Given our dependence on the electric grid, it is rather amazing that we do not have a single working example of a solar, wind, and battery electric grid on any scale. Do it for a city, a county, or a state. Show the costs and issues with keeping an electric grid up 24×7.

Blogger Francis Milton describes the issue:

• “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the costs explode. They can build thousands of wind turbines and solar panels, but they can’t get rid of any of the dispatchable power plants because they are all needed for backup. So now they are paying for two duplicative systems. Then they must pay the dispatchable plants enough to cover their capital costs at half time usage. Then they must buy the fossil fuels for backup on spot markets where production has been suppressed by, for example, banning fracking….
• “Nobody would be happier than me to see a demonstration project built that showed that wind and solar could provide reliable electricity at low cost. Unfortunately, I know too much about the subject to think that that is likely, or even remotely possible. But at least the rest of us need to demand a demonstration project from the promoters of these fantasies.”

Link to Milton’s post.

Fantasy is the right word. Read Andrew Montford on the fiasco unfolding in the UK. Even using unrealistic assumptions, a study looking at a Net Zero grid in 2030 found that “call a halt” is the lowest cost option, even including the costs of “climate warming.”

Bombshell. The @neso_energy report to Ed Miliband shows that we would be better off *not* pursuing a Net Zero grid in 2030, *even taking into account the cost of global warming*. (THREAD) pic.twitter.com/qoOJqTeBJ6

— Andrew Montford (@aDissentient) November 5, 2024