Sleek-Jet

Aquarius
HDF Supporter

    
Batavia, IL
Posts: 6,351
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Post Rank: 11
Big 'Ole Inner-tube
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Posted: July 07 2005,7:42 pm |
Post # 6 |
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| Quote (jordy @ July 07 2005,6:20 pm) | | Quote (AZKC @ July 07 2005,11:19 am) | | Didn't know about the ability to pump water back and forth between the lower lakes either. |
We were on the beach at Saguaro one time and the current started going upstream and all the boats started pointed that way too.  Apparently they suck the water back up and then release it down again to generate power which baffled me.  Seems that it would take alot more power to pull the water back up than you could possibly generate letting it out.    |
It's probably considered "peaking" generation. They can pump the water uphill during off hours (late in the evening/early morning when power is cheap) and then generate power during peak times and sell it at a premium...
It also allows the thermal plants (coal fired and nuclear) spinning during lower demand time, they can use the excess power to pump the water back up. It wastes alot of energy to change their output.
In the most simplist terms, since it's impossible to "store" electricity, pump storage allows the utilities to "bank" generation.
Public Service Company of Colorado was the first to try this back in the 70's. A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his.
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