Billy_Bob
Diamond Member
Its those hidden costs... that they wanted to keep hidden..Even in the US the cost of idling is on the grid operator and is not charged to the renewable energy producer. Its a sham. The Western Area Power Administration WAPA is not allowed to charge for the idling plants. That is changing in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and others, where the cost is now bailable to the renewable operators. The renewable operators are screaming that they cant compete if they have to shoulder the cost for this. We voted to make them pay their own way.. I was looking at my power bill and the cost for wind energy tripled this month.. 0.23 cents /kwhLets look at this objectively...Alberta Canada is closing a wind farm down after 23 years. 3 years better than the estimated 20 year lifespan.
I couldn't find the numbers for the total cost involved in harvesting all the 'free wind energy' or the amount of energy produced compared to the nameplate capacity.
The interesting point is that no company is willing to step in and replace the turbines even though much of the infrastructure is already in place. It isn't economically feasible without a large govt subsidy they say.
No one will replace them... Why? Cost of maintenance and upkeep is far grater than they are letting it be known so profitability is far lower than they say it is. The Alberta power regulators reported that the output was less than 16% of name plate..
SO if you want the bottom line on this.. Its not profitable without massive government subsidies... which means its not profitable or reliable on its own...
Let's not forget the fossil fuel power plants idling in the background, ready to take up the slack when the wind doesn't blow. Should the cost of not running a ff power plant efficiently be added to the cost of renewables, or just left in the cost of non-renewables? I think we all know it IS tallied against fossil fuels, but should it be? Do you think we are getting an honest accounting of the costs of renewables?
Wait I don't get it this?.... So wind farms are screaming because they have to pay for iddling FF plants to back them up?
Hilarious..
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