This is an example of why the TVA analysts recommended discounting wind power’s contribution to 2% of rated capacity. The TVA management decided to use 8% for planning. But the press almost always talks about wind power in terms of it’s theoretical maximum instantaneous output (a quite useless figure). Thanks to Rod Adams for this graphic and discussion:
When I posted a short post about Bonneville Power Administration’s recent record setting “hour of power” one of you posted a link to a web site that provides a near real time view of the last 8 days of the system wind power output versus the total system demand. If you are ever curious about what has gone on recently with the system, just go there.
Wind power is for blowhards! The DOE says it’s 50-100% more expensive than coal so logically, the truth is twice to five times that. It’s not that the DOE lies, it’s just a matter of how big of a lie their willing to tell; Kinda of like the one about the DOE being created to decrease Americas dependence on foreign oil! LOL.