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BlueStreak

(8,377 posts)
7. You didn't provide any evidence that wind ower cannot scale up
Thu Jun 27, 2013, 01:54 PM
Jun 2013

Wind power is currently about 4% of the total US electrical production and new wind capacity is coming on stream FASTER than our electrical needs are growing. Those are facts.

You claimed there is some mysterious force that would prevent what is already working in 0.01% of Indiana's farm acreage from working on 1% of Indiana's farm acreage. There is no such factor until we get to about 10 times the current level of production nationally. It is only then that the variations in wind become a significant barrier. And by that time, we can close down all of the nuke plants and most of the worst coal plants (and convert the rest to gas).

And obviously, this capacity will not be concentrated in just Indiana or just Texas or just the Dakotas. It will be distributed. And by the time we reach 50% renewable generation, the grids will have improved to better balance the supply. That will give us another 15% of growth potential because the winds just don't stop everywhere at the same time.

Moreover, the economics of wind turbines are such that they do not have to run at full rated potential all the time. Even a light breeze still generates a considerable amount of electricity. As we grow into this, the obvious solution is to design over-capacity by 50% or more as necessary to ensure sufficient power even when one region has lower-then-normal winds.

Solar will also play a big role in this peak capacity problem because the peak demand happens on the hottest, sunniest days, which also happens to be exactly the same times that solar panels produce their maximum output.

This is just silly. wtmusic Jun 2013 #1
Answer me two questions BlueStreak Jun 2013 #3
I think your implication is that wind and solar will continue their current rate of growth wtmusic Jun 2013 #4
They can expand 1000-fold before hitting any real barriers BlueStreak Jun 2013 #5
A concentrated deployment of wind turbines will never, ever, ever supply 100% of needs. wtmusic Jun 2013 #6
You didn't provide any evidence that wind ower cannot scale up BlueStreak Jun 2013 #7
Peak demand happens at about 7:30 PM wtmusic Jun 2013 #8
Do you understand that electricity is fungible? BlueStreak Jun 2013 #9
Half of the units are stopped because they're either broken, or the wind isn't blowing. wtmusic Jun 2013 #12
That just isn't true BlueStreak Jun 2013 #13
OK, points taken. wtmusic Jun 2013 #14
Fair enough. I agree with you in principle BlueStreak Jun 2013 #16
She didn't provide evidence because there is no evidence. kristopher Jun 2013 #17
Very interesting references BlueStreak Jun 2013 #18
Define "too much capacity" kristopher Jun 2013 #19
People who invest in turbines need to have a reasonable expectation of profits BlueStreak Jun 2013 #21
Quick somebody buy it so it can be shelved for 100 years. nt silvershadow Jun 2013 #2
2016 renewables will be 2X nuclear, also exceeding natgas kristopher Jun 2013 #10
After Record 2012, World Wind Power Set to Top 300,000 Megawatts (300GW) in 2013 kristopher Jun 2013 #11
It really is transformational, and hardly anybody talks about it. BlueStreak Jun 2013 #15
Excellent point. kristopher Jun 2013 #20
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