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Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

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Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#21

Post by icebraining »

InternetPerson wrote: post #9
johnm1019 wrote: post #3

Are these wind farms located near data centers and such use the power directly? Or do they dump into the grid and sell it as power then claim all their power usage is renewable because it is "offset"?

I notice that you're simply asking a question. In your comment, you don't imply that one option is better than the other. And yet the two replies (so far) don't attempt to answer the question, but do attempt to argue with you... Anyway, if anyone knows the answer, I'd like to know as well. And to be clear: I have no opinion about how things should be in this case, I just want to know how they are.

It was quite implied by the use of the word claim and the scare quotes.

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#24

Post by weitzj »

Is there any energy market in the US where you can offer/buy "positive/negative operating reserve"?

Probably more related to AWS:

I could imagine Amazon getting in the energy market and trading negative operating reserve. The scenario would be:

- offer cheaper AWS compute instances on the AWS spot market

- sell the excess energy consumption as negative operating reserve on the energy market

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#25

Post by kinofcain »

johnm1019 wrote: post #3

Are these wind farms located near data centers and such use the power directly? Or do they dump into the grid and sell it as power then claim all their power usage is renewable because it is "offset"?

The article mentions that the previous four are grid connected but it doesn't explicitly say the same for the fifth: "The four previously announced wind and solar farms deliver energy to the electrical grids supplying both current and future Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud data centers."

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#27

Post by regularfry »

brianwawok wrote: post #13
regularfry wrote: post #6

From the press release: Amazon today announced “Amazon Wind Farm Texas,” a new 253-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Scurry County, Texas, that will generate 1,000,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of wind energy annually Seems optimistic. Rule of thumb is that onshore wind generates 30% of its plate rating. That's 660GHw, not 1000, for a 253MW plant. Still a nice, impressive number, just seems over-cooked.

It perhaps Texas better than average? 30% seems too round to really be across all areas of the country.

Yeah, that's not altogether unlikely. Kinda hoping someone more locally-versed will chime in.

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#28

Post by msisk6 »

johnm1019 wrote: post #3

Are these wind farms located near data centers and such use the power directly? Or do they dump into the grid and sell it as power then claim all their power usage is renewable because it is "offset"?

No, this is out in west Texas where wind is plentiful along with cheap land.

Nearly all wind and solar farms inject energy into the grid just like any other generator. In an open energy market like ERCOT (where this wind farm is located) there's a market where energy is traded.

If they inject "X" units of energy into the grid and pull out the same "X" units all is good. If not (the usual case since generation and demand need to equal 100% at all times) there are rules to govern the buying and selling of energy all generators ("market participants") follow.

Suffice it to say, grid management in an open energy market is complicated. If you really want to know more about the rules you can read more here: http://ercot.com/mktrules

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#30

Post by sandGorgon »

ch4s3 wrote: post #29
peteretep wrote: post #26

In 20 years I'm looking forward to buying Amazon Citizenship.

Wouldn't it be more of a membership?

yearly reserved citizenship cost .... or spot citizenship (They can kick you out of the country any time when someone is willing to pay more taxes)
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