The Hazards of Intermittent Energy Sources: Case Study Big Wind Power

Many otherwise intelligent people have become infatuated with the idea of using big wind and big solar power to replace coal, gas, and nuclear for generating electrical power. But none of these people have come to realistic terms with the problem of intermittency. Unpredictably intermittent sources of energy do not go well with the rigorous demands of electrical power grids. Anyone who wants to plan for a more abundant future would do well to understand why this is the case.


This video version of the famous John Droz slideshare presentation on big wind energy, is a fairly succinct and easy to follow "once-through" look at the problems of intermittent energy sources -- specifically big wind. The slideshare presentation is always available for a more lingering look, or for digesting the ideas a little bit at a time.

There are a number of PDF reports on the web which look at the problematic impacts of intermittent energy sources on the power grid. The intelligent thinker will want to gain as wide a perspective on this issue as possible, given the modern green socio-political steamroller attempting to force the intermittent unreliable energy sources onto power grids. Even if it kills us, it is for our own good, we are told.

More information:

High Cost and Low Value of Electricity from Wind (PDF)

Real Cost of Wind Power (PDF)

Electricity Costs: The Folly of Wind (PDF) via GWPF

Why is wind power so expensive? (PDF via GWPF)

Wind Energy: The Case of Denmark (PDF)

More information on this topic is available on the Al Fin Energy sidebar, and in articles posted on Al Fin Energy under the topics of wind, solar, and renewables.