> While most nuclear power plants in operation as of early 2000's were already designed with strong load following capabilities, they might have not been used as such
Again. Very, very VERY slowly:
--- start quote ---
Nuclear power plants in France and in Germany operate in load-following mode
--- end quote ---
And these countries have more power plants than the rest of Europe.
If you bothered to read the report, and not just wikipedia, you'd see graphs for plants built as early as 1978 happily operating in load-following mode. E.g. Unterweser, commissioned in 1978, operated between 700 MW and 1400 MW per day in load-following mode. Same for Grohnde (commissioned in 1984). Etc.
Again. Very, very VERY slowly:
--- start quote ---
Nuclear power plants in France and in Germany operate in load-following mode
--- end quote ---
And these countries have more power plants than the rest of Europe.
If you bothered to read the report, and not just wikipedia, you'd see graphs for plants built as early as 1978 happily operating in load-following mode. E.g. Unterweser, commissioned in 1978, operated between 700 MW and 1400 MW per day in load-following mode. Same for Grohnde (commissioned in 1984). Etc.