Comments on: Victoria’s total power needs in 50 square kms http://www.sustainableenergyblog.org/posts/2007/11/11/victorias-total-power-needs-in-50-square-kms/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:59:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: 006 http://www.sustainableenergyblog.org/posts/2007/11/11/victorias-total-power-needs-in-50-square-kms/comment-page-1/#comment-167 006 Mon, 26 May 2008 17:29:50 +0000 http://www.sustainableenergyblog.org/posts/2007/11/11/victorias-total-power-needs-in-50-square-kms/#comment-167 Yes clarifying that I think they meant 50 sq km. 50 x 1 km^2 blocks = 50 x 247.105 acres = 12,355.25 acres thus at 1 MW per 2 acres that's around 12,355.25 / 2 = 6,177 MW ( Megawatts ) = 6.177 GW ( Gigawatts ) So yes the 50 sq km makes approximate sense. i.e. about a 7 km x 7 km grid NOTE: If it was 50 km ^2 then you would generate far more power as that's 2,500 sq km. Thus 2,500 x 1 km ^2 blocks being 247.105 x 2500 = 617,762.5 acres and at 2 acres per mw that's 308,881 MW or 308.881 GW which is 6 times the size of the entire Australian power grid of about 50 Gigawatts. Even at 2.5 acres per MW that would still be 247,105 MW being about 5 times the capacity of the Australian power grid. Thus from that its clear than mean 50 sq km and not 50 km ^2 and thus they mean about 7.07 km x 7.07 km grid being the 50 sq km in area, being the 12,355.25 acres. Yes clarifying that I think they meant 50 sq km.
50 x 1 km^2 blocks = 50 x 247.105 acres = 12,355.25 acres thus at 1 MW per 2 acres that’s around 12,355.25 / 2 = 6,177 MW ( Megawatts ) = 6.177 GW ( Gigawatts ) So yes the 50 sq km makes approximate sense. i.e. about a 7 km x 7 km grid

NOTE: If it was 50 km ^2 then you would generate far more power as that’s 2,500 sq km. Thus 2,500 x 1 km ^2 blocks being 247.105 x 2500 = 617,762.5 acres and at 2 acres per mw that’s 308,881 MW or 308.881 GW which is 6 times the size of the entire Australian power grid of about 50 Gigawatts. Even at 2.5 acres per MW that would still be 247,105 MW being about 5 times the capacity of the Australian power grid. Thus from that its clear than mean 50 sq km and not 50 km ^2 and thus they mean about 7.07 km x 7.07 km grid being the 50 sq km in area, being the 12,355.25 acres.

]]> By: 008 http://www.sustainableenergyblog.org/posts/2007/11/11/victorias-total-power-needs-in-50-square-kms/comment-page-1/#comment-166 008 Mon, 26 May 2008 17:12:47 +0000 http://www.sustainableenergyblog.org/posts/2007/11/11/victorias-total-power-needs-in-50-square-kms/#comment-166 Further to that. Based on 2.5 acres per MW, 6000 x 2.5 acres = 15,000 acres Thus; If 1 km2 = 247.105 acres then 15,000 / 247.105 = 60.7 x 1 km2 blocks which is 60.7 sq km being 7.79 km 2 If its based on 2 acres per Megawatt instead, you get 6000 x 2 = 12,000 acres. Thus; 12,000 / 247.105 = 48.56 x 1 km2 blocks which is 48.56 sq km being 6.96 km 2 That's fairly consistent with the 177 MW per mile squared. The terminology is a bit messed up though as square mile and mile squared mean different things. The articles heading mentions 50 sq km and they have said 50 km2 initially which is 50 km x 50 km but that's not consistent with 177 MW per 2 or even 2.5 acres. I think they meant as mile squared but specified square mile. Its also not consistent with the 2 or 2.5 acre per MW, so they would have to have meant 1 mile ^2 and not 1 sqm, to get close to the 2 acre per MW figure. Further to that. Based on 2.5 acres per MW, 6000 x 2.5 acres = 15,000 acres

Thus; If 1 km2 = 247.105 acres then 15,000 / 247.105 = 60.7 x 1 km2 blocks which is 60.7 sq km being 7.79 km 2

If its based on 2 acres per Megawatt instead, you get 6000 x 2 = 12,000 acres. Thus; 12,000 / 247.105 = 48.56 x 1 km2 blocks which is 48.56 sq km being 6.96 km 2

That’s fairly consistent with the 177 MW per mile squared. The terminology is a bit messed up though as square mile and mile squared mean different things. The articles heading mentions 50 sq km and they have said 50 km2 initially which is 50 km x 50 km but that’s not consistent with 177 MW per 2 or even 2.5 acres. I think they meant as mile squared but specified square mile. Its also not consistent with the 2 or 2.5 acre per MW, so they would have to have meant 1 mile ^2 and not 1 sqm, to get close to the 2 acre per MW figure.

]]> By: dwh http://www.sustainableenergyblog.org/posts/2007/11/11/victorias-total-power-needs-in-50-square-kms/comment-page-1/#comment-165 dwh Mon, 26 May 2008 16:34:25 +0000 http://www.sustainableenergyblog.org/posts/2007/11/11/victorias-total-power-needs-in-50-square-kms/#comment-165 That's about 7 km x 7 km of Solar Thermal to generate 6 GW. Prabably bump that up to 10 km x10 km to double the capacity to help cover for lower capacity factors in colder months. You would want at least 20 hours thermal storage and of course fossil fuel backup would be required to help balance the grid load, mainly wind and gas, then clean coal if required. That’s about 7 km x 7 km of Solar Thermal to generate 6 GW. Prabably bump that up to 10 km x10 km to double the capacity to help cover for lower capacity factors in colder months. You would want at least 20 hours thermal storage and of course fossil fuel backup would be required to help balance the grid load, mainly wind and gas, then clean coal if required.

]]> By: RobC http://www.sustainableenergyblog.org/posts/2007/11/11/victorias-total-power-needs-in-50-square-kms/comment-page-1/#comment-135 RobC Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:08:23 +0000 http://www.sustainableenergyblog.org/posts/2007/11/11/victorias-total-power-needs-in-50-square-kms/#comment-135 Here's another article explaining the power density per unit of land of Ausra's 177MW solar thermal plant; 2-2.5 acres per megawatt. http://www.redherring.com/Home/23116 Here’s another article explaining the power density per unit of land of Ausra’s 177MW solar thermal plant; 2-2.5 acres per megawatt.

http://www.redherring.com/Home/23116

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