NOTE:
Apparently a UK union wanting
to keep the UK economy
working well
... while their politicians spend
a lot of effort to prevent that
from happening.
If you are going to have
reliable electricity,
then you need adequate
generating capacity
available 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
Whether wind / solar
is producing too little
electricity for out
for 50 days a year,
or ONE day a year,
you still need a lot of
fossil fuel back-up
generating capacity.
SUMMARY:
GMB, the Union
for energy workers,
reports that there
have been 65 days
since the start
of March 2017
when wind
was supplying
less than 10%
of the installed
and connected
wind capacity,
to the electric grid,
for more than half
of the day.
Every 1 out of 5.6 days
was a low wind day
( 65 days in total ) .
DETAILS:
There were 138 days
with one period
– of at least
half an hour
during the day --
when wind output
was less than 10%
of installed capacity.
For 12 of those days,
wind output was
less than 10%
of installed capacity
for EVERY period
during the day.
Those days were
10th and 18th March 2017,
2nd and 19th June 2017,
5th and 10th July 2017,
21st, 26th and 31st August 2017,
1st and 17th September 2017 and
11th January 2018.
There were
also 29 days
when solar output
in EVERY period
of the day was
below 10%
of installed
capacity.
Those days were:
18th and 19th October 2017,
20th and 21st November 2017,
5th, 6th, 10th, 13th, 17th,
20th-25th December 2017,
2nd, 4th, 9th, 12th-14th, 20th,
21st, 24th, 27th January 2018,
3rd, 19th February 2018,
1st and 2nd March 2018.
For 341 days in the year,
solar output was below 10%
of installed capacity
for more than half
of the day.
Justin Bowden,
GMB National Secretary --
His actual words:
“Renewable sources of energy are really intermittent.
There were 138 days in the past 12 months when there was at least one period – of a half hour- during the day when wind output was less than 10% of the installed capacity.
“There were also 341 days over same period when solar was supplying less than 10% of installed capacity to the national electricity grid for more than 12 hours a day.
When this happens cannot be predicted, so back up energy sources have to be available when demand for electricity is high.
“These are the facts for the 12 months to 8 March 2018 and facts are stubborn things.
It is the facts, not the hype, which should determine the UK’s energy policy decisions.
“The wind and solar fleets combined are a very valuable addition as UK based energy sources in that they are carbon free and are a positive help with the UK’s balance of payments.
"That they are intermittent should not be a point of contention but a reason why base load lower carbon gas and zero carbon nuclear energy sources are essential for a balanced and secure low emissions future. Anyone who disputes this is axe grinding.
“If we are to address the reality of climate change – whilst keeping our country’s lights turned on, our homes heated and our economy working – then we have to face up to the fact that we need a mix of energy which combines renewable sources, like wind and solar, with the reliable base load electricity capacity that comes from gas and zero carbon nuclear, to see us through all those times when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.
“Those advocating a renewables only energy policy cannot just shrug their shoulders on cloudy, windless days, or when it is dark, and pretend that more windmills and solar panels on their own can keep the lights on.
They have to accept that unless and until there is a scientific breakthrough on carbon capture or solar storage, then a balanced energy supply mix - which includes nuclear and gas as the only reliable shows in town – is a reality."