It is not a one time expense. Rechargable batteries have a life span, even with the best maintenance.
So those backup batteries are not used on a regular basis (as in every day) right?
There is a solar radio tower location here in Utah (as in the only power is solar during the day, battery at night, and battery if cloudy day and not enough light reaches the panels). In 14 years, I know of 2 times they had to replace the batteries. last time, the doubled the amount of batteries to try and make them last longer (couple times so many stormy days, the site went down) and to increase their longevity.
Battery back up for wind (or solar) would be the same way, constant use, not just occassional.
Got anything that shows windspeed short of hurricane strength will shut down a turbine? It blows so hard in the Palm Springs area that roads have to be regularly closed to visibility and sand drifts yet the turbines keep turning
Utah has worked with the Feds to designate a bunch of land here as “energy producing” (and not oil or gas).
We also have a solar company trying to set up here in my county. Last County Commission meeting I attended looks like they are going to build it WITHOUT the 20 million dollars they wanted from the county. And I fully support that.
Here’s what Trumps own Department of Energy says about wind power, and whether variability of wind means anything (hint: it’s a non issue, Mr Idiot Know-Nothing President):
What happens to the electricity supply when the wind isn’t blowing? Does wind need to be “backed up” by other sources of power generation?
The U.S. power grid consists of a huge number of interconnected transmission lines that connect a variety of generation sources to loads. The wind does not always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine, which creates additional variability (due to the changing output of wind and solar) and uncertainty (due to the inability to perfectly forecast wind or solar output).
But power grid operators have always had to deal with variability. Other forms of power generation, including traditional thermal generation, can unexpectedly trip off-line without notice; all forms of power generation may sometimes not operate when called upon. There is also uncertainty inherent in the system due to ever-changing load (energy demand) that cannot be predicted perfectly, which power grid operators have always had to manage.
Grid operators use the interconnected power system to access other forms of generation when contingencies occur and continually turn generators on and off when needed to meet the overall grid demand.
Adding variable renewable power to the grid does not inherently change how this process of balancing electricity supply and demand works. Studies have shown that the grid can accommodate large penetrations of variable renewable power without sacrificing reliability, and without the need for “backup” generation.
Yes, actual legitimate drawbacks, not the superficial pantload that you just dropped about “downsides.”
They take up very little land that is being used for other things.
I’d say the midwest of the US-aka tornado alley-has plenty of wind blowing.
Very good article here about the winds needed to shut down a turbine-hint…you’re vastly overplaying how easily they are to normally shut down due to high winds:
dont confuse people with facts. It’s far easier to argue if you keep things simple, really simple. Great Lakes deep, very deep. Mexicans bad, very bad.
As others have pointed out, there’s always energy storage, but I agree with you that wind/solar aren’t suitable to provide 100% of all energy needs. Should we ever develop large scale storage, then that can change but would take some time.
Have you ever researched how many subsidies, tax breaks and other favorable legislation the fossil fuel industry receives from all levels of government?
You should…you’d be surprised.
I always love how subsidies and other assistance is descried when it’s handed out to renewables but when we examine the breaks fossil fuels receive…crickets.
Wow are you really gonna go up on this hill and take one for the team? You know wind energy doesn’t work by just having a propeller on your house and you only have lights when there’s a breeze, right? Please say yes.
For the love of God can we really not agree that Trump’s statement as quoted in the OP was just silly and uninformed?
Do we really have to go ten rounds pretending there was any deep thought that went into his statement when it was obvious all he was doing was riling the crowd up by spouting off things they wanted to hear?
Fowler Indiana, it’s known as the windiest place in America. There are three huge wind farms there. And while the wind may not blow 24/7/365. Take a trip at almost anytime day or night down I 65 or state rate. 231 in white county…and the turbines are almost always spinning. And the key is that they not only store energy but transmit energy to other places in the country.