05-30-2009, 11:35 AM
Racer X wrote:
[quote=macphanatic]
[quote=Fred_Also]
My theory has always been that those generators are spinning all the time and if I don't use the power, it is wasted. Waste not, want not (or something like that).
Fred Also
Theory doesn't meet reality in this case. Power generation is much more efficient these days.
gas turbine generators... the first 70% of their fuel consumption is just to spin them, only the last 30% of the fuel produces sellable power. But they produce A LOT OF POWER.
I should have been more specific. Utilities don't run generators when not needed. They run them as needed to meet load requirements so they aren't producing electricity that isn't used. I wasn't speaking to the efficiency in the production of electricity.
Note that all gas turbine installations are not that inefficient. Some plants use waste heat from the gas turbines to produce steam for heat or running steam turbines.