……

At a construction cost of around $1 billion per mega watt capacity……..

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by ruffy71

Absolutely. We will not ever be "off of oil", but it will eventually disappear. Nuclear is a good option, especially if you live in an area that doesn't experience richter 7 earthquakes, tsunamis and tidal waves.

Alberta should use oil revenues to help start the transition sooner rather than later.

Doesn't matter what you do, there will be opposition. In the end, nuclear is the only real option, like it or not. Those modular reactors they're proposing now, apparently create comparatively 8 to 32x the waste produced by a full scale plant and we still haven't been politically able to deal with that. Ontario wants to dump some of theirs in a shallow burial site adjacent to Lake Huron. Guess how that's going over ?

Grizz

[ctd]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

Doesn't matter what you do, there will be opposition. In the end, nuclear is the only real option, like it or not. Those modular reactors they're proposing now, apparently create comparatively 8 to 32x the waste produced by a full scale plant and we still haven't been politically able to deal with that. Ontario wants to dump some of theirs in a shallow burial site adjacent to Lake Huron. Guess how that's going over ?

Grizz

Ontario are adding to their Nuke plants. Funny how that works out east. Heaven forbid Alberta build a pipeline and ship some natural gas to Europe.

[ctd]

Originally Posted by Fish along

Our grid wont be able to handle it.at some point E vehicles will be a serious threat to our power supplies.and the greenest place will be the graveyards.

I was told you can plug in your electric vehicle to add power to the grid when it needs it. I laughed, you laughed we all laughed except those who do not understand where the initial electricity came from

[KGB]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Switzerland is severely restricting electric vehicles this winter, because of power supply concerns.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...shortages.html

No no no, it can’t be! We were told that EV is our future and the only hope to survive! That is why the state of California banning all gas cars- right?
And Justine said he will power all EVs by himself, just like the budget that balances itself…

[trapperdodge]

What's gonna happen when it gets cold?

[ruffy71]

I know there is always a concern with a nuclear accident, but I hear people mention the radioactive waste all the time. Has there ever been an incident or issue with stored nuclear waste in this country?

Considering how deep we can drill for oil and gas, is there really an issue with burying the stuff deep enough?

I was listening to a nuclear energy rep on the radio the other day, and even when you factor his bias in, he made some good points about the difference between what people think and fear about nuclear energy in Canada, and the reality being very different.

[Dylan15]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

So another electric grid alert and we are being advised to conserve electricity. So lets add another million electric vehicles or so, and watch what happens.

Conspiracy theory alert. Could it be that the powers that be don't WANT you to drive your car wherever and whenever you want? You can be 100% sure the federal government who wants to ban gas powered cars by 2030 knows the grid can't handle it. Yet they push them. Why? Follow the power. Covid lockdowns were a test run.

[lmtada]

I better turn off the Xmas lights.

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by ruffy71

I know there is always a concern with a nuclear accident, but I hear people mention the radioactive waste all the time. Has there ever been an incident or issue with stored nuclear waste in this country?

Considering how deep we can drill for oil and gas, is there really an issue with burying the stuff deep enough?

I was listening to a nuclear energy rep on the radio the other day, and even when you factor his bias in, he made some good points about the difference between what people think and fear about nuclear energy in Canada, and the reality being very different.

New generation nuclear plants have zero risk and next to no waste
People are naive
Train cars of unrefined uranium roll through alberta all the time
Being shipped all around the globe, just like our coal

[Dick284]

I wonder out loud if the Christmas lights at the Legislature, and various city/town halls etc. were turned off during this crisis?

[Drewski Canuck]

There are played out Gold Mines and Nickel Mines that are over a mile underground. That is alot of metals heavy rock to absorb any radiation that could ever leak.

Nuclear is a viable option.

Drewski

[elkoholik]

My buddies neighbour bought a new ford lightening truck. He has a swim tub in the backyard, was able to upgrade to 160amp (might be 140, but know he couldn't get 200amp in his house) in a new house and because of the amp draw he can not charge his truck at home right now without tripping breaker. Pretty sad considering we currently have less than 5% Electric Vehicles on the road.

[marky_mark]

The grid can’t handle everyone owning electric vehicles
Even if you build more reactors, the distribution systems will be the next weak link
It would probably cost over a trillion dollars for every home in canada to be ready for electric vehicles

[stubblejumper01]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

New generation nuclear plants have zero risk and next to no waste
People are naive
Train cars of unrefined uranium roll through alberta all the time
Being shipped all around the globe, just like our coal

That’s for sure. I think the biggest risk could be someone blowing them up to release the uranium like a dirty bomb?

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by Drewski Canuck

There are played out Gold Mines and Nickel Mines that are over a mile underground. That is alot of metals heavy rock to absorb any radiation that could ever leak.

Nuclear is a viable option.

Drewski

https://calgaryherald.com/sponsored/...heres-the-plan

Disposal site is a ways away yet. Close to 10 years before construction would even begin

[ruffy71]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

New generation nuclear plants have zero risk and next to no waste
People are naive
Train cars of unrefined uranium roll through alberta all the time
Being shipped all around the globe, just like our coal

The fella on the radio was explaining that radioactive decay is exponential, (I remember that from somewhere in school), and that spent fuel has relatively low levels or radioactivity, if I remember correctly he said after 100 years, you could hold it in your hand. Probably don't want to eat it, or sleep with it under your bed your whole life, but is it really anywhere as risky as the average joe thinks?

I love the show Chernobyl, still think it is one of the best miniseries I've ever seen, but if that is what people still think about modern reactors, their risks, and the risk of the waste, yeeeesh that industry is starting in a really deep hole.

[fordtruckin]

I have no doubt electric is the future BUT NOT the near future. The power grid and technology are not advanced enough to the point where it’s feasible or reliable enough to do a complete 100% change! Hell I wouldn’t even say we could do a 5-10% change. As for nuclear yes the most viable option but because of 3 disasters people are scared.

[kokanee king]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

So another electric grid alert and we are being advised to conserve electricity. So lets add another million electric vehicles or so, and watch what happens.

A development we ain't ready for

[Map Maker]

When was the main electrical grid built?
What was the average panel size on a house at that time?
20 years ago people were complaining that a/c were causing blackouts.
Electric cars are mostly charged during the night at lowest demand.
No to nuclear power.

We just need some smart people planning the future of Alberta.

The newest national electrical code has an upsizing of all new installations.

Even though Fortis is making massive profits, since it is deregulated, they have been enjoying the money and putting minimal back into upgrading capital infrastructure. Now we all pay.
My thoughts.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by stubblejumper01

That’s for sure. I think the biggest risk could be someone blowing them up to release the uranium like a dirty bomb?

Unrefined uranium ore is only slightly radioactive and not really dangerous. When I was a teen, I requested a sample from the mine in Northern Saskatchewan, for a science project. They sent me about 5 lbs.

Grizz