Get used to it, punks!
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My X GROK 3 AI ask:
What percent of power generation in the UK is wind and solar, described as intermittent and unreliable?
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In 2024, wind and solar power accounted for approximately 34.3% of the UK’s electricity generation, with wind contributing 29.4% and solar 4.9%. These figures come from data on the UK’s renewable energy mix, where wind and solar are significant but variable sources.
The characterization of wind and solar as “intermittent and unreliable” stems from their dependence on weather conditions, which can lead to fluctuations in output. For instance, wind power generation can drop during periods of low wind speed, and solar power is limited during cloudy weather or nighttime. Studies note that extreme low-output events, such as compound wind and solar droughts, have increased in duration globally since 1980, though specific UK trends vary. Some sources argue this intermittency requires substantial backup systems, with estimates suggesting 15-90% reserve capacity depending on grid design and storage solutions. Others counter that modern forecasting and grid management, including battery storage and geographic dispersion, mitigate these issues, making “unreliable” an oversimplification.
Posts on X reflect polarized sentiment, with some claiming wind and solar contribute as little as 2-10% during low-output periods, highlighting reliance on gas (up to 57-70% at times). However, these are snapshots and not representative of annual averages. Critics of the “unreliable” label point out that fossil fuel plants also face economic intermittency due to fluctuating fuel costs, and renewables’ predictability has improved with advanced weather modeling.
The UK’s grid has managed variability through storage (1.3 GW of battery capacity in 2021), interconnections, and backup gas plants, though constraint payments for curtailing wind during high output (£224 million in 2020-21) indicate ongoing challenges. Overall, while wind and solar’s 34.3% share is substantial, their intermittency remains a debated factor in grid reliability, addressed through evolving technology and policy.web2
You know that AI hallucinates and makes things up, right?