Energy Prices in Europe Hit Records After Wind Stops Blowing

WSJ ^ | Sept. 13, 2021 | By Joe Wallace

[11th_VA]

Heavy reliance on wind power, coupled with a shortage of natural gas, has led to a spike in energy prices

Natural gas and electricity markets were already surging in Europe when a fresh catalyst emerged: The wind in the stormy North Sea stopped blowing.

The sudden slowdown in wind-driven electricity production off the coast of the U.K. in recent weeks whipsawed through regional energy markets. Gas and coal-fired electricity plants were called in to make up the shortfall from wind.

Natural-gas prices, already boosted by the pandemic recovery and a lack of fuel in storage caverns and tanks, hit all-time highs. Thermal coal, long shunned for its carbon emissions, has emerged from a long price slump as utilities are forced to turn on backup power sources.

The episode underscored the precarious state the region’s energy markets face heading into the long European winter. The electricity price shock was most acute in the U.K., which has leaned on wind farms to eradicate net carbon emissions by 2050. Prices for carbon credits, which electricity producers need to burn fossil fuels, are at records, too...

[11th_VA]

What could possibly go wrong ? Lol

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Wind Power is a Complete Disaster

https://www.law.utoronto.ca/blog/faculty/wind-power-complete-disaster

[beethovenfan]

Paging Kamel-toe

[God luvs America]

its going to be funny when they blame this on climate change.

[MAGAthon]

16 Sept: WattsUpWithThat: Renewable Britain Undersea Cable Failure Sends Electricity Prices Soaring
by Eric Worrall
h/t Observa; Britain may face the embarrassment of being forced to ramp up coal power during Glasgow COP26, as a critical undersea cable failure has cut the ability of imported French nuclear power to help maintain the fantasy that Britain’s renewable heavy electricity grid is fit for purpose...

This new PR and energy supply disaster comes hot on the heels of recent claims that Britain withdrew hardline climate demands in the free trade agreement being negotiated with Australia...
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/09/16/renewable-britain-undersea-cable-failure-sends-electricity-prices-soaring/

[Paladin2]

It’s not Green Energy, It’s Black[Death] Energy.

[blackdog]

Inequitable wind justice. (Breezy Lives Matter) when the wind runs your house.

[Steely Tom]

Vladimir Putin is smiling.

"Hey Melania, how about watching Dancing With The Stars."

"Oh sorry honey, the wind's not blowing!"

— President Donald Trump

[Paladin2]

Trump is quite the polished Troll of The Left.

But one of his best qualities.

[Steely Tom]

They can't tolerate being laughed at, it drives them bonkers.

That's why they hated Rush Limbaugh.

[Rebelbase]

Obviously this is a climate change problem requiring a $100 billion fix.

[EvilCapitalist]

I’ll help the euroweenies out by farting in their general direction.

[nascarnation]

Anybody dependent on big wind or big solar for keeping warm this winter best lay in a stout supply of firewood.

[NetAddicted]

Peruse later.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Is there no coal? Are there no mines? Are there no miners?

[FreedomPoster]

You can’t run modern civilization on wind and solar. Can’t be done, but the Green extremists have brainwashed a large percentage that you can. It will not end well, and will hurt the poor the most. Energy poverty in Europe is a thing.

[spokeshave]

Wind farm blades in the dumpster

Them and Solar Cells are difficult if not impossible to "recycle"

Many acres worth of first generation solar cells headed for the land fill.

There is no evidence that industrial wind power is likely to have a significant impact on carbon emissions. The European experience is instructive.

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).

Flemming Nissen, the head of development at West Danish generating company ELSAM (one of Denmark's largest energy utilities) tells us that "wind turbines do not reduce carbon dioxide emissions." The German experience is no different. Der Spiegel reports that "Germany's CO2 emissions haven't been reduced by even a single gram," and additional coal-and gas-fired plants have been constructed to ensure reliable delivery.

Indeed, recent academic research shows that wind power may actually increase greenhouse gas emissions in some cases, depending on the carbon-intensity of back-up generation required because of its intermittent character.

On the negative side of the environmental ledger are adverse impacts of industrial wind turbines on birdlife and other forms of wildlife, farm animals, wetlands and viewsheds.

Suck it up Greenies.

[Fungi]

Bingo. A false premise is always at the root of calamity. Energy is abundant, it is the ecocommies that want to destroy our freedom.

[metmom]

We’re laying in the stash of firewood in spite of having full heating oil tanks and a full propane tank.

Can’t be too prepared.

[nascarnation]

Asian borers killed all the ash trees here in Indiana so that hardwood is in good supply currently.