Following False Prophets: Why Wind & Solar Can Never Replace Fossil Fuels

Sunset and calm weather mean wind and solar can and will never replace conventional power generators. By ‘conventional’ we mean coal, gas, nuclear and, where geography and geology permit, stored hydro and geothermal power. Show a picture like the one above - the entire output of every wind turbine connected to Australia’s Eastern Grid during … Continue reading Following False Prophets: Why Wind & Solar Can Never Replace Fossil Fuels

Wind & Solar Chaos Leaves Europe’s Power Grid On Brink of Total Collapse

Germany led the way, and others soon followed: erratically delivered wind and solar now dominates Europe’s power grid. Naturally enough, power prices have rocketed and grid managers are left to deal with the chaos delivered by sunset and/or calm weather. Rapid surges and/or collapses in voltage and frequency - consequent upon surges and collapses in … Continue reading Wind & Solar Chaos Leaves Europe’s Power Grid On Brink of Total Collapse

Minnesota Madness: Big Freeze Exposes Wind & Solar’s Deadly Flaw – Hopeless Intermittency

Power consumers pinning their hopes on the weather, inevitably learn to expect mixed results. 200,000 Victorian businesses and households learnt the hard way, as a sudden wind power output collapse left them sweltering during a summer heatwave. At the other end of the temperature spectrum, the risk of being powerless is even more serious. The … Continue reading Minnesota Madness: Big Freeze Exposes Wind & Solar’s Deadly Flaw – Hopeless Intermittency

Renewable Energy Meltdown: Heatwave Leaves Wind ‘Powered’ South Australians Sweltering In the Dark

If you’re relying on the weather for your power, prepare yourself to live without it: South Australians know the drill very well. In yesterday’s post, we focused on 25 January the day when Victorian wind power output struggled to produce 20% of its nameplate capacity, and 200,000 households struggled to survive without air-conditioning, or any … Continue reading Renewable Energy Meltdown: Heatwave Leaves Wind ‘Powered’ South Australians Sweltering In the Dark

Want Rocketing Power Prices? Just Add Intermittent Wind & Solar – South Australia Did

There’s something uncanny about the relationship between rocketing power prices and renewable energy: ask a German, Dane or South Australian. Despite some recent propaganda efforts suggesting that South Australians are currently enjoying 1970s power prices, Australia’s renewable energy capital still pays the world’s highest power prices – thanks to its ludicrous 50% Renewable Energy Target. The subsidies … Continue reading Want Rocketing Power Prices? Just Add Intermittent Wind & Solar – South Australia Did

Delusional NSW Energy Minister Claims Wind & Solar More Reliable Than Coal & Gas

Australia’s power pricing and supply calamity is down to greedy renewable energy rent seekers aided and abetted by pliant and gullible politicians. And, on the latter score, there’s none more so than the NSW Energy Minister, Don Harwin. Harwin, a sanctimonious windbag, is part of a small and insidious clique of Liberal politicians and lobbyists … Continue reading Delusional NSW Energy Minister Claims Wind & Solar More Reliable Than Coal & Gas

Wind Power Chaos Reigns: Scots Build Diesel Generators & Brace For Week-Long Blackouts

Let renewable energy zealots and other such ideologues anywhere near your power system and prepare for deadly chaos. Wind and solar ‘powered’ South Australians know what it is to do without power for days on end. Having experienced plenty of load shedding lasting for 5 hours or more, South Australians got a real taste of … Continue reading Wind Power Chaos Reigns: Scots Build Diesel Generators & Brace For Week-Long Blackouts

Dead End Power Trip: Land Hungry Wind Power Always a Problem & Never a Solution

  Wind power is a problem without a solution. Output collapses when breezes turn to zephyrs and when bluster turns to a gale: wind turbines automatically shut off as wind speeds reach 25 m/s (90km/h, 55mp/h or 48 knots). As South Australians found out on 28 September 2016 - when the whole State went black, … Continue reading Dead End Power Trip: Land Hungry Wind Power Always a Problem & Never a Solution

Batteries Included: Wind + Solar + Batteries = Insanely Expensive Power

  Despite the hype from RE zealots, the chaotic and occasional delivery of wind and solar won’t be cured with batteries, large or small. Sure, at a technical level, it is possible to store large volumes of electricity for a period, such that it might be released when power consumers need it. However, were such … Continue reading Batteries Included: Wind + Solar + Batteries = Insanely Expensive Power

Sky’s The Limit: Wind & Solar ‘Powered’ South Australians Hit With (Another) 22% Price Hike

Attempting to rely on intermittent wind and solar is guaranteed to send power prices into orbit. Just ask a South Australian. Despite some desperate wind industry propaganda efforts suggesting that South Australians are currently enjoying 1970s power prices, Australia’s renewable energy capital still pays the world’s highest power prices – thanks to its ludicrous 50% Renewable Energy … Continue reading Sky’s The Limit: Wind & Solar ‘Powered’ South Australians Hit With (Another) 22% Price Hike