A pretty visualisation of the European power grid (2022)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Visualization & Related Tools

  • Many praise the “Copper Sushi” map as visually impressive and educational about power flows and grid complexity.
  • Several compare it to ElectricityMaps and other dashboards (gridwatch, energygraph, ENTSO‑E, etc.):
    • ElectricityMaps is better for real-time mix and CO₂ intensity.
    • Copper Sushi shows finer-grained transmission networks and simulated power flows.
    • It’s based on PyPSA-Eur with modeled, not actual, plant outputs; some generation and grid elements are missing or outdated.

Grid Physics, Trade, and Measurement

  • Discussion on how imports/exports are determined on a synchronized grid:
    • Technically, flows across interconnectors are directly measured (current, voltage, vector product).
    • Market-wise, there’s a regulated trading system; physical flows can differ from commercial trades.
  • Europe has multiple synchronous areas; Baltics are leaving the Russian/Belarus BRELL grid to join the continental system.

Nuclear vs Renewables (France, Germany, Costs, Emissions)

  • Strong debate around France’s nuclear-heavy mix vs Germany’s renewable-heavy but coal/gas‑backed mix:
    • France: low CO₂ intensity (often cited as ~40–50 gCO₂/kWh), majority of electricity from nuclear; exports to neighbors; some argue nuclear was crucial for Europe’s emissions.
    • Germany: high renewables share but still heavy coal/lignite use, much higher CO₂ intensity; critics call Energiewende slow and dirty, defenders emphasize long-term downward trends and nuclear phase‑out as democratic choice.
  • Disagreement on nuclear economics:
    • Some cite LCOE data showing nuclear 3× cost of wind/solar in EU/US; others cite French and Canadian experience with amortized fleets as cheap and stable.
    • New builds like Flamanville EPR seen as cautionary examples (delays, overruns); others argue costs would drop with serial construction and regained expertise.
  • Waste and fuel concerns:
    • Critics point to finite uranium and lack of “safe” waste solution.
    • Pro‑nuclear voices respond that current waste practices have had no major accidents and uranium constraints are distant.

Storage, Electrification, and Flexibility

  • Some argue we could cut most developed‑world emissions by electrifying heating and transport, if electricity is low‑carbon.
  • Counterpoint: large-scale storage is a hard unsolved problem; claims range from needing “weeks” of storage to studies suggesting less.
  • Others note:
    • Nighttime EV charging and thermal storage (water, sand, larger boilers) can shift loads without massive grid batteries.
    • Pumped hydro, especially in Alpine regions, already acts as a large “battery,” though good sites are limited.

UI/UX and Technical Feedback

  • Mixed reactions to 3D map tilt: some like it, others find it disorienting; workarounds (right‑click drag, key combos, multi‑touch) are shared.
  • Performance issues and missing plant names/data (e.g., closed plants still shown) are noted.

Security and Miscellaneous

  • Light concern about publishing infrastructure maps; others respond that models ≠ territory and such data is already broadly available.
  • Observations on EV uptake in Nordic/Baltic countries, and how cheap, clean electricity and good infrastructure support high adoption.