Blackouts

worrywart_3

Interesting working at a hospital and see big new generators going in they were told to make sure they had ample, is there a chance we could get blackouts this winter I wonder be back to the 1970s? 

[Deleted User]

There are a large number of public and non public organisations that have back up generation. Often it is there for business continuity reasons, or because the organisations has negotiated a cheaper energy deal by agreeing to switch off during periods of extreme demand.

worrywart_3

Yes that i realise and no institution more important than a hospital it was the way the guys installing it said the we have been  told to make sure it’s all working what will be will be, it wouldn’t surprise me at the moment but it’s good they are being prepared should they need it. Of course they need them in any case

QrizB

worrywart_3 said:

... is there a chance we could get blackouts this winter I wonder be back to the 1970s? 

No-one can say there won't be power cuts. There was quite a large one in August 2019 (link) for example.

What is true is that there is less margin than has historically been the case in the UK's generating capacity, and if a major generating panlt (eg. Sizewell B ) was to unexpectedly go off-line during a high demand period (eg. a cold snap) there's the possiblity that we wouldn't be able to service all the consumers.

Exactly what happens then would depend on a lot of factors. In the best case, major industrial users (steelworks etc.) would find themselves cut off automatically while essential services (like hospitals) and domestic users would only see a brief flicker. Worst-case the whole system shuts down and needs restarting in a controlled manner, potentially taking hours.

[Deleted User]

I would have thought all hospitals have back up for the main stuff in place. Someone checked the old genies and or connections and found they were not up to it?

I know of a few tests over the years (not hospitals) that have thrown up poor setups and resulted in upgrades and a few egg on faces.

And I remember the 70's versions but then we did not have freezers, computers, all coal fired heating and gas for cooking etc.

Robin9

I was an engineer with the area electricity board. We had a supermarket who ran their generator monthly but not on load and was OK. Come the day when it was needed while we repaired a mains fault and it packed up on them -  they couldn't get the exhaust heat away.   

oldagetraveller1

Just wait until everyone has an all electric vehicle and the grid is totally overwhelmed by them all being re-charged.

The electricity grid of which the capacity has not been increased for years.

What's the next shortage for panic buying? Candles?

spot1034

Back in the 1970s when we had regular blackouts, my grandparents lived right opposite a hospital and they never had any, as they were on the same circuit as the hospital so the power was left on. Streets all around were turned off, but not them!

worrywart_3

oldagetraveller1 said:

Just wait until everyone has an all electric vehicle and the grid is totally overwhelmed by them all being re-charged.

The electricity grid of which the capacity has not been increased for years.

What's the next shortage for panic buying? Candles?

Candles camping has torches battery powered things 🤣 get them now before the panic starts 😉 

greyteam1959

Get a composting toilet as well.
Then you can use the gas produced from that for heating & lighting & cooking as well.

Ultrasonic

I'm confident that all UK hospitals have back-up generators. Every one I've worked in does, and they have all also been routinely tested too. Local short-term power cuts often result in the back-up generators kicking in where I work currently.