TV pickup
Encyclopedia
Television pickup is a phenomenon affecting the British
National Grid electricity transmission network. As the British public tend to watch the same TV
programmes and take advantage of breaks in these programmes to operate electrical appliances (particularly kettles) they cause large, synchronised surges in electricity consumption. National Grid staff devote considerable resources to predicting and providing electricity supply for these events which typically impose an extra demand of around 200-400 megawatts (MW) on the Grid. Short term supply tends to be found from pumped storage reservoirs
, which can be quickly brought online, backed up by the slower fossil fuel and nuclear power stations. The largest ever pickup was on 4 July 1990 when a 2800MW demand was imposed by the ending of the penalty shootout in the England v West Germany FIFA World Cup semi-final. In addition to pickups the Grid also prepares for synchronised switch-offs during remembrance and energy awareness events.
s and the opening of fridge doors by millions of people. The phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the UK as the British people, more than any other, traditionally watch the same television programmes. The introduction of a wider range of TV channels is mitigating the effect but it remains a large concern for the National Grid operators.
There are typically several large peaks in energy use caused by TV pickup during each day dependant on TV schedules, the day of the week and weather. The largest pickup of the day is usually at 21.00 when several popular TV programmes end or go to commercial breaks. The most popular programmes, hence those giving the greatest pickup are soap
s, sporting events, reality tv and royal wedding
s. A typical TV pickup imposes an extra demand of 2-400 megawatts with larger soap storylines bringing around 7-800 MW.
across the Grid (locally the voltage may also be affected due to changes in reactive power flows). The National Grid Energy Balancing Team is responsible for ensuring an adequate supply of electricity and try to ensure a frequency of between 49.5 and 50.5Hz is maintained. In order to prepare for pickups they run a computer program that compares the current day with corresponding periods over the past five years to predict the size of demand.
It is important to predict demand as precisely as possible as the Grid is not capable of storing electricity in large quantities and all power stations have a lead-in time before generation can begin. The Balancing Team attempt to meet short term fluctuations with "fast reserves" that are quick to come online, backed up with longer term fossil fuel
-based "balance mechanism units". The shortest lead-in times are on pumped storage reservoirs
, such as the Dinorwig power station
that has the fastest response time of any pumped storage station in the world at just 12 seconds to produce 1320MW. Once the longer term fossil fuel stations, which have response times around half an hour, and nuclear power stations, which can take even longer, come online then pumped storage stations can be turned off and the water returned to the reservoir.
International football finals are a particular problem as research has shown that 71% of the British people will watch them at home instead of at a public event with other people. National Grid had predicted a pickup of around 3000MW, equivalent to 1.2 million kettles being turned on at once, if England made the later stages of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
National Grid also plans for the opposite effect, a co-ordinated mass switch-off of appliances. At midday on 5 January 2005 a three minutes silence in remembrance of the Boxing Day Tsunami resulted in a 1300MW temporary drop in consumption followed by a sudden 1400MW rise. Similar, though smaller, switch-offs occur annually at 11 am on Remembrance Day
. These switch-offs occur during the day time, so they are smaller than pickups seen at night when more electrical appliances are likely to be in use. National Grid argued against the mass switch-off originally planned for the Live Earth
and Planet Aid
events as these would have resulted in highly unpredictable demands for electricity and would have generated more carbon dioxide
than would have been saved. These events were subsequently cancelled.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
National Grid electricity transmission network. As the British public tend to watch the same TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programmes and take advantage of breaks in these programmes to operate electrical appliances (particularly kettles) they cause large, synchronised surges in electricity consumption. National Grid staff devote considerable resources to predicting and providing electricity supply for these events which typically impose an extra demand of around 200-400 megawatts (MW) on the Grid. Short term supply tends to be found from pumped storage reservoirs
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is a type of hydroelectric power generation used by some power plants for load balancing. The method stores energy in the form of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. Low-cost off-peak electric power is used to run the pumps...
, which can be quickly brought online, backed up by the slower fossil fuel and nuclear power stations. The largest ever pickup was on 4 July 1990 when a 2800MW demand was imposed by the ending of the penalty shootout in the England v West Germany FIFA World Cup semi-final. In addition to pickups the Grid also prepares for synchronised switch-offs during remembrance and energy awareness events.
Cause
TV pickups occur during breaks in popular television programmes and are a surge in demand caused by the boiling of kettleKettle
A kettle, sometimes called a tea kettle or teakettle, is a small kitchen appliance used for boiling water. Kettles can be heated either by placing on a stove, or by their own electric heating element.- Stovetop kettles :...
s and the opening of fridge doors by millions of people. The phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the UK as the British people, more than any other, traditionally watch the same television programmes. The introduction of a wider range of TV channels is mitigating the effect but it remains a large concern for the National Grid operators.
There are typically several large peaks in energy use caused by TV pickup during each day dependant on TV schedules, the day of the week and weather. The largest pickup of the day is usually at 21.00 when several popular TV programmes end or go to commercial breaks. The most popular programmes, hence those giving the greatest pickup are soap
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s, sporting events, reality tv and royal wedding
Royal Wedding
Royal Wedding is a 1951 Hollywood musical comedy film known for Fred Astaire's dance performance on a ceiling and another with a coat rack. The story is set in London in 1947 at the time of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and stars Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford, Sarah...
s. A typical TV pickup imposes an extra demand of 2-400 megawatts with larger soap storylines bringing around 7-800 MW.
Response
A sudden increase in demand, unmatched by an increase in supply, causes a drop in the mains frequencyUtility frequency
The utility frequency, line frequency or mains frequency is the frequency at which alternating current is transmitted from a power plant to the end-user. In most parts of the world this is 50 Hz, although in the Americas it is typically 60 Hz...
across the Grid (locally the voltage may also be affected due to changes in reactive power flows). The National Grid Energy Balancing Team is responsible for ensuring an adequate supply of electricity and try to ensure a frequency of between 49.5 and 50.5Hz is maintained. In order to prepare for pickups they run a computer program that compares the current day with corresponding periods over the past five years to predict the size of demand.
Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years...
-based "balance mechanism units". The shortest lead-in times are on pumped storage reservoirs
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is a type of hydroelectric power generation used by some power plants for load balancing. The method stores energy in the form of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. Low-cost off-peak electric power is used to run the pumps...
, such as the Dinorwig power station
Dinorwig power station
The Dinorwig Power Station is a pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme, near Dinorwig, Llanberis in Snowdonia national park in Gwynedd, north Wales...
that has the fastest response time of any pumped storage station in the world at just 12 seconds to produce 1320MW. Once the longer term fossil fuel stations, which have response times around half an hour, and nuclear power stations, which can take even longer, come online then pumped storage stations can be turned off and the water returned to the reservoir.
Records
The largest TV pickups recorded are:| Pickup demand | Date | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 2800MW | 4 July 1990 | England v West Germany FIFA World Cup semi-final penalty shootout |
| 2600MW | 22 January 1984 | The Thorn Birds The Thorn Birds (TV miniseries) The Thorn Birds is a television mini-series broadcast on ABC between 27 and 30 March 1983. It starred Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Barbara Stanwyck, Christopher Plummer, Richard Kiley, Bryan Brown, Mare Winningham, Philip Anglim and Jean Simmons... |
| 2570MW | 21 June 2002 | England v Brazil FIFA World Cup quarter-final |
| 2400MW | 29 April 2011 | Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton The wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, first met Catherine Middleton in 2001, when both were studying at the University of St Andrews. Their... |
| 2290MW | 5 April 2001 | EastEnders EastEnders EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End... |
International football finals are a particular problem as research has shown that 71% of the British people will watch them at home instead of at a public event with other people. National Grid had predicted a pickup of around 3000MW, equivalent to 1.2 million kettles being turned on at once, if England made the later stages of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
National Grid also plans for the opposite effect, a co-ordinated mass switch-off of appliances. At midday on 5 January 2005 a three minutes silence in remembrance of the Boxing Day Tsunami resulted in a 1300MW temporary drop in consumption followed by a sudden 1400MW rise. Similar, though smaller, switch-offs occur annually at 11 am on Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
. These switch-offs occur during the day time, so they are smaller than pickups seen at night when more electrical appliances are likely to be in use. National Grid argued against the mass switch-off originally planned for the Live Earth
Live Earth
-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...
and Planet Aid
Planet Aid
Planet Aid is a non-profit organization that collects and sells donated clothing and shoes to support sustainable development in impoverished communities around the world...
events as these would have resulted in highly unpredictable demands for electricity and would have generated more carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
than would have been saved. These events were subsequently cancelled.
See also
- National Grid Reserve Service
- Load managementLoad managementLoad management is the process of balancing the supply of electricity on the network with the electrical load by adjusting or controlling the load rather than the power station output...
- Control of the National Grid
- Energy in the United Kingdom