Blackouts coming soon?

prowla

This is weird synchronicity; I was only yesterday having a conversation about protecting against blackouts.

tim_p

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098831#Comment_82098831

Actually I am too, I have a rack mount UPS powering ONT / router / switch etc, it won’t last three hours but there’s also some EPS sockets on the battery inverter I could easily distribute with a handy extension lead.
I suspect we’re in a fairly tiny minority though.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098954#Comment_82098954

A minority for sure, but it is a growing number I suspect.

I have several UPS protecting various IT equipment, and a 27kWh Powerwall system protecting the whole house.

Still though I think it is an over-reaction to interpret the rule change as any sign of immanent need to actually use the capability.

Scot_39

on the other hand why plan and change the rules for a non event.

And whos to say rolling outages wont be prioritised over paying £1000s / MWh on interconnects as in 2022 or June 2026.

Power that might be equally in demand in the source nations and not available for export (just as NESO reportedly blocked UK export on at least one of the same interconnects in June 23rd frequency dip incident.

We have become increasingly far too reliant on the interconnects for several GW of power many days of the year - another clear sign uk energy policy does not give us energy security.

Or maybe paying £1000s for short term standby gas spin ups to contain energy prices.

The simple reality is renewable lows are a major risk to uk grid.

They simply cannot be relied upon to produce our electricity - last January lows of sub 0.3GW - sub 1% of winds theoretical 30+GW of installed capacity and 0 % of solar as early am (before 9am when solar started to ckimb) - which at grid level only contributes "meaninfully" for 8 hrs a day on such winter days..

Yet desnz and neso keep on piling on more and uk been underinvesting in conventional generation to replace old for yearsx/ decades. Even if doubled wind and solar - at same output factors - 0.5-0.6GW.

Lots of folk forced onto ashp might well find themselves waking up to cold houses when that sort of low repeats.

We still havent replaced a significant fraction of the 5.3GW of coal shutdown in the 2020s for instance. C1.2GW More if go back to 2019 iirc.

MWT

Energy security is closely linked to some obviously hostile actors in the geopolitical arena so it makes sense to increase the speed with which the grid can respond to any events, but that still doesn't mean there is an intention to use the facility outside of extreme circumstances.

Magnitio

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098954#Comment_82098954

And what about the street cabinets that you are connected to? Will they continue to operate in the event of a power cut? If so, for how long? Typically, they only have sufficient backup for 2-4 hours.

doodling

Hi,

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099380#Comment_82099380

FTTC is not great during power interruptions as in that event it's operation is dependent on batteries in the cabinet as you note.

ADSL is powered from the exchange so is more reliable. Openreach FTTP is also generally powered from the exchange although not in all areas - in some areas equipment in cabinets is used which would suffer the same issues as FTTC.

born_again

"Don't panic! Don't panic!" and "They don't like it up 'em!"

That will be my V2L powering the required items. 🤣

TroubledTarts

Starlink, 6kwh of Ecoflow batteries, multi fuel burner, gas canister two hob cooker, battery lights and plenty of books to read.

Bring it on but sadly the post is like a daily mail headline clickbait with no substance.

EssexHebridean

Agreed about the clickbait title, but can we not turn this thread into a parade of privilege and remember that not everyone can have solar, batteries, and EV and all the other luxuries that mean that the idea of blackouts can simply be a bit of fun? There are people for whom the idea of this will be terrifying, and as is so often the case, those will be some of the more vulnerable in society. I for one don't like seeing their fears preyed on in this way.