After the 2021 big freeze in Texas, we bought a small dual fuel generator that can run either on gasoline or liquid petroleum gas (Lpg). I didn’t want to risk 3+ days without any electricity and having my pipes freeze and burst as my coworker’s did during that debacle. If I run short on gasoline (which will not be available at the gas station if there is no electricity to pump it), I can use the lp gas from my outdoor gas grill. I keep an extra canister on hand. Generators are only good if you have fuel to run them.
Well, we're generally well winterised down here because cold winters happen often, so I would hope it doesn't get as bad as no power to pump fuel at the station. If that happens, we'll just stay in bed and turn on the gas heater, I guess.
Did I read this correctly - 4 MW for residential service? Typical EU meter is generally rated at around 3kW up to 10 or 11 kW.....as far as I know. I am guessing that this is a typo....
It must be for the whole village but I'm only realising this now that you've mentioned what's typical and I remember what I've read about household electricity consumption. Maybe some day I will learn the basics of electricity.
Happy new year!! What a great story.... I loved the "technical half and the non-technical half." You described 90% of the worlds population. Men are technical in some, and others the women are technical. If I was a betting man, and your writting style I bet you would be the non-technical.
Here in South Africa we have an electricity utility that have screwed up so badly that we now have rolling blackouts every day, several hours at a time, several times a day. In a country with an abundant coal supply. Is this just due to corruption, inefficiency, bad politics, zero planning, sabotage?
No one knows, but we do have a president who loves the WEF and he personally doesn't have his electricity switched off.
Our economy is bleeding and many businesses face closure.
I've read about your blackouts and I was wondering the same thing: how could they mess things up this bad? I guess the answer is "All of the above", just like what tends to happen here but here we're also proud we're closing our coal power plants because EU told us to. Maybe this falls under "sabotage".
Irina, Happy New Year and great post. Energy is defined as "the capacity to do work."
Even labors of love, as your cooking, require energy.
It is stunning that politicians around the world have conspired to deny your family the fruits of your labor.
Their pie should be revoked.
Happy New Year, Daniel! Good reminder of what energy actually means. No pie for the politicians, that's for sure. :) Also, we ate it. :D
After the 2021 big freeze in Texas, we bought a small dual fuel generator that can run either on gasoline or liquid petroleum gas (Lpg). I didn’t want to risk 3+ days without any electricity and having my pipes freeze and burst as my coworker’s did during that debacle. If I run short on gasoline (which will not be available at the gas station if there is no electricity to pump it), I can use the lp gas from my outdoor gas grill. I keep an extra canister on hand. Generators are only good if you have fuel to run them.
Well, we're generally well winterised down here because cold winters happen often, so I would hope it doesn't get as bad as no power to pump fuel at the station. If that happens, we'll just stay in bed and turn on the gas heater, I guess.
Did I read this correctly - 4 MW for residential service? Typical EU meter is generally rated at around 3kW up to 10 or 11 kW.....as far as I know. I am guessing that this is a typo....
I'm reading it as "for the village".
Ok... Then my mistake I must have misread it....
Not your mistake. Wasn't clear at all, and I made an inference.
It must be for the whole village but I'm only realising this now that you've mentioned what's typical and I remember what I've read about household electricity consumption. Maybe some day I will learn the basics of electricity.
P.S. It was 4 kW. Mea culpa.
just wait until all the utility repair trucks are EVs...
Happy new year!! What a great story.... I loved the "technical half and the non-technical half." You described 90% of the worlds population. Men are technical in some, and others the women are technical. If I was a betting man, and your writting style I bet you would be the non-technical.
Thank you again for your great articles.
All the engineering genes skipped me, I'm afraid. But I try to learn. :D
We used to have cheap abundant reliable electricity in Texas. Then we discovered green energy.
Here in South Africa we have an electricity utility that have screwed up so badly that we now have rolling blackouts every day, several hours at a time, several times a day. In a country with an abundant coal supply. Is this just due to corruption, inefficiency, bad politics, zero planning, sabotage?
No one knows, but we do have a president who loves the WEF and he personally doesn't have his electricity switched off.
Our economy is bleeding and many businesses face closure.
I've read about your blackouts and I was wondering the same thing: how could they mess things up this bad? I guess the answer is "All of the above", just like what tends to happen here but here we're also proud we're closing our coal power plants because EU told us to. Maybe this falls under "sabotage".