[Vision2020] WTF?

[Paul Rumelhart]

Ultimately, the problem with wind power is that it's not a constant load solution.  We need some kind of energy storage solution that is cost-effective, efficient, and high capacity.  Then we can use wind and solar to recharge the energy storage system and be buffered from the vagaries of wind speed and cloud cover.  Without that, we end up with a lot of our windmills not moving and our solar panels not receiving enough sunlight some of the time and falling short at others.  We also need a smarter electrical grid that can handle the fluctuations better and be smart enough to route energy to these energy storage systems when needed.  If the government wants to spend money on renewable energy, I would say spend it on electrical grid upgrades and large-capacity energy storage first.  Or nuclear, which actually *is* a base-load solution.

Paul



________________________________
 From: Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com>
To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
Sent: Thursday, March 8, 2012 8:04 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] WTF?
 

Thank you.

It is a complex subject. But does it make sense to pay for power not produced when water can be left through the dams free?

Those of us with $200 - $300 per month electricity bills fail to believe the cheapness argument.

w.


On Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 10:03 PM, Ron Force <rforce2003 at yahoo.com> wrote:

I think it's something like this:
>Wind power is currently not price competitive with hydro-power or natural gas without state laws that require "green energy" and tax breaks. The cost of the machinery to electrolyze water, store the hydrogen, and turn it back into electricity would add to the already non-competitive cost of wind power.
>
>
>The Whistling Ridge project, just approved by Gregoire over the objections of conservationists, is on hold by the developers for economic reasons-- the price of electricity is so low they can't make it pencil out.
> 
>Ron Force
>Moscow Idaho USA
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com>
>To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
>Sent: Wednesday, March 7, 2012 6:03 PM
>Subject: [Vision2020] WTF?
> 
>
>
>Why not use the excess power to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen, store these gases, then use them to generate electricity when the demand is greater?
>
>
>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/07/wind-power-companies-paid-to-not-produce/?test=latestnews
>
>-- 
>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
>art.deco.studios at gmail.com
>
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-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com

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