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Hang on. I'm missing something.
They're going to pump water UP to a higher reservoir, then use that higher head to create energy?
The fuck?
Where's the energy for the pumps coming from?
You're using electricity to pump. And losing energy in the process (friction losses in the pipes, other head losses in various bends, fittings, discharges etc).
I kind of like the idea of having energy reserves, ie, water in a nice high reservoir. Potential energy.
But to get it there you're burning fossil fuels, or running water out of a nice high reservoir to get less in.
Unless the energy is coming from something otherwise going to waste like geothermal, wind or solar it seems counter intuitive.
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@booboo said in NZ Politics:
Hang on. I'm missing something.
They're going to pump water UP to a higher reservoir, then use that higher head to create energy?
The fuck?
Where's the energy for the pumps coming from?
You're using electricity to pump. And losing energy in the process (friction losses in the pipes, other head losses in various bends, fittings, discharges etc).
I kind of like the idea of having energy reserves, ie, water in a nice high reservoir. Potential energy.
But to get it there you're burning fossil fuels, or running water out of a nice high reservoir to get less in.
Unless the energy is coming from something otherwise going to waste like geothermal, wind or solar it seems counter intuitive.
It's just a battery. If you can generate on the cheap with renewables (midday solar for eg), then dispatch when needed, then it can make sense. It's not run-of-river hydro, it needs conditions to make it work. But it can, especially when you cherry-pick historic pricing... 😬
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@voodoo said in NZ Politics:
@booboo said in NZ Politics:
Hang on. I'm missing something.
They're going to pump water UP to a higher reservoir, then use that higher head to create energy?
The fuck?
Where's the energy for the pumps coming from?
You're using electricity to pump. And losing energy in the process (friction losses in the pipes, other head losses in various bends, fittings, discharges etc).
I kind of like the idea of having energy reserves, ie, water in a nice high reservoir. Potential energy.
But to get it there you're burning fossil fuels, or running water out of a nice high reservoir to get less in.
Unless the energy is coming from something otherwise going to waste like geothermal, wind or solar it seems counter intuitive.
It's just a battery. If you can generate on the cheap with renewables (midday solar for eg), then dispatch when needed, then it can make sense. It's not run-of-river hydro, it needs conditions to make it work. But it can, especially when you cherry-pick historic pricing... 😬
I get that:
Unless the energy is coming from something otherwise going to waste like geothermal, wind or solar it seems counter intuitive.
I suppose also if the dams are overtopping it's wasting.
But is there really that much over supply not being used?
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@booboo said in NZ Politics:
But is there really that much over supply not being used?
It's not so much oversupply, as being cheaper than building new generation. Basically, as a giant battery it lets everyone focus on 'what's the cheapest way to generate power' rather than 'what's the cheapest way to generate power to match the peaks that we have in our usage'.
Effectively, it enables renewables - solar and wind. They just generate at a maximum, and when the network peaks come on (morning and evening) and solar can't help much, you draw down the power.
You coudl (in theory) achieve similar things by putting batteries on houses, but that isn't really mainstream.
Also, good luck on consenting dams. Couldn't even consent a weir supported by local Iwi - the RMA needs a real re-think about what our values are as a country.
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I wonder what big time project they will look at up here to try to off-set when the Refinery makes loads redundant, to exaggerate a problem already created when Carters shut a plant here too.
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@taniwharugby said in NZ Politics:
I wonder what big time project they will look at up here to try to off-set when the Refinery makes loads redundant, to exaggerate a problem already created when Carters shut a plant here too.
Aren't they already looking at expanding the port? If Ports of Auckland move up your way you will get plenty of jobs and that's not counting the road/rail changes required and the possibility that the Navy would look at moving Devonport base as well.
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@Crucial tongue in cheek comment...Tiwai is a high profile thing, but very little in way of media surrounding the Refinery and its future.
Not sure I am sold on the Ports of Auckland thing moving up here yet, but def think the Navy would be a big boost.
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@taniwharugby said in NZ Politics:
@Crucial tongue in cheek comment...Tiwai is a high profile thing, but very little in way of media surrounding the Refinery and its future.
Not sure I am sold on the Ports of Auckland thing moving up here yet, but def think the Navy would be a big boost.
Trouble with the Navy thing is that I think your council has allowed developers to already take up any suitable spots. No way are the residents going to allow a base being built next to them. Any other places would require dredging (and the maintenance that goes with that). I think Whangarei may end up in the too hard basket when/if NZN go looking for a new base.
They are sitting on some immensely valuable land in Devonport at the moment so it will be a numbers game. No use selling and moving to be in an equal/worse position. -
In case anyone out there was unaware
Latest Reid Research poll has Nats at 25% Labour at 61%
Poll was conducted after Collins took over as National's leader.
Also Jami-Lee Ross channels Monty Python and jumps into bed with Monster Raving Looney Party aka Public party who I assume would have @Winger 's vote sewn up
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@dogmeat said in NZ Politics:
In case anyone out there was unaware
Latest Reid Research poll has Nats at 25% Labour at 61%
Poll was conducted after Collins took over as National's leader.
Also Jami-Lee Ross channels Monty Python and jumps into bed with Monster Raving Looney Party aka Public party who I assume would have @Winger 's vote sewn up
I wonder what the Greens think of those types of figures. They must aso be a bit twitchy on how they can have influence?
NZ Politics