Energy cannot be stored in generators.
You can run generators below their maximum output so that they can quickly be used to deliver more power. But that means normally running a 1,000 MW generator at something like 800 MW. Typically their efficiency is at fully loaded conditions so this spare capacity comes with extra cost during normal operations.
I didn’t know that either. So much I don’t know. How is solar energy stored then?
True: The steam power plants I work at try to run (baseload) at 99- 100 percent capacity. When the utilities anticipate (late afternoons and mornings) the usual increase in demands, they start up their gas turbine generators (which are usually more expensive to run) for those few hours. A modern gas turbine can be lit off and at load within 20-30 minutes of requirement notification. BUT ...
The problem with wind generators is that you CANNOT start and stop these steam plants (which require 4- 12 hours to come up on line!) that way: BUT with wind turbines, their whole load may irregularly (!) cut on and off load over whole regions of the state at the same time. So nearly 100% of the windmill’s power requires an equal amount of standby (expensive, wasteful) RUNNING conventional power at the same time.
It is this 3-12% AVAILABILITY RATE of wind power that the Gore enviro’s REFUSE to address in their green-happy environmental dreams.
And, of course, if you want power out from a machine 20% effective, you have to build 5 TIMES as many wind turbines over huge regions of the country to ASSUMER you are going ONE machine’s rated power.