Wind Farm Fail

[catsnknots]

So during the heatwave down south when electricity demand was at it's peak wind farms  produced almost zero power. 

That is why renewable energy is not a good idea for the long term security of our energy supplies. 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/wind-fails-test-as-demand-soars/stor...

[catsnknots]

Well having just read that during a heatwave the solar panels don't work as well i don't think more of those would have helped.. 

and no.. I do not think that we should be paying any more for coal powered energy..... people are struggling more than ever to pay their power bills. We are a nation with a deep supply of coal and I think we need to figure out a way to provide a cheap supply of coal based fuel. 

Electricity is a necessity and not a luxury. 

[cherry*135]

How many days per year in each State, are the temps high enough to be considered a heat wave?

Not that many is my guess. The wind farms may not work as they are supposed to on  what 7 days a year? 10 days?

I haven't read the link because I can't access it.

[***super_nova***]

While solar panels may not work as well in very hot conditions, they stil do work and so more the better.

If you look at the I-V power curves on the spec sheet for these rooftop panels (PDF):

http://www.silikenusa.com/Resources/Docu...

you'll notice that they have different curves for different temperatures. But they do still produce power, certainly.  But I do notice that the top row, which is hotter due to heat rising from those below, consistently puts out a few less watts than the bottom row.

So more sun is certainly better; direct light is exactly what's needed. But hot panels due to poor air circulation or high ambient temperature does cut into efficiency.

(Solar thermal, of course, is a different story)

However, there are some photovoltaic panels that are designed specifically to operate in hotter temperatures. These panels have a higher temperature coefficient. This is especially important in high heat climates like Arizona or New Mexico.

Please note: Solar thermal panels used to heat water can withstand high temperatures without any degradation. In fact, hotter temperatures would actually be better for these types of modules.

[izabsmiling]

Re #112 The Solar power ...panels,batteries,Inverter at our home worked perfectly .

[i-need-a-martini]

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@the_hawk* wrote:

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

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@poddster wrote:

Martinus, question, How are you going to store mass energy?

Any ideas?

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I think you will find that commercial wind farms store compressed air that are used to generate electricity. How did you think they worked??

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store compressed air LOL

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Not sure why you are laughing.

Did you really think those big windmills only worked when the blades are turning? All of our mid to large wind farms store energy that can't be sold back to grid that gets released either through hydro or through compressed air release.

But regardless, I suspect most systems are likely to fail (or be turned off) in extreme heat. 

[catsnknots]

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@am*3 wrote:

How many days per year in each State, are the temps high enough to be considered a heat wave?

Not that many is my guess. The wind farms may not work as they are supposed to on  what 7 days a year? 10 days?

I haven't read the link because I can't access it.

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I have read lots about the brown out threats to countries that are turning to a huge reliance on renewable energy. 

In England they have been well and truly warned that they are heading to a time when they will not have enough power to warm homes during the winter and many people will have to choose between food or heat... and many will die because they need both to live. 

And to say that the turbines won't work on maybe 7 to 10 days a year??/ wt?? does the wind blow hard enough 350 days per year? I live by the ocean and we have many days where these is no breeze.. 

[***super_nova***]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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And to say that the turbines won't work on maybe 7 to 10 days a year??/ wt?? does the wind blow hard enough 350 days per year? I live by the ocean and we have many days where these is no breeze.. 

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That is why we need wide combinations of power generation.   Cost of renewables is going down; in some countries it is now cheaper than coal.  Here coal generation is so cheap only thanks to government subsidy.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

How many days per year in each State, are the temps high enough to be considered a heat wave?

Not that many is my guess. The wind farms may not work as they are supposed to on  what 7 days a year? 10 days?

I haven't read the link because I can't access it.

---

I have read lots about the brown out threats to countries that are turning to a huge reliance on renewable energy. 

In England they have been well and truly warned that they are heading to a time when they will not have enough power to warm homes during the winter and many people will have to choose between food or heat... and many will die because they need both to live. 

And to say that the turbines won't work on maybe 7 to 10 days a year??/ wt?? does the wind blow hard enough 350 days per year? I live by the ocean and we have many days where these is no breeze.. 

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Actually cat the newest development on wind turbines is that they work on heat. Not quite sure how it all works but I understand that if you create heat at the base of a turbine at the righ location coupled with whatever other energy ios required to create wind, then turbines of the future will be totally self sufficient. Basically they recreate wind.

(I went to a lecture at Sydney Uni late last year on the subject. Most went over my head but I picked up some fascinating (and very boring) info on how they work)

[cherry*135]

I live by the ocean and it is darn windy just about everyday!

[i-need-a-martini]

Well I suppose the experts don't just choose their locations randomly. So if cat gets no breeze then I doubt she'd get turbines near her. And if am gets too windy then I suppose they won't put turbines near her.