Explain this

[JohnMo]

1 hour ago, Dillsue said:

When they know in advance then that's probably true.

 

 

4 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

gas peakers were there precisely because they could be started and stopped quickly

Several sorts of turbine. Aero derivative gas turbine, basically go through gas purge cycle to ensure any free gas evacuated from the turbine enclosure and the turbine itself.  This can be 1 to 5 minutes, then will go into a start cycle and take full load almost immediately.

 

Industrial turbines, a similar process, but takes longer to take full load

 

Combined cycle turbine (gas turbine and steam turbine combined into a single package) is pretty much the same as above for the gas turbine side, but the steam side of the plant takes quite some time as stated by @Dillsue says. But will output about 50% load until the steam plant comes online - depending on exact package.