See my post "Large-scale Renewable Energy" + Isolated Grid System = Energy Peril (for Texas) That post is still basically true but I had no data for the amount of wind power in Texas. Turns out that it's HUGE. But it's highly, highly variable-- just like solar.
Data from Casend at Zero Hedge:
Wind provides up to ~50% of Texas power at times---probably in late afternoon windy conditions when demand is peak (in summer) -- but don't quote me on this. But wind power is HIGHLY variable as you might guess.
During the great freeze of 2021, iced-up turbine blades affected some 60% of the wind turbines and put them out of business when they were needed most. Natural gas took up the load but it too faltered somewhat with intense and frigid conditions.
Wind
failed when it was needed most. Natural gas substituted but then it
failed somewhat. Not enough natural gas-fueled generation is the most obvious problem. The texas grid ERCOT grid being isolated from the rest of the
US was a killer too. Places outside of ERCOT (the Texas Grid), like El Paso, didn't have
any problems for example. See "Large-scale Renewable Energy" + Isolated Grid System = Energy Peril (for Texas) to see the ERCOT grid boundary and the following recommendations:
The lesson for Texas (and the world) is that, if you adopt wind and
solar at levels of 5, 10 or 15% of the total power generation (or more),
or if you have potential problems with older, conventional power
supplies, you had better have:
- adequate backup power in terms of quick-starting gas turbine generators or other responsive fossil fuel generation available and/or,
- Increase the number of new conventional or nuclear power plants that aren't affected by severe weather, or
- Increase
the ability to import power should there be a supply shortage by better
grid connections to neighboring states like Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas and
Louisiana (in the case of Texas) and,
- Similarly, you had better be able to sell power to other states should the supply of energy EXCEED demand due to the renewables. Although natural gas generation adjusts with the wide variation in wind output during normal times (99% of the time).
- Pony-up big bucks for energy storage meaning batteries (impractical at this time).
Yes they did, fail Texas. Big time. Just like California. If anybody ever wants to get their eyes open that doesn’t live in the state of California, then go read comments out of folks that live inside the state of California in the WSJ. You don’t have to be a paying member to read comments but you do if you want to post a comment.
ReplyDeleteThere are many things I like about the Wall Street Journal and one is this, to post a comment you have to use your real name and location for them to approve you to log comments. This cuts out the trolls 99%. All you have to do is look at any article that has to do with green energy then scroll down to the comments and you will get your eyes opened.
BIIIIIIG TIME. You will read comment after comment of what these people suffer through now every summer in late summer and spring. How many times they lose power due to mandatory brown / black outs. Starting last year and going forward now each year, the state of California is making their citizens go on a rotating brown & black out. Regardless if your area likes it or not.
Here’s how it is going to work and several commenters out of the state of California has showed me the chart and where to find it on Pacific gas and electric website. You will be without juice from 6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours to 24 hours. Out of a full 7 day week, you will have juice for a 24 hour period for? 72 hours. THAT. IS. IT.
P.S. Nothing is going to change in California until people get it in their head to stop voting back in office sorry ass pieces of pure dog shit extreme far left politicians. Fascist/statist/totalitarian politicians that run under the political moniker of, Democrat. Which this party no longer exist because there is nothing “democratic” about them anymore.
Outstanding comments!!
ReplyDeleteOMG, that is a real shocker to read about California. I had no idea that it was THAT bad! It's like a 3rd world---maybe worse!!
Think about it. In my life, there's been an accurate saying that "California leads the country. Whatever is happening in California is coming to the whole country." I suspect it's still true if you think that we EVEN STILL HAVE A COUNTRY---which is seriously in doubt as the Capitol is occupied by military force to keep the evil, violent conservatives (white supremacists) out! Totally illegitament, lying c*cks#ckers!
Yeah, any country with the name "Democratic Republic of..." is ANYTHING BUT democratic.