wind farms make too much energy

they should send that energy to other places that need it
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They can't do that, which was the point of the article. Their grid is so messed up it can't take all the turbines running above a certain level. It's not that it's a magic overage they're squandering, its that their infrastructure can't support their peak generation.

Which is a problem of wind power. It very rarely runs at a peak production, and often runs at far less than peak, meaning you need to build an over-capacity in order to get through all the not-as-windy days while keeping lights lit.
 
that's why they invented batteries, ya know :mrgreen:
 
ilwrath said:
they should send that energy to other places that need it
Click to expand...

They can't do that, which was the point of the article. Their grid is so messed up it can't take all the turbines running above a certain level. It's not that it's a magic overage they're squandering, its that their infrastructure can't support their peak generation.

Which is a problem of wind power. It very rarely runs at a peak production, and often runs at far less than peak, meaning you need to build an over-capacity in order to get through all the not-as-windy days while keeping lights lit.
Click to expand...

Which should be seen as a good problem to have, fix the infrastructure.
 
There are proposals to improve the infrastructure and increase capacity but they're being opposed by the NIMBY mob.
 
that's why they invented batteries, ya know
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Well, sort of. Except in this case, it would likely take more energy to package and ship the batteries than the amount of energy in them, thus resulting in a net waste of energy larger than just shutting a few generators down for a couple hours....

I would imagine they already have permanent batteries installed in the master station that help level net power output, but once those reach full and the lines are at full, that's it. Shut down a few generators.

It's not really a big deal, just one of the problems with wind. It's very difficult to keep running at a steady rate, so you need to build over-capacity.
 
cecilia said:
that's why they invented batteries, ya know :mrgreen:
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In British Columbia we have a battery called BC Hydro. They buy cheap electricity from California to pump water into the reservoirs when there is spare capacity and then run the turbines to sell the power back at peak.
 
FluffyMcDeath said:
cecilia said:
that's why they invented batteries, ya know :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

In British Columbia we have a battery called BC Hydro. They buy cheap electricity from California to pump water into the reservoirs when there is spare capacity and then run the turbines to sell the power back at peak.
Click to expand...

Neat concept! Dumb question, how do they keep the reservoirs from freezing over in the winter?
 
ilwrath said:
that's why they invented batteries, ya know
Click to expand...

Well, sort of. Except in this case, it would likely take more energy to package and ship the batteries than the amount of energy in them, thus resulting in a net waste of energy larger than just shutting a few generators down for a couple hours....

I would imagine they already have permanent batteries installed in the master station that help level net power output, but once those reach full and the lines are at full, that's it. Shut down a few generators.

It's not really a big deal, just one of the problems with wind. It's very difficult to keep running at a steady rate, so you need to build over-capacity.
Click to expand...
I wasn't thinking of portable batteries, but I agree...it's a tricky problem.

but having too much energy is a good thing

:mrgreen:
 
redrumloa said:
Neat concept! Dumb question, how do they keep the reservoirs from freezing over in the winter?
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Who cares. The ice floats on top and the turbines are at the bottom.
 
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