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Politics : Politics of Energy
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To: Eric who wrote (11899)7/31/2009 1:41:55 PM
From: Hawkmoon3 Recommendations  Read Replies (3) of 86352
 
When stream flows are low it's very easy to integrate the wind turbines. But at certain times of the year we dump a lot of water anyway. Most of the dams are being upgraded to take advantage of this excessive water situation.

You don't seem to get it. When there is excess water that the hydro dam cannot use, then it's released. But the hydro turbines are STILL provide optimal power and collecting their fee.

But the point with the story is that wind power is USURPING that generation capacity and depriving the hydro installation of revenues.

IOW, the wind turbines are REDUNDANT, as well as very fickle in their reliability. They surge with power, grabbing "first dibs" on generation sales, and forcing the dam operators to make quick adjustments to their own output. And when they those wind turbines are not spinning, the dam has to pick up the slack.

But the dam has only so much capacity and if economic demand continues under the belief that wind turbines are reliable sources of additional electricity capacity and exceeds the dam's capacity, it leaves that utility vulnerable to having to purchase power on the spot market.

IMO, wind power should be relegated to the spot markets because they cannot guarantee 24x7x365 generation reliability.

Now if those wind turbine operators can find a way to store their power and feed it into the grid in a reliable and competitive manner, I'm all for it. But I don't see how that's possible, given all the redundant generation capacity that would be required.

Hawk
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