OMG! Nobody Told Me There Would Be Actual CHALLENGES Associated with the Migration to Renewable Energy!
Predictably, my post congratulating Germany for its recent record-setting day on which it powered its grid with 85% renewable energy was met with the usual naysayer, who, this time, took umbrage that I had quoted an article that didn’t overhype the struggles associated with Germany’s Energiewende (energy transition). He writes: “Said Tweedledum to Tweedledee, “With these rose-tinted glasses, look how happy we can be.”
At the risk of oversimplification, idiocy comes in two main varieties in this space: Th
ose who expect the transition from fossil fuels to renewables to happen without a hitch, and those who think that our encountering challenges nullifies the validity of the whole enterprise.
In truth, we are going to have problems, and we are going to solve them. Why waste time arguing otherwise?
This, btw, is why I’m not writing more books at this point. I can’t find a reason to explain in 120,000 words what can be said in a short paragraph.
Craig well said things work will work out as I said
For example
California grid has over supply of up to 8,000 megawatts of solar now ahead of schedule . this happens during the day.
short term some curtailments of generation being done.
But California which does governmental Planning and has agencies that still function for the good of the people and not the crony insiders only like those that emanate from the right wing
where only the connected cronies oligarchical benefit.
CASIO the system operator has reached agreements with Grids in Oregon, Washington , Nevada and Arizona so they can take some of this excess generation.
They call this a Energy Imbalance market for the readers.
This will allow for more solar progress and all will work out.
Idaho Power sees the writing on the wall and while it is a Red state and there were fears that they would Cling to their coal their dirty coal. like Wyoming and Utah want to Cling to and stop progress. Well Idaho Power just announced that they are agreeing with Nev Power to speed up the closure of the last remaining coal plant in NE Nevada and obtain more wind on their own.
so market dynamics are spreading out and Grid integration like I said in my other post is a Solution in the making.
Germany can get other European countries to join the race to advance the human race !
learn from California.
Yes there w be Grid enhancement Investments that will cost all of us. Spread across all users we can more easily afford these costs rather than the calamitous costs we all face if we do Nothing and cling to the past – the Dirty past.
Modern thinking requires modern tools and approaches and Open Minds creative Minds not dinosaur habits that lead to decay !
Folks notice how oil prices just dont keep spiking but seem to be holding well a lot of diesel that was being burned in third world or remote areas to make electricity is now being displaced for electric generation by SOLAR and WIND. ( this energy market dynamic is not given the discussion it warrants but its happening) There is Mega Gigawatts in the pipeline….the investors see a good thing… So get on the train or sit home and rock in a rocking chair and dream of past dirty times .
Carry on
Craig for the Nay Sayers info
Non Export Power ERCOT Texas has awoken from its isolation and now Excess WIND power is being sent East to Louisiana and Mississippi and Ala. As they want CHEAPER WIND POWER .
Southern Cross Power Exchange is moving Forward , there could be More in the Pipeline.
Conservatives and entrenched interests can not Stop the Advance of cleaner energy movement ….turns out the Investment community can ‘t say no to profits either…
We got Green Bucks $$$$ on our side now…how the Tides $$ are Turning ! in conservative regions and now turn in same direction as Enlightened progressive Regions . Togetherness is Beautiful.
Yes we are Stronger Together !
Grid and power management is just one tool in the Growing tool box. We have multiple tools just like Germany does have ,
and whole sale electric prices in Texas have Fallen once again…. that is what 20,000 megs of wind and a growing utility scale solar portfolio can do for energy supply and prices too. Increase supply and lower prices at wholesale level.
maybe in 10 years or so it will lower retail prices all depends.
WE are Not 1 TRICK Ponies !
So your detractors should re calibrate
Craig,
As usual, when your assertions are challenged, you redefine the subject to produce the answer you want.
Your basic assertion Germany’s Energiewende policies were proven correct because for one day German power production was produced by Wind and Solar.
You expanded on this by stating that any critic of your assertion had obviously not been to Germany or spoken to any Germans.(Implying there were no German critic’s)
I refuted your assertion by citing a number of highly qualified German critics of Energiewende.
I then gave a detailed account of the complexities in understanding Germany’s Energiewende, and how easily the media and persons not familiar with the labyrinths of German and EU regulations can become mistaken.
With an amazing somersault of logic, you justify your claim by quoting as an authority in German affairs, not a German, but a fellow American !
Today, instead of just admitting you were overly optimistic and over excited by an inaccurate and simplistic media article, you attempt to defend you assertion by claiming that any critic is an idiot because ;
“Those who expect the transition from fossil fuels to renewables to happen without a hitch, and those who think that our encountering challenges nullifies the validity of the whole enterprise “.
Another somersault ! This time you assert any critic of your earlier inaccurate claim must be unaware of the challenges of renewable energy in general.
Craig, just dismissing anyone who disputes your assertions as an idiot,naysayer,or heretic without directly refuting the criticism, is the sort of reply we expect from “Preachers” of the less rational variety.
If you want your advocacy to be creditable, it must be based on factual accuracy, not faith.
” we are going to have problems, and we are going to solve them”.
This is a reasonable proposition, but far from definite. It’s also possible problems can prove insurmountable, or the whole concept is rendered obsolete by another technology or circumstance.
The argument “we are going to have problems, and we are going to solve them” has two sides, on the one hand it was the attitude that rook man to the moon, but it’s also used to justify the US corn-ethanol industry.
Your sort of blind faith, reminds me of the lifelong Quixotic quest by my late friend and engineer Ted Pritchard as he persisted with trying reintroduce steam power to automobiles. Ted was a great believer “we just have to solve a few more problems” !
Alas, the only vehicles he ever produced are gathering dust in museums.
The difference between admirable determination and pig-headed stubbornness is often hard to define.
Mate Marco ,
I appreciate your colorful examples and diligence in trying to make your case. You raise many good ones.
As I said they got challenges over there in GERMANY and they are going to have to make a few more Baskets of solutions or Pieces to the energy supply mix. And France has looming and growing cost and lack of performance challenges to its established nuke program and are backing down to 50 % level of resource from current 80 % going forward. Maybe we need to go visit them and get current info as to what is devolving perhaps!
I suggest that you Lobby the German government and get them to include the SMR option – which by the way I constantly am referring to….I Faithfully await ….like so many others as its always next decade for these Wonder Kinds ( new small reactor to hatch – they seem to like to staying in the Egg Shell a long time ! ) .
What is the delay ???? Why the ongoing R & D stage ? Must not be Plug and play after all?
While all that is going on The Wind and the Solar and the Battery is DEPLOYING – big difference between R & D and Deployment. Netherlands just commissioned another 600 megawatt Wind farm w 150 Siemens units built under budget and opened early, no delays , no costs over runs no false promises.
No bankruptcies just power flowing into the GRID. Clean Power too!
no end of life issues ….most likely they will do a Upgrade in 25 years with 12 megawatt turbines and grow the capacity ….Scaling now….as those High priests of Silicon valley like to preach!
So the race is open to all – no one is stopping them. Can’ t hit a Hr unless one takes a Swing !
As for Japan and this perhaps belongs in the other Posting since for some reason we get parallel discussions going.
If Japan is so close to this Liquid Floride system why is a Mexican billionaire – aka Carlos Slim of Mexico funding a new shale gas project East of El Paso Tx in a area that has no people and no resource extraction historically .
This play extracts shale gas , he is building a pipeline south 45 miles into Mexico .
then he is building a gas line west along Western Mexico all the way to Baja Cal region. Building a LNG terminal there – going to export american gas – destination JAPAN !!
This project is NOT entrapped in a end less cycle of R & D but is happening on the ground .
Truly as you say and lecture me we are in a global world for sure.
The only challenge is locally where some So NM ranchers and citizens and a Indian tribe in the El Paso area are now organizing to try to stop this project. Scarce water supplies is the rallying point. Potential disruption to farming lands in the Valley East of El Paso and Juarez Mexico – minor issues that can be resolved.
So stay tuned this might get on the media s video sound bit screen soon….Water is the issue. This area while trans versed with existing pipelines that run to the West coast market and loads in between for 50 years but never any development. So its a Wake Up call for local Activists.
But the point is japan seems to want to close their large out dated nukes …and replace with GAS imported from Us via mexico…
Put that into the cost benefit equation.. and one can conclude that there will be a strong Mix of resources used to power up countries!
My point and I make my stand!
BTW folks – Mr Slim also building a pipeline from the rich gas fields south of Odessa near Ft Stockton Tx – the lower portion of
the Prolific Permian Basin. This line runs south to Mexico and crosses the Rio Grande River at Presidio, TX and will bring gas to N Mexico.
Right now nuke is not a option for Mexico. They are turning to American GAS , Wind and Solar.
maybe they dont want to join the end less analysis paralysis R & D of the dancing Genie!
These are not my opinions just reporting from the Front lines where the ACTION is.
For a technology to be studied in 1962 and jettisoned ….decades ago …Raises many alarm Bells as to its REAL Efficacy in the present !!??
The best bet for USA SMR’s is Idaho Nat Lab project which previous Posts have presented. That continues though at a snails pace for those betting nature.
Also rising domestic gas prices due to coal closures and excessive gas exports raising prices and then perhaps the Genie will get her long awaited chance to not just dance but to Produce!
CHEERS