A problem with solar and wind energy is that it’s intermittent. Since renewables generally have grid priority over other sources, when renewables surge other sources must rapidly decline to compensate. But since nuclear and coal plants are designed to run continuously, the only sources that can be adjusted are natural gas plants. The less gas-fired plants are used, the less the power company earns, yet their fixed costs don’t decline.
Tag Archives: renewable energy
Energy Sprawl
While energy sources like the sun and wind are free, converting them into large quantities of electricity requires lots of lands. The math is easy. To get 1,000 megawatts of solar capacity in the Mojave desert your need 15 sq miles, an area almost as big as Manhattan. Wind energy requires more land! 1,000 megawatts of wind energy requires about 200 square miles! Renewables can help; but are not a panacea!