Link: https://www.cfact.org/2020/04/30/wind-and-solar-add-zero-value-to-the-grid/ Please see link above for source text, embedded links and comments.
Wind and solar add zero value to the grid By Dr. Jay Lehr |April 30th, 2020 Why is wind power and solar power, not making significant gains in providing a substantial amount of renewable electricity? The US has utilized, in its energy mix, about eight percent of wind and two percent solar for more than a decade. The reason it is not growing requires an understanding of the fundamental elements, of an electrical grid. The grid is the electrical industry’s term for all of the hardware and software needed to convert fuel into electricity. The electricity is distributed by wires, transformers, substations, etc. to all of us. The system must ensure our safety from malfunctions, security to customers, and safety for the community. For a simple example, let’s assume we are a local electric utility in Smallville, USA. It’s a town with a population of 50,000 and another 25,000 people in the surrounding farms, along with small factories, professional offices, shops, a hospital, bakeries, etc. Everyone in the area needs reliable and affordable electricity. Over the years, Smallville set up a modern grid to assure a 99.98 percent reliability. In order to guarantee that reliable availability, the community’s grid must have at least a 75 percent excess capability above the everyday norm. Twenty-five percent of the excess must be in the “spinning reserve mode,” another 25 percent must be in the “peaking mode,” and 25 percent in the “backup mode.” Let’s examine each of these portions of the necessary reserves. 1