Wind and solar power alone can’t provide energy security

By Lethbridge Herald on April 8, 2023.

Editor:

Re: World needs to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

James Byrne in his speech to SACPA (March 24 Herald) stated renewable energy, wind turbines, solar panes, big grid batteries will replace fossil fuel usage in Alberta.

It has been demonstrated that wind, solar and battery back-up cannot be relied on to provided reliable power without base load fossil fuels or nuclear. One only needs to look at Europe this past winter as many nations have had to rely on coal or liquid natural gas when renewables up short in providing the necessary electrical generation. Californians, who are more reliant on renewables that anywhere in North America, also pay the highest electoral rates on the continent, as well.

During the winter months in Alberta, wind and solar generate minimal amounts of power to the electrical grid. As an example, on Dec. 20, 2022, with the province under an extreme cold alert, at 2:25 p.m. wind and solar were contributing a mere 54 megawatts of an installed solar and wind capacity of 4,756 megawatts. Big grid battery back-up, based on existing technology, cannot realistically fill in when renewables fail.

Battery back-up is exceedingly expensive and reasonable expectations of length of operation are likely to be measured in minutes rather than hours or days. In the dead of winter without fossil fuels, Albertans can look forward to freezing in the dark.

The Alberta Energy Operator puts out grid generation information including amount of current generation and source of energy that can be viewed on Twitter @ReliableAB.

Expectations that wind and solar will provide energy security and the necessary power to run modern industrial economy currently remain unrealistic.

Warren Lyckman

Lethbridge