Renewable Power Fail – As Usual – July 2010

PA Pundits International ^ | 18 Ocotber 2010 | TonyfromOz

[TonyfromOz]

A seemingly simple Load Curve for total power consumption is the most critical thing to look at when explaining why Wind Power and Solar Power cannot replace the power provided from large scale coal fired power plants. This most recent data also proves that when huge amounts of power are required, it comes from those traditional sources which increased their output, while wind and solar decreased the amount of power they supplied.

[Sacajaweau]

I remember when Al Gore was in. And I remember Hillary saying that this energy policy was to get young voters involved.

Now the problem with young energy nuts is that they don't know how to think for themselves. They run around in green shirts, collect bottles and cuddle animals.

They simply don't care that walking to the store "saves gas". That shutting the TV OFF, saves electric. And they aren't about to go to one pair of shoes, wrap the garbage in newspapers, sew their socks, use vinegar instead of windex....

They do what they're told because that's how you get to the next grade..and the next...and the next...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Wind power is a complete disaster

"Denmark, the world’s most wind-intensive nation, with more than 6,000 turbines generating 19% of its electricity, has yet to close a single fossil-fuel plant. It requires 50% more coal-generated electricity to cover wind power’s unpredictability, and pollution and carbon dioxide emissions have risen (by 36% in 2006 alone)."

The only people who benefit from wind energy are the turbine manufacturers, the construction companies and union members who build the windmills, and the investors who collect the federal energy subsidies. Taxpayers and energy consumers just get higher taxes, higher energy bills, and sanctimonious lectures on why their very existence is a burden to the earth and all of mankind.

[cicero2k]

A good blog, and good analysis. Only flaw is that he stoops to name calling at the end.

The fallacy of wind / solar as anything more than augmentation to a solid baseline must be stressed.

The author also points out that, counted in the slim production from renewables is the combustion of organic waste. This waste spews as much CO2 into the atmosphere as the natural gas sector which produces WAY more electricty, and when we need it.

[Ditto]

Tony, a couple of little bones to pick here, but overall, I agree that "renuables" are mostly pure BS and wind and solar will never solve anything.

That renewable sector has 5 sources and keep in mind that two of them burn fossil fuels, wood, and biomass, both also emitting CO2 at around the same rate as for natural gas.

Wood and biomass are not classified officially or unofficially as 'fossil' fuels. The wood part is mostly wood waste (saw dust, old pallets etc) that are generated in some other manufacturing process. The other can be things such as municipal or agricultural waste. Yes, they generate CO2 when burned, but it is Carbon that has recently been removed from the atmosphere so they are not considered net generators of CO2. They are neutral in that regard.

I'd also say to be careful on attributing the increase in natural gas MWh over any given period to anything other than the relative cost of natural gas. Current gas prices are low compared to recent history, and for that reason alone, utilities are running their gas fired combined cycle plants for more hours than they have in recent years.

As to base load power, the main fact to keep in mind is that the only way to supply it affordably is with a combination of coal and nuclear. Those two sources are both the least expensive and most economical for 24/7 operation. Start taking either of those away from the equation as the environmental zealots want, and electric prices will go through the roof while grid reliability will be seriously degraded.