Wind and solar power are ‘bailing out’ Texas amid record heat and energy demand

[beefheart]

For all the usual haters of renewables....

Wind and solar power are 'bailing out' Texas amid record heat and energy demand | CNN

Energy experts told CNN the Texas electric grid is holding up well this week in large part to strong performances from renewable energy.

www.cnn.com

Texans are cranking on the air conditioning this week amid an unusually early heat wave, setting new records for electricity demand in the state, which surpassed 75 gigawatts on Sunday and smashed the 2019 record. Texas grid operator ERCOT projects it could approach that peak again on Tuesday.
But unlike previous extreme weather events in Texas which led to deadly blackouts, the grid is holding up remarkably well this week. Several experts told CNN that it’s owed in large part to strong performances from wind and solar, which generated 27 gigawatts of electricity during Sunday’s peak demand – close to 40% of the total needed. “Texas is, by rhetoric, anti-renewables. But frankly, renewables are bailing us out,” said Michael Webber, an energy expert and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “They’re rocking. That really spares us a lot of heartache and a lot of money.” Despite the Texas Republican rhetoric that wind and solar are unreliable, Texas has a massive and growing fleet of renewables. Zero-carbon electricity sources (wind, solar, and nuclear) powered about 38% of the state’s power in 2021, rivaling natural gas at 42%.
This is a relatively recent phenomenon for the state.
“Wind and solar would not have been available in years in the past, so the growing capacity helps to alleviate reliance on natural gas and coal,” said Jonathan DeVilbiss, operations research analyst at the US Energy Information Administration.

 

[Artymoon]

Wind and solar serve as great supplements to the power grid. Glad to see they are able to utilize.

 

[Napoleon]

No such luck here. We had some gnarly storms a few days ago and we’re under an excessive heat warning (feels like 110 with humidity) so everyone is blasting their AC. The power grid can’t handle it so there are rolling blackouts in Columbus proper. We’re fine in the burbs though.

 

[beefheart]

We have already hit 114 and a few days above 110 this week, yesterday and today are a much nicer 105.

We are in the ugly season in Phoenix, we are at least 3-4 weeks from our monsoon season, we are expecting a good monsoon season like last years. Two years ago, we had a mostly non-existent monsoon, and the effects were nasty. I lost a beautiful dwarf blood orange tree that produced a lot of tasty fruit, and all over the city trees died, big trees. Even the revered saguaro cacti got affected, there were a lot of them that died. These cactus take decades just to get to the point where they can put out arms, and you really can't replace them, as it is illegal to poach them from the desert.

Last monsoon season, my neighbors very large tree got upended in a monsoon storm. She didn't know that it needed to be cut to allow the wind to go through it, and, like an idiot, she over watered her lawn to the point that the ground was too soft.

 

[bluesmoke]

We have already hit 114 and a few days above 110 this week, yesterday and today are a much nicer 105.

We are in the ugly season in Phoenix, we are at least 3-4 weeks from our monsoon season, we are expecting a good monsoon season like last years. Two years ago, we had a mostly non-existent monsoon, and the effects were nasty. I lost a beautiful dwarf blood orange tree that produced a lot of tasty fruit, and all over the city trees died, big trees. Even the revered saguaro cacti got affected, there were a lot of them that died. These cactus take decades just to get to the point where they can put out arms, and you really can't replace them, as it is illegal to poach them from the desert.

Last monsoon season, my neighbors very large tree got upended in a monsoon storm. She didn't know that it needed to be cut to allow the wind to go through it, and, like an idiot, she over watered her lawn to the point that the ground was too soft.

View attachment 67396639

Odds are, Monsoon is going to have a few much heavier than avg rain days, IMO.

Many yrs ago, people started moving to Phoenix and area to get away from L.A. and the metro. They all installed lawns and water hungry, non-native plants and long ago became just another L.A. metro like city.

 

[Mr Person]

Blackouts in CA in 3....2....1...

 

[SenorXm/Sirius]

Cruz is right on top of this... I'm sure he's getting hourly updates while he's in Cancun..

 

[bluesmoke]

Blackouts in CA in 3....2....1...

Nothing like global warming. CA has had numerous blackouts, and brownouts, going back many yrs. Since CA is the major importer of energy in the US, any extreme weather somewhere else will more likely affect CA than nearly any other single state.

 

[Glitch]

For all the usual haters of renewables....

Wind and solar power are 'bailing out' Texas amid record heat and energy demand | CNN

Energy experts told CNN the Texas electric grid is holding up well this week in large part to strong performances from renewable energy.

www.cnn.com

Texans are cranking on the air conditioning this week amid an unusually early heat wave, setting new records for electricity demand in the state, which surpassed 75 gigawatts on Sunday and smashed the 2019 record. Texas grid operator ERCOT projects it could approach that peak again on Tuesday.
But unlike previous extreme weather events in Texas which led to deadly blackouts, the grid is holding up remarkably well this week. Several experts told CNN that it’s owed in large part to strong performances from wind and solar, which generated 27 gigawatts of electricity during Sunday’s peak demand – close to 40% of the total needed. “Texas is, by rhetoric, anti-renewables. But frankly, renewables are bailing us out,” said Michael Webber, an energy expert and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “They’re rocking. That really spares us a lot of heartache and a lot of money.” Despite the Texas Republican rhetoric that wind and solar are unreliable, Texas has a massive and growing fleet of renewables. Zero-carbon electricity sources (wind, solar, and nuclear) powered about 38% of the state’s power in 2021, rivaling natural gas at 42%.
This is a relatively recent phenomenon for the state.
“Wind and solar would not have been available in years in the past, so the growing capacity helps to alleviate reliance on natural gas and coal,” said Jonathan DeVilbiss, operations research analyst at the US Energy Information Administration.

I don't know anyone who "hates" renewable energy. What people "hate" is the abject stupidity of relying on alternative energy sources as if it were the primary source of energy. You rely on reliable and stable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, and use the unreliable and unstable energy sources to supplement and ease the load of the reliable and stable energy sources whenever possible.

That is the problem with "alternative" energy sources, and why they will always be "alternative" energy source. They are unreliable. Wind generators cannot be used if the winds are greater than 45 mph, and they cannot be used when temperatures drop below freezing. That leaves a very narrow window when they are actually generating energy. Solar panels are incredibly inefficient, is only really useful below 45°N latitude, and has no way of providing long-term storage (wind generators have a similar problem with storage).

While they may be renewable energy sources, they cannot be depended upon to provide continuous stable energy at affordable costs. In some cases it also makes no sense, like using ethanol, for example. Sure we can always grow more corn, but by using our food supply for fuel we have tripled the price of beef, pork, and poultry. Which is incredibly stupid, because the cost to produce ethanol is being paid by those who can afford it the least and it lowers the standard of living for everyone.

Use absolutely every energy source available (except for our food) - wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal, nuclear, coal, fuel oil, natural gas, etc., etc., but also take into consideration its reliability. Complete reliance on wind generation to be the primary source of power is what caused Texas' blackout in 2019. They have added a new oil refinery since then, so they would appear to have gotten the message. Continue to use fossil fuels as the primary source of energy, and supplement that primary source with alternative energy sources.

 

[CaughtInThe]

Of all the states that I thought could have power problems periodically it would not have been Texas. They have everything they need to have reliable power.

And there's no reason for them to go It alone and not have redundant backup power.

 

[Glitch]

We have already hit 114 and a few days above 110 this week, yesterday and today are a much nicer 105.

We are in the ugly season in Phoenix, we are at least 3-4 weeks from our monsoon season, we are expecting a good monsoon season like last years. Two years ago, we had a mostly non-existent monsoon, and the effects were nasty. I lost a beautiful dwarf blood orange tree that produced a lot of tasty fruit, and all over the city trees died, big trees. Even the revered saguaro cacti got affected, there were a lot of them that died. These cactus take decades just to get to the point where they can put out arms, and you really can't replace them, as it is illegal to poach them from the desert.

Last monsoon season, my neighbors very large tree got upended in a monsoon storm. She didn't know that it needed to be cut to allow the wind to go through it, and, like an idiot, she over watered her lawn to the point that the ground was too soft.

View attachment 67396639

We also get hurricane-force winds in my neck of the woods once or twice a year. It is the price one pays for living at the bottom of a valley. I have lost a few trees over the years, but none were as massive as your neighbor's. For me it is always the paper bark birch that either get blown over, or more likely snap six-feet or more above the ground. They are about as tall as your neighbor's tree, but only ~8" trunks with a much smaller canopy.

They might have been able to save the tree if they could lift it and place it back into the crater it created. It is really too bad, because it looks like a very pretty tree.

However, you are absolutely right. You have to be mindful of the vegetation that you grow in your area and the conditions it may be subject to, and not just the weather either. For example, it is impossible to grow fruit trees in Alaska without encasing them in at least a 10 foot tall fence. Even then it is questionable whether they will survive. "Moose" is Athabaskan for "twig eater" and they especially love to eat fruit trees.

In Alaska "air conditioning" means opening a window.

 

[Glitch]

Of all the states that I thought could have power problems periodically it would not have been Texas. They have everything they need to have reliable power.

And there's no reason for them to go It alone and not have redundant backup power.

They do have everything they need for reliable power. Which means that it could not have been their resources that caused the blackout in 2019, but rather the decisions made by those in control of determining how that energy was to be distributed. They relied on their alternative sources more and more, and when it finally failed them - which was inevitable - they experienced the temporary blackout until they could restore the energy with their reliable resources.

Those alternatives energy sources should always be used, and tied directly into the grid. When the alternative energy sources are working at their maximum ability they ease the energy requirements the primary sources must produce. When the alternative energy sources are not working, the primary energy source picks up the slack. At no time should the primary energy source ever fall below maximum demand, because then that places reliance on unstable alternative energy sources, like wind or solar. That is how you get gray-outs/black-outs.

Gray-outs and black-outs are in California's future by the way. They have no more nuclear power plants and they haven't built any new power-plants in more than a generation. Meanwhile California's population continues to increase. Once again, it is inevitable.

 

[beefheart]

Of all the states that I thought could have power problems periodically it would not have been Texas. They have everything they need to have reliable power.

And there's no reason for them to go It alone and not have redundant backup power.

It's Texas...'nuff said.

 

[CaughtInThe]

They do have everything they need for reliable power. Which means that it could not have been their resources that caused the blackout in 2019, but rather the decisions made by those in control of determining how that energy was to be distributed. They relied on their alternative sources more and more, and when it finally failed them - which was inevitable - they experienced the temporary blackout until they could restore the energy with their reliable resources.

Those alternatives energy sources should always be used, and tied directly into the grid. When the alternative energy sources are working at their maximum ability they ease the energy requirements the primary sources must produce. When the alternative energy sources are not working, the primary energy source picks up the slack. At no time should the primary energy source ever fall below maximum demand, because then that places reliance on unstable alternative energy sources, like wind or solar. That is how you get gray-outs/black-outs.

Gray-outs and black-outs are in California's future by the way. They have no more nuclear power plants and they haven't built any new power-plants in more than a generation. Meanwhile California's population continues to increase. Once again, it is inevitable.

"The problem is compounded by the isolated nature of the state’s grid, which has very few links to neighboring states, and is therefore unable to spread the normal variation of generation and load over a wider area."

Don't blame the weather for Texas power shortages

Since the start of May, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has twice appealed to homes and businesses to limit consumption at peak times to avert power shortages and rolling blackouts.

www.reuters.com

 

[Glitch]

"The problem is compounded by the isolated nature of the state’s grid, which has very few links to neighboring states, and is therefore unable to spread the normal variation of generation and load over a wider area."

Don't blame the weather for Texas power shortages

Since the start of May, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has twice appealed to homes and businesses to limit consumption at peak times to avert power shortages and rolling blackouts.

www.reuters.com

I agree with the article, it is not the weather that is the problem. However, it is also not because Texas is isolated, they are not. They may not have as many links as the east coast States, but Texas is still connected to the nation-wide grid. Alaska and Hawaii, for obvious reasons, are the only two States that are not part of the nation-wide power grid.

As the article explains, Texas has not been keeping up with its power demands. The power demands increase by 1.48% while the population increases by 1.64%. As long as Texas is unable to meet maximum energy demand from their primary source it means they will have to become more reliant on alternative energy sources. That will inevitably lead to more gray-outs/black-outs. Texas needs to increase its primary fossil fuel power-plants to at least meet the maximum demand of its current population. California is facing the same fate. The only thing that has saved California thus far is their negative population growth. Apparently Californians are moving to Texas.

 

[CaughtInThe]

I agree with the article, it is not the weather that is the problem. However, it is also not because Texas is isolated, they are not. They may not have as many links as the east coast States, but Texas is still connected to the nation-wide grid. Alaska and Hawaii, for obvious reasons, are the only two States that are not part of the nation-wide power grid.

so you agree with the article except for the parts you don't like?

 

[jaypatriot]

For all the usual haters of renewables....

Wind and solar power are 'bailing out' Texas amid record heat and energy demand | CNN

Energy experts told CNN the Texas electric grid is holding up well this week in large part to strong performances from renewable energy.

www.cnn.com

Texans are cranking on the air conditioning this week amid an unusually early heat wave, setting new records for electricity demand in the state, which surpassed 75 gigawatts on Sunday and smashed the 2019 record. Texas grid operator ERCOT projects it could approach that peak again on Tuesday.
But unlike previous extreme weather events in Texas which led to deadly blackouts, the grid is holding up remarkably well this week. Several experts told CNN that it’s owed in large part to strong performances from wind and solar, which generated 27 gigawatts of electricity during Sunday’s peak demand – close to 40% of the total needed. “Texas is, by rhetoric, anti-renewables. But frankly, renewables are bailing us out,” said Michael Webber, an energy expert and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “They’re rocking. That really spares us a lot of heartache and a lot of money.” Despite the Texas Republican rhetoric that wind and solar are unreliable, Texas has a massive and growing fleet of renewables. Zero-carbon electricity sources (wind, solar, and nuclear) powered about 38% of the state’s power in 2021, rivaling natural gas at 42%.
This is a relatively recent phenomenon for the state.
“Wind and solar would not have been available in years in the past, so the growing capacity helps to alleviate reliance on natural gas and coal,” said Jonathan DeVilbiss, operations research analyst at the US Energy Information Administration.

As long as the wind keeps blowing and the sun keeps shining, Texans will be happy with renewables. Who's producing the cool air when it is sweltering at night and the wind is calm? Where are the big batteries to last through the night?

 

[beefheart]

As long as the wind keeps blowing and the sun keeps shining, Texans will be happy with renewables. Who's producing the cool air when it is sweltering at night and the wind is calm? Where are the big batteries to last through the night?

Who said you need to be off the grid 100% of the time?

Last time I looked, our sun still had many of millions of years of shining ahead of it, and wind isn't just going to stop.

 

[mrjurrs]

Wind and solar serve as great supplements to the power grid. Glad to see they are able to utilize.

The wave is coming, and the world will be better for it.

Here's How GM Plans to Knock Tesla Off Its Pedestal

GM CEO Mary Barra says that General Motors will sell more EVs than Tesla by mid-decade by selling affordable electric cars that start at around $30,000.

www.gearpatrol.com

 

[Artymoon]

The wave is coming, and the world will be better for it.

Good for GM and competition is always good. Of course they'll have to depend on fossil fuels to power all of those new EVs. Wind and solar will remain supplemental under the current technology.

 

[mrjurrs]

Good for GM and competition is always good. Of course they'll have to depend on fossil fuels to power all of those new EVs. Wind and solar will remain supplemental under the current technology.

Technology is changing.
"For the first time, for a few minutes on April 30th at 2:50pm, 100% of California's electricity was coming from renewable sources like wind and solar, according to the California Independent System Operator, the state agency that tracks this information."

 

[Artymoon]

Technology is changing.
"For the first time, for a few minutes on April 30th at 2:50pm, 100% of California's electricity was coming from renewable sources like wind and solar, according to the California Independent System Operator, the state agency that tracks this information."

That's awesome. Maybe they'll figure out how to power the other 525,558 minutes of the year soon.

 

[mrjurrs]

That's awesome. Maybe they'll figure out how to power the other 525,558 minutes of the year soon.

You mean like how they figured out how to use fossil fuels? Only a fool would bet against it. How much you got?

 

[Artymoon]

You mean like how they figured out how to use fossil fuels? Only a fool would bet against it. How much you got?

They'll eventually figure out other means of energy. It's inevitable. Just not likely to displace fossil fuels in our lifetime.

 

[bluesmoke]

I don't know anyone who "hates" renewable energy. What people "hate" is the abject stupidity of relying on alternative energy sources as if it were the primary source of energy. You rely on reliable and stable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, and use the unreliable and unstable energy sources to supplement and ease the load of the reliable and stable energy sources whenever possible.

That is the problem with "alternative" energy sources, and why they will always be "alternative" energy source. They are unreliable. Wind generators cannot be used if the winds are greater than 45 mph, and they cannot be used when temperatures drop below freezing. That leaves a very narrow window when they are actually generating energy. Solar panels are incredibly inefficient, is only really useful below 45°N latitude, and has no way of providing long-term storage (wind generators have a similar problem with storage).

While they may be renewable energy sources, they cannot be depended upon to provide continuous stable energy at affordable costs. In some cases it also makes no sense, like using ethanol, for example. Sure we can always grow more corn, but by using our food supply for fuel we have tripled the price of beef, pork, and poultry. Which is incredibly stupid, because the cost to produce ethanol is being paid by those who can afford it the least and it lowers the standard of living for everyone.

Use absolutely every energy source available (except for our food) - wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal, nuclear, coal, fuel oil, natural gas, etc., etc., but also take into consideration its reliability. Complete reliance on wind generation to be the primary source of power is what caused Texas' blackout in 2019. They have added a new oil refinery since then, so they would appear to have gotten the message. Continue to use fossil fuels as the primary source of energy, and supplement that primary source with alternative energy sources.

"primary source" does not mean "only" source. It doesn't even mean "major" source, though it can be. It just means the first source or the source of first choice.

An alternative can be the "most".