Diablo Canyon also provides synchronous grid stability, which solar and wind cannot provide. April 28, 2025, Spain’s grid collapsed for up to 16 hours due to insufficient grid stability which is provided by spinning generators which may weigh hundreds of tons and provide the mechanical flywheels that maintain 60 cycle AC power accurately as loads are added or taken off the grid. The electronics which convert direct current from solar, wind, or batteries to grid alternating current (AC) can follow the AC but cannot effectively provide grid inertia. The grid has thousands of power sources and loads. Safety equipment on each of these will disconnect from the grid if voltage or AC frequency strays beyond narrow limits to protect the local system. Without enough large mechanical spinning generators to provide mechanical to electrical inertia, normal load fluctuations will cause one or more local systems to disconnect. This fails faster than dominoes failing and rapidly disconnects all the power sources from the grid. This is nerdy knowledge and does not contribute to the most important job in politics: reelection. Thus, in Spain many explanations have been proposed for April 28, 2025, no one wants to take responsibility for this gigantic design failure.
Thank you for your observations. As an intervenor before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Californians for Green Nuclear Power, Inc (CGNP) has been raising the issue of Diablo Canyon's irreplaceable synchronous grid inertia for more than two years. Our most recent article regarding this topic is "When the Lights Went Out in Spain — And Why California Should Pay Attention," Brad Panike and Gene Nelson, Ph.D. 31 May 2026. https://kilovar1959.substack.com/cp/200008271
As background for the recent article, please also see: "Why is Grid Inertia Important? Without sufficient synchronous grid inertia, the grid becomes unstable and a blackout occurs," By Gene Nelson, Ph.D., March 4, 2024, GreenNUKE Substack. https://greennuke.substack.com/p/why-is-grid-inertia-important
Thanks. In this case, "bigger is better." About a million pounds precisely spinning at 1,800 RPM in each generator is irreplaceable. Diablo Canyon has a pair of generators.
Diablo Canyon also provides synchronous grid stability, which solar and wind cannot provide. April 28, 2025, Spain’s grid collapsed for up to 16 hours due to insufficient grid stability which is provided by spinning generators which may weigh hundreds of tons and provide the mechanical flywheels that maintain 60 cycle AC power accurately as loads are added or taken off the grid. The electronics which convert direct current from solar, wind, or batteries to grid alternating current (AC) can follow the AC but cannot effectively provide grid inertia. The grid has thousands of power sources and loads. Safety equipment on each of these will disconnect from the grid if voltage or AC frequency strays beyond narrow limits to protect the local system. Without enough large mechanical spinning generators to provide mechanical to electrical inertia, normal load fluctuations will cause one or more local systems to disconnect. This fails faster than dominoes failing and rapidly disconnects all the power sources from the grid. This is nerdy knowledge and does not contribute to the most important job in politics: reelection. Thus, in Spain many explanations have been proposed for April 28, 2025, no one wants to take responsibility for this gigantic design failure.
Thank you for your observations. As an intervenor before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Californians for Green Nuclear Power, Inc (CGNP) has been raising the issue of Diablo Canyon's irreplaceable synchronous grid inertia for more than two years. Our most recent article regarding this topic is "When the Lights Went Out in Spain — And Why California Should Pay Attention," Brad Panike and Gene Nelson, Ph.D. 31 May 2026. https://kilovar1959.substack.com/cp/200008271
As background for the recent article, please also see: "Why is Grid Inertia Important? Without sufficient synchronous grid inertia, the grid becomes unstable and a blackout occurs," By Gene Nelson, Ph.D., March 4, 2024, GreenNUKE Substack. https://greennuke.substack.com/p/why-is-grid-inertia-important
You bet. If it spins and makes alternating current without a subsidy…build it.
Thanks. In this case, "bigger is better." About a million pounds precisely spinning at 1,800 RPM in each generator is irreplaceable. Diablo Canyon has a pair of generators.