For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
1–10 of 66 posts
Re: For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
#2Ah good, perhaps we will soon be able to dump our asinine requirements around ethanol (which, I think, only exist because of Iowa's unique position in choosing Presidential candidates.)
Re: For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
#3Yet they account for a modest percentage of the total production. This is where PowerPack and other grid storage technologies would need to come in - to counter the variability of renewable production. Pumped hydro would be cost effective per MWh stored, but there's limited chance for building that.
Re: For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
#4Yet they account for a modest percentage of the total production. This is where PowerPack and other grid storage technologies would need to come in - to counter the variability of renewable production. Pumped hydro would be cost effective per MWh stored, but there's limited chance for building that.
There are other mechanisms that can also help ameliorate the challenges of intermittent ("non-dispatchable") power generation:
- Long-range (generally, DC) power transmission lines. China is investing heavily here.
- Similarly, inter-grid connections. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tres_Amigas_SuperStation - Superconductors!
- Diversified renewables. Solar works on the stifling windless summer days; wind works on those nasty drifting snow winter nights.
- Dispatched demand. For example, industrial facilities can be incentified to shut down power-hungry processes on days with less available electricity, in exchange for cheaper electricity on other days.
- Of course, 'peaker' natural gas turbines. A surprising number of gas power plants are used less than 10% of the time...
Re: For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
#5Yet they account for a modest percentage of the total production. This is where PowerPack and other grid storage technologies would need to come in - to counter the variability of renewable production. Pumped hydro would be cost effective per MWh stored, but there's limited chance for building that.
There are other mechanisms that can also help ameliorate the challenges of intermittent ("non-dispatchable") power generation: - Long-range (generally, DC) power transmission lines. China is investing heavily here. - Similarly, inter-grid connections. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tres_Amigas_SuperStation - Superconductors! - Diversified renewables. Solar works on the stifling windless summer days; wind works on…
In the few factories I have worked the power hungry processes cannot be stopped on demand (eg. one day notice), as it would waste products, it would mess up minimum stockpile lean manufacturing, as the process cannot be interrupted, it could often damage equipment, and usually restarting these processes is very expensive in terms of energy (eg. Reheating a kiln)
The renewables are simply not predictable enough for this, that is why nuclear, an later fusion power will have its place in the energy mix in the foreseeable future.
Re: For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
#6Yet they account for a modest percentage of the total production. This is where PowerPack and other grid storage technologies would need to come in - to counter the variability of renewable production. Pumped hydro would be cost effective per MWh stored, but there's limited chance for building that.
Variable pricing can likely do a great deal to match supply with demand without needing grid storage. Many uses of power are flexible, like charging electric cars, running the electric water heater/freezer/refrigerator, etc.
Re: For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are other mechanisms that can also help ameliorate the challenges of intermittent ("non-dispatchable") power generation: - Long-range (generally, DC) power transmission lines. China is investing heavily here. - Similarly, inter-grid connections. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tres_Amigas_SuperStation - Superconductors! - Diversified renewables. Solar works on the stifling windless summer days; wind works on…
In the few factories I have worked the power hungry processes cannot be stopped on demand (eg. one day notice), as it would waste products, it would mess up minimum stockpile lean manufacturing, as the process cannot be interrupted, it could often damage equipment, and usually restarting these processes is very expensive in terms of energy (eg. Reheating a kiln) The renewables are simply not predictable enough for th…
You're right; many of these facilities go so far as to install backup Diesel generation on-site.
There are plenty of opportunities for demand-shaving, though. The simplest one is to simply reduce the HVAC load by adjusting the thermostat.
I agree we need some nuclear, too, at least in the short term; it's not an either-or proposition. We need nuclear AND renewables AND smart grid AND storage.
Re: For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
#8That's because there's not much load in that area. America's best wind power belt is north from the Texas panhandle up to Canada.[1] But there are no big cities in that region.
The US thus needs more long DC power lines. The technology is already in use in China. The Zhundong-Sichuan power line goes 2600km. It's a DC line at 1.1 megavolts carrying 10 gigawatts. That technology could easily carry power from the wind belt to the rest of the US.
[1] http://www.nrel.gov/gis/images/80m_wind/USwind300dpe4-11.jpg
Re: For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are other mechanisms that can also help ameliorate the challenges of intermittent ("non-dispatchable") power generation: - Long-range (generally, DC) power transmission lines. China is investing heavily here. - Similarly, inter-grid connections. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tres_Amigas_SuperStation - Superconductors! - Diversified renewables. Solar works on the stifling windless summer days; wind works on…
In the few factories I have worked the power hungry processes cannot be stopped on demand (eg. one day notice), as it would waste products, it would mess up minimum stockpile lean manufacturing, as the process cannot be interrupted, it could often damage equipment, and usually restarting these processes is very expensive in terms of energy (eg. Reheating a kiln) The renewables are simply not predictable enough for th…
Long term, this becomes a matter of calculation. For some businesses its is possible and cheaper to adapt their energy consumption to the spot market prices of electricity, for others it is not, they can decide either to have some storage facilities of their own, or pay the utilities companies to provide the full load 24/7.
Re: For the First Time, Wind on the Plains Supplied More Than Half Region's Power
#10Yet they account for a modest percentage of the total production. This is where PowerPack and other grid storage technologies would need to come in - to counter the variability of renewable production. Pumped hydro would be cost effective per MWh stored, but there's limited chance for building that.
Variable pricing can likely do a great deal to match supply with demand without needing grid storage. Many uses of power are flexible, like charging electric cars, running the electric water heater/freezer/refrigerator, etc.
The variability needs to be very high to be an effective incentive for small power uses. If price of electricity goes from 10c/kWh to $1/kWh, it won't stop you using 1kW kettle for 5min if you want tea. And if push the price high enough to be effective, it starts hurting essential electricity users. Demand adjustment is more effective for industrial users who have beancounters.
Probably better to target excessive capacity and pay for use during overproduction. It makes grid storage and alternatives like water to hydrogen conversion profitable solutions.