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Extreme weather events can result in both extreme energy demand and edge cases for intermittent energy production. We can’t just rely on the low probability of
by fshbbdssbbgdd 5y ago
Extreme weather events can result in both extreme energy demand and edge cases for intermittent energy production. We can’t just rely on the low probability of our energy sources dropping out at the same time. That’s just begging for a catastrophic black swan event. Heat and cold can kill during a power outage. At least we need massive peaker capacity (with pipes that don’t freeze), and that’s part of the price tag.
- gpm 5y agoExtreme weather events tend to cause issues for all kinds of power generation, including the so called non-intermittent ones. For example the extreme (for the location) cold in texas last winter took out nuclear, gas, coal, and wind power. There's nothing special about the "intermittent" ones here. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46836 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46836
- fastball 5y agoI'm not seeing that the nuclear plant shut down due to the cold?
- Retric 5y agoLook at the red line it dips at on the second Monday just like coal and natural gas. The drop wasn’t as severe, but it was significant and lasted several days.
- gpm 5y agoHere's an article on the nuclear plant specifically: https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/how-and-why-a-nuclear-reactor-shut-down-in-texas-cold-snap-when-energy-was-needed-most/ar-BB1dLDPt https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/how-and-why-a-n...
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- nightski 5y agoYet somehow in North Dakota where we can see -50F or lower in the winter and over 100F in the summer, our power sources are reliable and stable.
- gpm 5y agoRight, the "for the location" is important here. It's that they weren't prepared for the cold, not that they couldn't be. Likewise we could make power stations that could withstand hurricanes, or earthquakes, or tsunamis, and so on. We don't usually though, it's too expensive (not to defend the decision not to weather proof more in this case, it wasn't really that far outside of the expected operating conditions as I understand the situation).
- imtringued 5y agoThen your nuclear plant gets destroyed by a tsunami and you have created a generation of people who hate nuclear power.
- Paradigma11 5y agoThe difference is that winterizing a nuclear power plant is not that hard. Keeping wind turbines going for weeks in a lull seems harder.