Playing With Fire and Collapse Part 8

Refeence: Playing With Fire and Collapse Part 7

Hi to all of you, as the second phase of the generative dialogue is developing around nuclear energy and the emerging market design and architecture.

If I understand correctly, Len is suggesting extending EWPC to Utilities Without Price Controls (UWPC). Both water and gas end-user needs seem to be fine for such extension. That is a good suggestion for the generative dialogue. That is in synchronicity with Jamie Wimberly’s article The Future Utility Customer Service Model closure, in which he endorses systemic approach and the revolution away from the continuity scenario.

The water suggestion reminds me that central power stations extension development is a large user of water, leading to the important problem of the limits of water ecosystems services; namely cooling water requirements of power stations. According to the source Water requirements of nuclear power stations are 20 to 83 per cent more than for other power stations. Water ecosystem services are an issue that may impose a growth limit to power system development.

Keeping for the moment on EWPC market design and architecture, I like to add to Len’s impression that I am not sure what he means by “a pure market electricity strategy such as EWPC.” EWPC is a combination – the third way missing in the decade old debate - of a controlled market and a free market.”

Transmission tightly integrated with distribution and system planning, operation and control involve a controlled, monopoly, market which is different from open transmission access controlled by RTOs and “native” loads. Generation and retail marketing belong to a non-real time free market, so it is ["not" is replaced by "a"] straightforward market extension to other utilities. Generation monopolies are not advised and should compete with the demand side, where CANDU technology can compete freely with other technologies on the short and long run.

The interface between long run system adequacy and short run smooth real-time operation and control of a power system is based on demand side and supply side unit commitments from retailers and generators. That is needed to ensure that Fred Schweppe’s engineering criteria is met. Water and gas systems requirements will not interfere with power system operation and control, leading to the potential and sound design feasibility of Len’s suggestion on the economies of scope of UWPC, as the engineering criteria of gas and water systems don’t interfere either.