OT: WE cracked 50GW.

[The Natural Philosopher]

total electricity demand PLUS whatever the embedded wind is generating

First time in 2018

[Tim Streater]

Are the graphs for wind and coal limited to a smidge over 10GW somehow? Seems to be flatlining.

[Tjoepstil]

nope. that is what they are doing - coal is running flat out as baseload

[Harry Bloomfield]

Tjoepstil was thinking very hard :

Coal is generating 11.22GW..

[Andy Burns]

Would Fiddler's Ferry count within the coal numbers, if it was providing "strategic reserve" or whatever it's called?

[The Other Mike]

Yes, see this

Look for the short code FIDL followed by the unit number (but not any with a 'G' suffix as those are the distallate fuelled gas turbines

The station had a one year contract (for unit 2) for provison of ancilliary services - which essentially means operating at other than unity power factor for voltage control and at other times for frequency support. That might not be at times of peak demand, it was more likely to run at lower system loads overnight with an excess of wind generation. That contract expired last year so it no longer runs.

For 2018/19 Unit 1 does not have a capacity market contract but units 2, 3 and 4 do.

Units 1, 3 and 4 at Fiddlers were running yesterday (can't give a direct link)

Unit 1 at 450MW most of the day with a dip to 300MW for 2 hours overnight Units 3 and 4 were both at 400MW for 2 hours overnight, and both at either 450 or 465MW for the rest of the day