From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 13-Apr-14 16:32, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:   
   > On Sunday, April 13, 2014 4:39:49 PM UTC-4, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
   >> Nukes have high fixed costs and low variable costs, so you want to   
   >> run them at full power 24x7. ...   
   >   
   > I don't understand.  All that means is that if you reduce output,   
   > you're not saving all that much money in fuel costs.   
      
   You save a little on fuel, but that's a negligible cost overall.   
      
   > But by your statement, you then must spend money to absorb excess   
   > power.   
      
   You don't want to "absorb" excess power; you want to shift it from   
   off-peak periods to peak periods, which can be done relatively cheaply   
   and easily with pumped storage.  That keeps your expensive nuke   
   operating (and making profits) 24x7 yet allows you to vary _net_ output   
   to match demand.   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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