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Having enormous synchronized grids helps a bit with that. It’s highly unlikely to be abnormally cloudy/calm over the whole of Europe, for example, so Europe’s
by Someone 1y ago
Having enormous synchronized grids helps a bit with that.
It’s highly unlikely to be abnormally cloudy/calm over the whole of Europe, for example, so Europe’s large grid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Europe_Synchronous_Area https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Europe_Synchronous...) can be used to move electricity from where there’s excess energy from solar or wind to where there’s a deficit.
That requires large capacity connections, though that aren’t everywhere yet.I understand electricity was restored in the south of France much more rapidly last week than in Spain and Portugal because it’s much better connected to the rest of Europe.
- JetSpiegel 1y agoThe reason why the Iberian grid is not better connected to France might have something to do with French Nuclear not wanting to be bankrupted by cheap renewables from southern countries, this was the word on the street a ehi'e back, when the push for renewables in Spain in Portugal was starting up. This is a political problem, having Mitteleuropa depend on power from Putin is apparently OK, but on lazy southerners is verboten. Hopefully this blackout changes that (but I'm not holding my breath).
- Someone 1y agoI would think the original reasons are the Pyrenees and the relatively low population density around it. If you look at the European road and rail networks, you’ll find France and Spain aren’t well-connected, either.
- JetSpiegel 1y agoThe network connection doesn't really depend on the population density around there. I'm not saying it's a simple technical problem, but it's not insurmountable either.