The Pacific Northwest just finished four days of triple digit temperatures, which put the heat on renewable energy sources to keep up with demand. Just as records were being set for power consumption, wind power generation slowed due to the calm air from the locked-in high pressure system. The extreme weather highlights the reality that wind -- and to a lesser extent hydropower -- may not be a panacea for power production.
The Pacific Northwest just finished four days of triple digit temperatures, which put the heat on renewable energy sources to keep up with demand. Just as records were being set for power consumption, wind power generation slowed due to the calm air from the locked-in high pressure system.
The extreme weather highlights the reality that wind -- and to a lesser extent hydropower -- may not be a panacea for power production.
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Southern Washington and the Portland metro area had a record breaking streak of warmth that pushed energy demand to record highs, but the high pressure system also featured calm breezes. The local utility Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) had to quickly balance the reduction in wind power with increases in hydropower.
To make matters worse, during long hot and dry spells the water levels in the rivers that produce power can also drop, further reducing the ability for renewables to meet peak demand.
While wind is approaching grid parity for cost, it can't be equally dispatchable without energy storage or being augmenting by other more manageable resource. This reality check shouldn't detract from wind investments; it merely suggests a more balanced approach for utilities.
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