An electric power network is like a troop of acrobats, spinning plates on the ends of long sticks. It’s a nerve-wracking experience. If a heckler started throwing in extra plates, the troop could handle one or two at a time, but not whole stacks!
Wind-farms are subsidized by the Government to play the heckler role, and expect us to pay the heckler for it. Networks must maintain “spinning reserve,” ready at all times to cover for a large plant that might drop out unexpectedly. That’s like having a few extra spinners with only a couple of plates, standing by for the sole purpose of picking up any plates about to drop unexpectedly. In that situation, the availability of more power, without knowing when or how much, is a problem, not an asset. There is talk among utilities of charging, rather than paying for, such unwanted power.
In addition, a network handling wind-power must have all its lines and switchgear designed for the peak load that would occur if all the windmills were generating at full capacity, which will probably never happen. The output of wind-farms is 20-30%, compared with nuclear’s 90%.
Why do we pour tax money, energy and creativity into paleo-technologies like wind and sunshine?
I think the analogy of a heckler for renewable wind and solar power is fairly accurate. Wind and solar are supplementary energy sources and should not be counted the same as nuclear and fossil energy sources which have high availability.
Posted by: Robert Steinhaus | August 05, 2009 at 12:59 PM
My question for advocates of wind and solar energy is - have you ever tried to use them yourself? Was the experience one that you would want to repeat? How much effort do you really want grid operators to invest in order to provide the high quality power that we all want available 24 x 7 while still integrating unreliable, weather dependent sources like wind and solar power?
I have come to the conclusion that the only reason that we are being sold wind and solar power is that they make lots of money for very powerful interests without threatening the income or power base of the people that find, extract, transport and sell coal, oil and natural gas.
Posted by: Rod Adams | August 09, 2009 at 06:44 AM
we are being sold wind and solar power because the people that find, extract, transport and sell coal, oil and natural gas doesn't want any threat to fossil energy sources .
Posted by: elgatoso | August 09, 2009 at 06:44 PM
It's so nice to have you do all of the research for us. It makes our decision making so much easier!! Thanks.
Posted by: MBT Online | August 11, 2011 at 06:48 AM