Based on the fake fossil fuels release CO2 which is causing massive warming of the climate narrative, everything is being electrified, including cars. And electric demand is being further amplified by the huge server farms required to run artificial intelligence models. This surge in demand is colliding with the climate hysteric insistence that we use “renewable” electricity sources, primarily wind and solar. These sources are unreliable, very expensive–see your latest electric bill, and harmful to the environment. But they generate lots of subsidies for rich people. Those sources also stress the electric grid–the network of transformers and power lines that get electricity from the generation sources to the homes and businesses that need it.
A new report from the Department of Energy lays out just how stressed that grid is. We have already seen blackouts in some states. Imagine not having electricity for any extended period of time. Well, you won’t have to imagine it soon, you will be experiencing it. The report paints a dire picture but also lays out a plan to address them. The plan means dumping the unreliable electricity sources and returning to nuclear and gas as primary generation means. And it means hardening the various nodes in the grid against hackers, especially from adversaries like China, Russia and North Korea. (DOE Report)
This report and the one on climate change are companion pieces which every American should read to understand how a dangerous ideology is on the verge of crippling the most critical component of our economy. We will need at least eight years of a solidly conservative administration to reverse and fix the crisis created by the whackos.
I always like to mention the work of Marc Jacobson who is famous for his 100% renewable studies.
Who will become quite infamous if his goal of 100% renewable electric generation is achieved.
He brags that his solution has been stressed tested every 30 seconds and passed the stress test with flying colors. ( at least in his model).
The current average GW used in the US is approx 600gw, with a projected 979gw in 2050. (population increase and switching various heating to electric from gas and greater EV use). His total build out gross capacity for wind solar totals approximate 4700gw, using average actual capacity, the average is approximately 1370gw.
Note that Jacobson uses “averages”. As is commonly known by every grid and electric professional, there are both seasonal peaks and daily peaks. The winter and summer electric usage/demand average is about 20% higher than the spring and fall average demand. The daily peak and valley are about 15-20% higher/ and lower than the average daily demand. Further, Wind and solar both have large swings in supply. Spring and fall have the highest wind production which falls into the lowest seasonal demand period. Solar has the lowest supply in the winter which coincides with the highest heating demand.
Correctly running the math, the gap will be large with demand during both summer and winter exceeding supply by approximately 100gw-250gw for periods of 12-16 hours and up to 3-4 days. That is without accounting for events such as the Feb 2021 freeze or typical summer wind droughts that last 3-10 days at a time.