It appears that every type of power generation system in Texas was not properly designed to deal with cold weather. I'm not sure I would consider any of the performance "better than expected". Wind power output dropped dramatically.
Posted on 02/17/2021 6:13:45 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
WASHINGTON — A devastating winter storm that has plunged Texas into an electricity crisis offers warning signs for the U.S. as the Biden administration seeks to prepare for a future in which extreme weather is a greater risk and America is almost entirely powered by renewable energy.
Energy generation is one challenge. But an equally daunting task centers on storing power from renewable energy for extreme events like the one hammering Texas.
Wind and solar, still fairly small slices of the state's energy mix, played only a minimal role in the sudden power shortage, utility officials said — contrary to a wave of conservative critics who tried to falsely pin blame for the situation on renewable energy.
Still, the Texas crisis is a wake-up call that exposes how the U.S. electric infrastructure may not be fully prepared to absorb steep climate-related spikes in demand for power. The challenge is likely to grow deeper as the U.S. relies more on wind and solar power.
Electric grid regulators said the U.S. will have to develop vast supplies of power storage — such as gigantic batteries — that rely on emerging technologies that have only recently started becoming economical and feasible on a large scale.
The picture of what went wrong in Texas is incomplete. But while some wind generators did go offline as turbines iced over, the state's largest grid said the shortage was driven by a failure not of renewable sources but of traditional "thermal" sources: coal, nuclear and especially natural gas.
Although no single weather event can be attributed solely to climate change, the deadly cold that slammed Texas was the latest reminder of how weather extremes can push the delicate web of power generators and transmission lines that make up our electric grid past its breaking point.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
3). Renewable energy...... there is no such thing
Occasional freak weather and powerful storms are as old as the planet you fools.
"The surge in demand during the storm outpaced the grid operator's highest estimate of just over 67,000 megawatts needed for an extreme peak load. And 34,000 megawatts were kicked offline, diminishing supply, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said."
How does one "scientifically" manage the system if the measures don't match?
You have to have the reliable sources at the ready for cases like this.
A backup, if you will. Like duh! When not necessary, use the renewables.
It’s a bit more expensive, but obviously worth the effort.
So the powers that be in texas energy are blaming the people who use gas to heat their homes for the power plants that produce electricity but(powered by gas? ) failing?
Did I get that right?
Don’t just blame leftists.
Greg Abbott was all up in this mess with his constant appeasement to the politically correct.
Probably near the size of that ball of fire in the sky.
Windmills freezing over was better than expected?
Just how big would a battery have to be to be able to keep a state as large as Texas in power?
****************
Just a guess..
About the size of the USA and then that may not be large
enough to supply but for a few hours at best.
Wow.
ChiComcast is really pulling out all the stops.
How do solar panels covered in snow produce electricity?
It appears that every type of power generation system in Texas was not properly designed to deal with cold weather. I'm not sure I would consider any of the performance "better than expected". Wind power output dropped dramatically.
Partially. Reportedly the gas suppliers consider residential gas delivery more important than supplying power plants, which makes sense. So when the supply of natural gas ran low they shut down supplies to power plants while keeping residential gas supplies working.
“Wind and solar fail as significant producers”
Not really. Just occasionally, which is why you need coal plants ready as a backup. See my previous post.
It’s a little more expensive, but it would have been worth it in this case.
Freezing air with no heat is NOT fun. Been there, done that.
2019 data
Production is but one segment of the power system.
“How do solar panels covered in snow produce electricity?”
How about putting windshield wipers on them?
like, duh. Sometimes solutions are easier than they seem.
Looks like a simple solution to me.
😂😂😂 Hilarious 🤣
How about putting windshield wipers on them?
*************
Where they gonna get the power after the sun goes down? They
have to be kept clean during the night or snow/ice will build up
on them.
“What types of electricity are generated in Texas? Natural-gas-fired power plants generated 40% of Texas’s electricity in 2020, according to Ercot, the largest single source. Wind turbines were second at 23%, followed by coal at 18% and nuclear at 11%”
Natural-gas-fired power plants generated 40%
Wind turbines were second at 23%
coal at 18%
nuclear at 11%
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