Power Generation/Variable Load/Part5

The power grid is constructed by connecting several generating stations together in parallel. This method has helped solve most transmission and distribution problems facing power engineers. Below are the advantages of using a power grid:

Sharing of load among stations allows for more efficient stations to work constantly at high load factors and less efficient stations to be used for peak supply only.
 * Economical operation:

Different stations have different load curves thus the total maximum demand of the system is decreased, thus effectively increasing the diversity factor of the system.
 * Increased diversity factor:

The stand-by capacity required of individual plants is reduced when they are interconnected in a grid.
 * Reduces Plant Reserve Capacity:

If major breakdown occurs on one station, supply is maintained by other stations.
 * Increased reliability:

Excess load can be shared from highly stressed plants to plant with lower peak loads ( Identified from load curves ).
 * Exchange of peak loads:

Older plants which are less efficient can still be used to carry peak loads of short durations.
 * Older plants can still be used: