-8c in texas ...thats gotta be a marketing topic?

[furrowtickler]

[dmlfarmer]

If you are willing to look at other possible reasons than just the failure of renewables for the power outages in Texas you should read the series of articles that the Washinton Post put out today. Start with https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/16/ercot-texas-electric-grid-failure/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/16/ercot-texas-electric-grid-failure/ . It is eye opening. And it actually admits some wind turbines froze up. But it makes the case that the biggest reason for the failures were the decline of the Texas electrical system and a failure to invest in infrastructure - similar to arguments made by posters here about the Saskatchewan power grid.

Consider these statements from the article: "But wind accounts for just 10 percent of the power in Texas generated during the winter. And the loss of power to the grid caused by shutdowns of thermal power plants, primarily those relying on natural gas, dwarfed the dent caused by frozen wind turbines, by a factor of five or six."

"In the single-digit temperatures, pipelines froze up because there was some moisture in the gas. Pumps slowed. Diesel engines to power the pumps refused to start. One power plant after another went offline. Even a reactor at one of the state’s two nuclear plants went dark, hobbled by frozen equipment."

"In Texas, production of natural gas Tuesday fell 6 billion to 7 billion cubic feet per day from earlier in the month"

Another view of Texas grid problems:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/02/16/winter-storm-live-updates/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/02/16/winter-storm-live-updates/

Texas Tribune article:
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/16/texas-wind-turbines-frozen/ https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/16/texas-wind-turbines-frozen/

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I wondered that, just can't dump generated amps in unlimited.

No, but if you pay your neighbors enough, they will take them off your hands. That is how Germany does it, selling excess to Norway, and by selling, that means paying them to take the excess.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

If you are willing to look at other possible reasons than just the failure of renewables for the power outages in Texas you should read the series of articles that the Washinton Post put out today. Start with https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/16/ercot-texas-electric-grid-failure/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/16/ercot-texas-electric-grid-failure/ . It is eye opening. And it actually admits some wind turbines froze up. But it makes the case that the biggest reason for the failures were the decline of the Texas electrical system and a failure to invest in infrastructure - similar to arguments made by posters here about the Saskatchewan power grid.

Consider these statements from the article: "But wind accounts for just 10 percent of the power in Texas generated during the winter. And the loss of power to the grid caused by shutdowns of thermal power plants, primarily those relying on natural gas, dwarfed the dent caused by frozen wind turbines, by a factor of five or six."

"In the single-digit temperatures, pipelines froze up because there was some moisture in the gas. Pumps slowed. Diesel engines to power the pumps refused to start. One power plant after another went offline. Even a reactor at one of the state’s two nuclear plants went dark, hobbled by frozen equipment."

"In Texas, production of natural gas Tuesday fell 6 billion to 7 billion cubic feet per day from earlier in the month"

Now just imagine, if instead of wasting billions fighting climate change, we had invested an equal amount in mitigation efforts for actual weather events that actually happen. Making our infrastrucure more reliable and secure. More back up, actually studying climate history and preparing for the extremes of all types which have been known to occur.

[chuckChuck]

No, but if you pay your neighbors enough, they will take them off your hands. That is how Germany does it, selling excess to Norway, and by selling, that means paying them to take the excess.

So having too much electricity is the problem? You have been telling us the opposite, that we wont have enough! Make up your mind.

Cant you just turn down some gas or other dispatchable sources when there are lots of renewable sources and ramp up the other sources when renewables are low? That's what system operators are designing their systems to do. I am assuming they have this figured out at the AESO in Alberta?

But don't let that stop you and your friends on Agrisilly blaming renewables every time the power goes out. Even on systems where there are hardly any renewables. LOL

[AlbertaFarmer5]

So having too much electricity is the problem? You have been telling us the opposite, that we wont have enough! Make up your mind.

Cant you just turn down some gas or other dispatchable sources when there are lots of renewable sources and ramp up the other sources when renewables are low? That's what system operators are designing their systems to do. I am assuming they have this figured out at the AESO in Alberta?

But don't let that stop you and your friends on Agrisilly blaming renewables every time the power goes out. Even on systems where there are hardly any renewables. LOL

INstead of making an ass of yourself in public on topics of which you have no knowledge, perhaps you would be better off doing some research first.
The situation described is exactly what is happening in Germany, amongst others. When the wind blows and the excess has to be dumped. Called load shedding. It is expensive.

[chuckChuck]

But you live in Alberta. Is it a problem in Alberta? Nope

Do you have such little faith in engineers and system operators that they wont figure this out?

But I forget you are a negative "the cup is only half full" kind a guy!

[AlbertaFarmer5]

But you live in Alberta. Is it a problem in Alberta? Nope

Do you have such little faith in engineers and system operators that they wont figure this out?

But I forget you are a negative "the cup is only half full" kind a guy!

Do a little extrapolation. Increase the unreliable sources to the levels that our politicians are advocating, and do it in every jurisdiction. Now tell me how will anyone load shed to their neighbors, or how will they buy back the shortfall when everyone else is in the same situation? California hit that brick wall last year, with resulting black outs.

[chuckChuck]

By the time this becomes a world wide issue there will be several storage options and lots EVs to charge.

In the mean time you keep telling us how bad renewables are.

The decision makers and system operators could care less about what you and I think! LOL

[AlbertaFarmer5]

By the time this becomes a world wide issue there will be several storage options and lots EVs to charge.

In the mean time you keep telling us how bad renewables are.

The decision makers and system operators could care less about what you and I think! LOL

Well, at least you got something right. The bureaucrats don't seem to care what their consumers think, or how much it costs them, or how many lives or livelihoods it costs. Are you aware of what is happening in the southern US right now?