16-11-19, 12:31 AM
As far as I'm aware, the companies we buy from themselves buy from the generators in bulk and then resell to us. They don't actually own any of the distribution infrastructure, other than perhaps the meter in your home. The 'National Grid' is one big network of transformers, pylons etc. Electricity isn't 'stored' as such. Generation is increased or decreased according to demand.
Went to an interesting (honestly) Hydro station near Oban last year, where they use the flow to generate during the day, then pump the water back up during the night when demand drops. They can increase or decrease generation with 30 mins notice. Useful for World Cup half times etc. They also said that if they find they have too much capacity, they ring round the likes of British Gas, SSE etc offering them a cheap rate.
The generators that produce at a continuous rate are of course nuclear. Nobody dares/knows how to turn them off!
Went to an interesting (honestly) Hydro station near Oban last year, where they use the flow to generate during the day, then pump the water back up during the night when demand drops. They can increase or decrease generation with 30 mins notice. Useful for World Cup half times etc. They also said that if they find they have too much capacity, they ring round the likes of British Gas, SSE etc offering them a cheap rate.
The generators that produce at a continuous rate are of course nuclear. Nobody dares/knows how to turn them off!