This is encouraging. Not only do renewables not cause blackouts like detractors say, they make the grid more stable. They cost less than any other form of power generation even without subsidies (of course most other power generation gets subsidies too, which detractors conveniently ignore). California power consumption went down noticeably in a year due to rooftop solar even as more EVs and data centers were added and A/C ran more due to higher temps. There's eight nuclear plants worth of batteries in CA's grid already, not counting direct to meter (i.e. home) batteries.
Study: renewables are cheaper and don't cause blackouts
- Thread starter ericm979
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
This is encouraging. Not only do renewables not cause blackouts like detractors say, they make the grid more stable. They cost less than any other form of power generation even without subsidies (of course most other power generation gets subsidies too, which detractors conveniently ignore). California power consumption went down noticeably in a year due to rooftop solar even as more EVs and data centers were added and A/C ran more due to higher temps. There's eight nuclear plants worth of batteries in CA's grid already, not counting direct to meter (i.e. home) batteries.
Yeah, but reading only the abstract, I am puzzled:
no blackouts occurred when wind-water-solar electricity supply exceeded 100 % of demand
well, duh. When supply exceeds demand no black outs occur.
Assuming that what is actually claimed (grid doesn't sufffer from renewables is accurate, at least their writing needs to be improved, as the above is just... dumb.
Also, I note that batteries feature heavily in this. Hence I'd rephrase this as "renewables with sufficient battery storage (as apparently in CA) do not cause black outs".
I think that'd be more accurate. And, indeed as the second post "duh, but good to have concrete proof".
no blackouts occurred when wind-water-solar electricity supply exceeded 100 % of demand
well, duh. When supply exceeds demand no black outs occur.
Assuming that what is actually claimed (grid doesn't sufffer from renewables is accurate, at least their writing needs to be improved, as the above is just... dumb.
Also, I note that batteries feature heavily in this. Hence I'd rephrase this as "renewables with sufficient battery storage (as apparently in CA) do not cause black outs".
I think that'd be more accurate. And, indeed as the second post "duh, but good to have concrete proof".
I think what they are saying is that the times when supply of WWS power exceeded demand are a good model for a grid that runs on 100% renewables. And having that much renewable power online did not cause any instability such as what the anti-renewable propagandists would have you believe.
The abstract is very condensed. The whole paper is worth reading. Unlike a lot of papers it's written for a lay audience.
