Wind works

Chances are, if you read the paper, you've come across some comment that claims wind energy doesn't work.

Well here's some headlines that have recently been published by various electrical operators from around the world:

"The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) reported that wind generation on its system reached a new high of 3,934 megawatts (MW) at 12:38 a.m. PST yesterday (March 4). For the full day, wind generated nearly 6 percent of the electricity on system."

"Three more wind electricity generation records were notched recently, in Texas, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest, as the increased generating capacity installed last year continues to make its presence felt.
Wind generation provided nearly 28 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT at the time and easily surpassed--by 814 MW, or nearly 10 percent--the previous record of 8,667 MW set on January 29 by 814 MW."

"On February 16, a new record for wind output was set on the main utility system in the Pacific Northwest, the Bonneville Power Administration power system. Wind energy output peaked at 4,402 MW at 4:05 PM, breaking the previous record of 4,344 MW that was set on January 29."

"Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the utility system serving most of the Lone Star State and saw a record January 29, when wind generated a new high of 32.1 percent of electricity supply on the system. The hourly wind generation peak for the day was 8,667 megawatts (MW) (8.667 GW), setting a new record as well."

" Spain, which accomplished something new and extraordinary in January, when wind power provided more of the country's electricity supply than any other energy source. The Spanish wind energy association as saying wind generated 6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) during the month, or approximately 25 percent of the country's electricity. The association also commented that the Spanish economy has "gained 3 euros for every 1 euro invested in incentives for wind farms" and that using fossil fuels to generate the same amount of electricity would have cost $406 million."

"The UK, where wind generation on Sunday peaked at a new high of 5 GW. That amount of power was 12 percent of the country's instantaneous demand, or enough to power 10 million homes. The article quoted RenewableUK Deputy Chief Executive Mat Smith: “This new record proves that Britain is generating an increasingly significant amount of clean electricity from wind. The quantity of low-carbon energy that wind is feeding into the grid is continuing to surge upwards. We’re set to generate 15 to 20% of the UK’s electricity from wind by 2020."

"Shanghai. November 8. INTERFAX-CHINA – Daily wind power output in northwest China has reached a record of 110 gigawatt hours, according to data released by Northwest China Grid Co. Ltd. on Tuesday."

China, "Wind has overtaken nuclear as an electricity source in China. In 2012, wind farms generated 2 percent more electricity than nuclear power plants did, a gap that will likely widen dramatically over the next few years as wind surges ahead. Since 2007, nuclear power generation has risen by 10 percent annually, compared with wind’s explosive growth of 80 percent per year."

Clearly, regardless of what the pundits would like you to believe, wind produces. And in Ontario, wind developers only get paid their $0.115/kWh when they produce power, hence, no power, no money. Period.

At $0.115 wind is cheaper then new hydro at $.122 - $.132/kWh, and much cheaper then new nuclear at $0.15+. So don't be misled when the pundits compare legacy costs from projects completed in the 70s' to the cost of new wind production. New nuclear, and new hydro can't compare with those prices, why should wind be expected to?