[okie01]

Another valid point that the writer could make:

Wind energy and solar energy both need to be fully backed-up by conventional energy sources -- for those times when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. Each and every watt generated by a wind turbine or a solar array must be backed-up by a watt of coal- or natural gas- or nuclear-generated power.

Not exactly the model of efficiency, no?

Regarding wind generation in West Texas, the month of highest electricity consumption in the Southwest is August (air conditioners, doncha know). And when is the wind least likely to blow in West Texas?

That's right. August.

[J Aguilar]

Wind energy and solar energy both need to be fully backed-up by conventional energy sources -- for those times when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. Each and every watt generated by a wind turbine or a solar array must be backed-up by a watt of coal- or natural gas- or nuclear-generated power.

Nuclear generated power cannot follow the instantaneous ups and downs of wind production: for that purpouse gas turbines are utilized which may explain the interest of certain groups in windmills and why the last wind lobby meeting was held in Texas. That is, wind energy is the cover up of the oil industry to step into the electricity market.

Another question when wind farms expand is the possibility of a cascade failure due to dips in the grid: when a dip occurs, the proteccions of the asynchronous generators used in windmills disconnect them to avoid damage in the rotor. Its sudden disconnection increases the dip, which triggers neighbouring protecctions. In the end, whole windfarms collapse and the entire grid may follow if there is not enough spare capacity.

Although the problem can be solved with more power electronic equipment (which increases the cost of the wind turbine), the truth is that wind is not an adequate source of power in most places.

[El Gato]

Each and every watt generated by a wind turbine or a solar array must be backed-up by a watt of coal- or natural gas- or nuclear-generated power.

Well not exactly. For one thing, since the wind energy generators are distributed rather than at a single location, it's unlikely that all will be down at the same time. (Not true for solar of course, since it's dark over very large regions at the same time.) Secondly there is storage.

You generate more than you need when the wind blows or the sun shines. You use the surplus to pump water uphill into a reservoir. Then when you need it, you let the water run down through the water turbines (which may be the same machines as the pumps, just running in the "other direction").

Pumped storage is in use today, although it's generally used to make use of nuclear or other "base load" capacity during times of lower consumption, such as at night. A nuclear plant, and to a lessor extent large fossil fueled plants, don't "like" to have their output changed frequently. They like to run at a steady output, preferably something close to maximum.