Although it is difficult to believe today, Great Britain was the first nation in the World to build a grid scale nuclear power plant - Calder Hall.
It was decided by the UK Government to proceed with the civil nuclear power programme in 1952, and construction at Calder Hall began the following year and was carried out by Taylor Woodrow Construction using 1950s engineering and construction techniques and was officially opened on 17 October 1956 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Originally designed for a life of 20 years from respectively 1956-1959, the plant was after 40 years until July 1996 granted an operation licence for a further ten years.
The station was closed on 31 March 2003, the first reactor having been in use for nearly 47 years.
That's what over half a century of "managed decline" does for you!
So its first of type in design and engineering yet built in 3 years absolutely extraordinary and all British kit. Now we are incapable of anything in this country.
you are mistaken with regard to gas generation. It is not expensive as a source despite being loaded with a carbon tax.
Gas is the only source of generation we have that does the second by second balancing of supply and demand, while I agree with your assessment of the nuclear situation, they do not contribute to balancing.
Essentially gas is and must remain the backbone of the grid.
Neso do not explain how they can balance the grid and still run down gas generation. I know they have plans for such as rotary condensers for some part of the lack of inertia from renewables and provides some reactive power control, which all our inputs contribute to except for renewables and interconnectors. However simple physical inertia is only part of the equation, it cannot correct a drooping frequency which can only be corrected by increasing grid input and nothing can do that in the capacity necessary except gas. (I notice Biomass generation is being modulated in line with demand some of the time but that is too small a capacity to count.)
I simply disagree also with your belief that a reduction of CO2 is necessary or desirable. Science has come along way in twenty years and there is ample proof that CO2 is not driving our climate.
NESO state in 2030 report that unabated gas of c30GW will need to be kept to deal with low wind no solar days so it will still be available to support balancing. This isn’t what Millibrain wants but he won’t push back on it so will be the baseline for mission but he’s not politically naive so reckon even this will be watered down.
Although it is difficult to believe today, Great Britain was the first nation in the World to build a grid scale nuclear power plant - Calder Hall.
It was decided by the UK Government to proceed with the civil nuclear power programme in 1952, and construction at Calder Hall began the following year and was carried out by Taylor Woodrow Construction using 1950s engineering and construction techniques and was officially opened on 17 October 1956 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Originally designed for a life of 20 years from respectively 1956-1959, the plant was after 40 years until July 1996 granted an operation licence for a further ten years.
The station was closed on 31 March 2003, the first reactor having been in use for nearly 47 years.
That's what over half a century of "managed decline" does for you!
Construction and operation of Calder Hall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYeCotEJj1M&t=440s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYeCotEJj1M&t=440s
So its first of type in design and engineering yet built in 3 years absolutely extraordinary and all British kit. Now we are incapable of anything in this country.
Sam,
you are mistaken with regard to gas generation. It is not expensive as a source despite being loaded with a carbon tax.
Gas is the only source of generation we have that does the second by second balancing of supply and demand, while I agree with your assessment of the nuclear situation, they do not contribute to balancing.
Essentially gas is and must remain the backbone of the grid.
Neso do not explain how they can balance the grid and still run down gas generation. I know they have plans for such as rotary condensers for some part of the lack of inertia from renewables and provides some reactive power control, which all our inputs contribute to except for renewables and interconnectors. However simple physical inertia is only part of the equation, it cannot correct a drooping frequency which can only be corrected by increasing grid input and nothing can do that in the capacity necessary except gas. (I notice Biomass generation is being modulated in line with demand some of the time but that is too small a capacity to count.)
I simply disagree also with your belief that a reduction of CO2 is necessary or desirable. Science has come along way in twenty years and there is ample proof that CO2 is not driving our climate.
NESO state in 2030 report that unabated gas of c30GW will need to be kept to deal with low wind no solar days so it will still be available to support balancing. This isn’t what Millibrain wants but he won’t push back on it so will be the baseline for mission but he’s not politically naive so reckon even this will be watered down.
Excellent piece!