Across our beautiful country wind mills for generating electricity are being constructed. It appears to makes sense. Clean energy that will never run out. Who could argue with that? It is good for the environment. The wind is free and can’t be controlled by the oil companies. We are free from their horrible grip.
Are you ready for the ugly truth? Wind Generated Electricity produces little if any useable electricity. While oil companies can’t control the wind. The truth is no one can. WGE plays havoc on the power grid. As wind slows and increases the power output drops and spikes. These variations are compensated by conventional power plants.
When the wind is blowing the conventional power plants are forced to run on spinning stand by. Simply put these plants are running but not producing electricity. When the wind stops the conventional power plants are engaged to keep the supply constant.
Pouring millions of tax payer dollars into these feel good projects doesn’t make sense. It is like being forced to have an employee that works when he feels like it.
Wind Generated Electricity is displacing the existing conventional power plants when the wind is blowing. Wind Generated Electricity is causing the grid to spike and drop. This increase in maintenance cost that is paid for by the consumer.
Recently a Skiing Magazine ran an article about the perfect ski town. While the respect for the environment is commendable. The lack of reality is scary. These people appear to believe the entire resort and town could be powered by WGE. Unfortunately the environmentalists aren’t aware of the facts. Or choose to ignore them.
A possible solution is available.
1. Disconnect the existing wind mills from the grid.
2. Reroute the power to a series of upper and lower reservoirs.
The WGE could be used to pump the water to the upper reservoir when the wind is blowing. The water can be drained to the lower to generate electricity for the grid at a consistant rate. This will have some loss due to friction and heating. However the power drops and spikes will be eliminated. The supply of electricity will be more predicable.
A similar project has been in use in the Catskill Mountains for over 50 years. This upper lower reservoir system powers the New York City Subways.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
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