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I was commenting on the effect the renewables would have on running the grid itself. In general, the grid seems to be able to handle to increases in renewables

I was commenting on the effect the renewables would have on running the grid itself. In general, the grid seems to be able to handle to increases in renewables we've seen so far and those we see coming. The pace at which we are deploying renewable generation is another matter entirely.

southern_cross 8y ago
(I'm working from memory here, so take this with a grain of salt.) IIRC, the latest info is that the existing grid can handle something like 15% renewable energy before things start falling over in a big way. This is a bit higher than the 10% to 12% which was originally forecast, but considerably lower than the 30% which some optimists were claiming.
- olau 8y ago
  They used to say the same thing in Denmark. Yet, wind penetration is now a bit below 50%, and the grid is stable, see for instance page 14 here https://ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/Globalcooperation/security_of_electricity_supply_in_denmark.pdf https://ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/Globalcooperation/security... "Figure 5 illustrates that there have been no major blackouts in Denmark in the past ten years" Of course it requires adjustments, and the adjustments made in Denmark are specific to the local circumstances, just as they'll have to be everywhere else in the world.
  - southern_cross 8y ago
    I'd probably have to read the entire report to know for sure (too lazy), but I'm guessing that they currently only have such stability because of their interlinks with other electricity markets; see Figure 1 on page 11. And if those other markets start transitioning to renewables in a big way then "problem" for Denmark. BTW, as I understand it the best-sited windmills only provide maybe 25% of their "nameplate" capacity on average, and even that number is probably too optimistic overall. Plus, windmills in general are only lasting maybe half of their originally expected lifetimes - 10 years instead of 20, or what have you. These and plenty of other factors just seem to be being ignored when people call them "very low cost producers".

southern_cross 8y ago

(I'm working from memory here, so take this with a grain of salt.) IIRC, the latest info is that the existing grid can handle something like 15% renewable energy before things start falling over in a big way. This is a bit higher than the 10% to 12% which was originally forecast, but considerably lower than the 30% which some optimists were claiming.

olau 8y ago
They used to say the same thing in Denmark. Yet, wind penetration is now a bit below 50%, and the grid is stable, see for instance page 14 here https://ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/Globalcooperation/security_of_electricity_supply_in_denmark.pdf https://ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/Globalcooperation/security... "Figure 5 illustrates that there have been no major blackouts in Denmark in the past ten years" Of course it requires adjustments, and the adjustments made in Denmark are specific to the local circumstances, just as they'll have to be everywhere else in the world.
- southern_cross 8y ago
  I'd probably have to read the entire report to know for sure (too lazy), but I'm guessing that they currently only have such stability because of their interlinks with other electricity markets; see Figure 1 on page 11. And if those other markets start transitioning to renewables in a big way then "problem" for Denmark. BTW, as I understand it the best-sited windmills only provide maybe 25% of their "nameplate" capacity on average, and even that number is probably too optimistic overall. Plus, windmills in general are only lasting maybe half of their originally expected lifetimes - 10 years instead of 20, or what have you. These and plenty of other factors just seem to be being ignored when people call them "very low cost producers".