Unraveling the Narrative Supporting a Green Energy Transition  

From Climate Etc.

by Planning Engineer (Russ Schussler)

The purpose of this article is to summarize and debunk many of the issues in the narrative surrounding  the proposed green energy transition as applies to the electric grid.  The issues are so numerous that this piece is at once both too long and too short. A full unraveling deserves a book or series of books. This posting however challenges the narrative through summary comments with links to previous posts and articles which can be read for a more detailed explanation or for greater depth.

The Narrative

Efforts to hasten a “green transition” find support in a powerful and compelling narrative. The following statements are widely believed, embraced and supported by various “experts”, a large part of the public and far too many policy makers:

1. Renewable Energy can meet the electric demand of the United States and World
2. Renewable Energy is economic
3. Renewable Energy sources can provide reliable electric service to consumers and support the grid
4. Renewable energy sources are inexhaustible and widely available
5. Clean Energy resources don’t produce carbon and are environmentally neutral
6. Renewable Energy Costs are decreasing over time
7. It will become easier to add renewables as we become more familiar with the technologies
8. The intermittency problems associated with wind and solar can be addressed through batteries.
9. Inverter based generation from wind, solar and batteries can be made to perform like conventional rotating generator technology
10. Battery improvements will enable the green transition
11. We are at a tipping point for renewables
12. Wind, Solar, and Battery technologies collectively contribute to a cleaner environment, economic growth, energy security, and a sustainable future
13. The world is facing severe consequences from increased CO2 emissions.
14. There will be an inevitable and necessary transition to clean economic renewables
15. Green Energy will allow independence from world energy markets
16. The clean grid will facilitate clean buses, trucks, tanks, planes
17. The third world will bypass fossil fuels and promote global equity
18. Replacing fossil fuels with green energy will have huge health benefits
19. It’s all about Urgency and Action

This narrative is compelling to many consumers and major policy makers. Unqualified acceptance of this powerful narrative makes it clear we should all be behind the movement to increase wind and solar generation along with other efforts to expand renewable resources.  Most all of the above statements making up the narrative are “somewhat” true. Unfortunately, the collective narrative as frequently adopted is at odds with the economics and physical realities of providing electric power and supporting civilization. 

How did this narrative become so widely accepted despite dismal real-world results?  A previous posting discussed, “How the Green Energy Narrative Confuses Things” by using misleading language and distraction (#44). Additionally,  tribal loyalties enable distortions and suppress more realistic assessments (#18, #10,#22, #42, &#39). While others should chime in on the social psychology supporting this movement, astute observers can’t miss the power of fear-based narratives, groupthink, demonization of dissenters and misplaced altruism (#39, #18,& #10).  Incentives and their impact on key actors play a major role (#38 & #29). The media overblowing trivialities and focusing on continually emerging “good news” helps cement undeserved optimism.   The great many failures are conveniently forgotten. Finally, it should be noted that the electric grid has been very robust. In the short run you can make a lot of “bad decisions” before negative consequences emerge to challenge the narrative. At that point it may be too late.

The next section will explore and critically examine various elements of the narrative in a very brief fashion, with links in many cases providing more detailed explanations and information. 

Unraveling the Narrative

1. Renewable Energy can meet the electric demand of the United States and World
   • “Renewable Energy” is not a coherent category and allows for a lot of confusion. #40
   • The green energy narrative began with simple calculations which found that the energy which could be derived from renewable resources like hydro, solar and wind matched or exceeded the energy consumed as electric energy. It is not a particularly meaningful observation. #28
     • It does not consider what may be involved in making that energy available when needed, where needed, with the proper characteristics needed.
   • Demonstrating that sufficient energy exists does not say anything about our ability to harness such resources. Large amounts of various “renewable” energy sources, such as those listed below. But even though the energy is there, and small amounts can be harnessed, most know enough not say the energy presence itself makes an energy transition feasible soon.
     • Tidal Energy
     • Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
     • Earths rotational energy
     • Earth’s magnetic field
     • Nuclear Fusion
     • Unconventional geothermal energy (Hot Dry Rock or Enhanced Geothermal Systems)
   • Using just sunlight and/or wind exclusively to power large motors, variable speed drives, non-linear loads, arc furnaces or power a modern civilization is not feasible at this time.
   • Projecting feasibility based only such “studies” or calculations may be from either a serious misunderstanding of the challenges to be faced or unconstrained infantile optimism around future breakthroughs.

2.Renewable Energy is Economic

• In limited cases, yes. In many cases, only in a trivial sense for a limited set of costs associated with these resources.
• While the marginal cost of production for wind and solar is low, approaching zero:
  • Total cost including backup and system needs tells a different story. #8 , #9, #2, & #20
    • Costly investments in grid improvements and backup generation are needed to accommodate and support any significant amount of intermittent asynchronous generation . #3 & #17
    • Operationally there are significant dispatch costs for backing up wind and solar.
  • Wind and solar projects typically are in service for far shorter periods than projected.
• The more wind and solar added to the system, the more costly they become.
  • Work best at low generation levels when they allow more costly resources to back down.
  • The lower their generation level, the more the system can accommodate them without additional costs. #2 & #26
  • It is demonstrated worldwide that increased levels of these resources are associated with higher electric costs for consumers and taxpayers.
• While home solar can be subsidized to appear low cost, it is misleading for the big picture, especially as applications increase. #6 & #5
• Average costs are misleading and cost measures such as LCOE are flawed as they do not reflect real world requirements. #8, #3, & #9
• Undoubtedly premature to advocate that that a resource is economic, without considerations of reliability, deliverability and its potential operation in conjunction within a resource mix as part of a grid.

3.Renewable energy sources can provide reliable electric service to consumers and support the grid.

• Statement may be trivially true, but is generally inaccurate.
• Generally, it is an accurate assessment for hydro, biomass and geothermal. #3 & #12
  • These involve traditional rotating machines in synch with the grid. They inherently supply essential reliability services for grid support.
  • These resources have flexibility for dispatch and ramping.
  • Geothermal and biomass are greatly restricted by local geography.
  • New applications of these resources face especially significant environmental challenges.
• Not so true for wind and solar generation. #12 & #26
  
  • They provide energy intermittently and do not match demand patterns. #2, #3, & #41
  • They do not spin in synchronism with the grid which has seriously inhibits their ability to support the grid. #7
  • They depend on the grid and synchronous rotating machines. #17
  • Problems associated with these resources increase as their penetration levels increase. #7
• Supposed “proofs” that wind and solar support the system generally come from cherrypicked brief off-peak periods when renewable generation exceeded demand (not really a good thing.)
  • Grid support must be 24 hours/day during peak and extreme conditions. Configurations should ensure that the grid can go ten years with one loss of load expectation (LOLE).
  • Coasting through an off-peak period does not imply sustainability.
  • Where wind and solar match load, it is near certain that considerable spinning rotational machines (hydro or fossil fuel) are on the interconnected grid backing up these resources either serving other load not counted, or on-line spinning ready to take on load. #21
  • They may just come from accounting efforts, with no attention to flows or time periods.
• Cost comparisons without considering reliability differences are worthless.

4.Renewable resources are inexhaustible and widely available.

• The resources needed to construct and maintain such facilities as well as resources needed to back them up are not inexhaustible. #40
• Geothermal is rarely available and some geothermal can be depleted.
• Further hydro development is problematic in most of the developed world. In the US some dams are being eliminated to return to a more “natural” state.
• Suitability for wind and solar varies considerably by region.
• All resource needs for using generation resources should be considered. #40
  • Scarce resources are needed in the production of wind and solar power.
  • Expected sustainability before depletion may be higher for nuclear power and some fossil fuel generating resources, than for resources needed for wind, solar and battery facilities. Of course, emerging developments may change expectations for any resource. 

5.Clean Energy resources don’t produce carbon and are environmentally neutral. #40

• Adverse impacts from “green” resources have typically received considerably less attention from the media, policy makers and advocates than similar impacts from conventional generation.
  • Although when it’s in their backyard, the problems of wind, hydro and large solar emerge and they become targets of local environmental groups.
  • Over time, the adverse impacts related to their operation and disposal become more and more evident. Recycling is challenging to impossible for the large structural components and also the scarce resources needed for energy conversion.
• The construction, maintenance and operation of such resources produce significant environmental impact including CO2 emissions.
• Geothermal generation produces CO2.
• Backup generators are often run inefficiently to allow for wind and solar generation.
  • Cases of fossil fuel, wind and solar generation may have higher emissions than similar cases with only fossil fuel generation running more efficiently.

6.Renewable Energy Costs are decreasing over time

• Some components are dropping – but total costs are more questionable as there is considerable data showing costs are rising.
  • Often cost data refers only to specific components that are decreasing, not the full cost for the installed facilities needed to generate energy and power.
  • In particular, land and labor push up costs associated with wind and solar.
• Increasing penetration levels raise overall costs for solar, wind and batteries. #26

7.It will become easier to add renewables as we become more familiar with the technologies.

• Only easier in limited ways attributable to things like experience and benefits of scope.
• Exponentially harder to add increasing levels of wind, solar and batteries. #26 & #2
  • Asynchronous and intermittent resources are harder to integrate as their levels increase.
  • Prime renewable locations will already be exploited, and less desirable locations remain.
  • Continued developments entails the need to move energy longer and longer distances.
  • As wind and solar increase, early adopters will be less able to lean on neighboring systems.

8.The intermittency problems associated with wind and solar can be addressed through batteries.

• Possibly, but at a great cost and added complexity. #2, #41, & #43
• This assertion is extremely misleading when it implies that intermittency is the main problem.
  • Compared to the problems associated with asynchronism and the capabilities of inverter-based generation, intermittency is a much smaller problem.
  • Hiding/ignoring misleading points in the green narrative. #44
  • Asynchronism is the problem more so than intermittency.

9.Inverter based generation from wind, solar and batteries can be made to perform like conventional rotating generator technology.  #43, #41, #3, & #19

• Note – most people are not aware of the asynchronous problems associated with wind, solar and batteries.
• When these elements let the grid down, the cry is “make the grid more resilient” as if that has some real meaning.
  • Enhanced inverters may perform “like” rotating elements in limited environments, but this “like” way is radically inferior to the performance of rotating generators. #30, #29
  • Inverter performance may improve with technological advances. However, they have an extremely long way to go.
    • Theoretically they can do a lot rotating machines cannot, but the complexity of taking advantage of that while coordinating with other changing elements across the grid so they all perform well together across all potential contingency conditions is immense.
    • Similar optimism exists for superconductors to improve the grids reliability and efficiency, but it would be extremely foolish to depend on either to support a planned energy transition. They are far from being judged as feasible.
  • This is the biggest problem the green narrative overlooks and is the major stumbling block to widespread integration of wind, solar and batteries.
• When that problem can’t get ignored, the green narrative is to back up and have someone say with technological improvements, inverters can perform “like” synchronous generation without any recognition of the drawbacks.
• When inverters are made to provide extra functionality, it raises the installed costs and entails a significant reduction in energy output and reliability.
• Three phases of Inverter development, none have achieved widespread use
  • Pseudo inertia (synthetic inertia), Grid supporting, Grid Forming.
    • Phases are more goal oriented or aspirational than accomplishment based.
    • Each is intended to do more than the previous “development” phase to “mimic” rotating generators.
    • Research and applications are largely on paper, in laboratories and pilot programs. Few if any working plants are gaining needed operational experience.
  • The early phases were sold as “the way” to allow higher penetration of inverter-based generation but were found not be able to deliver as promised.
  • The insufficiency of these approaches was recognized long before any large-scale implementations were undertaken (Note-generally phased development follows a widespread deployment of earlier phases prior to successive improved phases. In this area, the task is so far beyond the capabilities that prior phases can’t really show much proof of concept in the field.)
  • Why should we expect the latest grid forming phase to do better than predecessors?
  • Overwhelmingly, most wind and solar applications on the grid do not have functioning special inverter capabilities of any sort.

10.Battery improvements will enable the green energy transition.

• As discussed previously, batteries may address intermittency, but not the major problem of inverter-based generation.
  • Batteries suffer from the same inverter based problems as wind and solar.
  • Their inability to adequately provided needed system reliability services is usually not addressed. #29
  • Much is made of continual reports on improvements in battery technology
    • Many breakthroughs in research but they take development in differing directions and are not compatible with most of the other breakthroughs. “Breakthroughs” are typically not cumulative, corroborative or generally able to be combined.
      • Inverter-based improvements needed for wind, solar and batteries suffer from similar development challenges.
      • Consider the path of high temperature superconductors which were projected in the near term, but hit a wall before widespread practical applications could be employed.)
    • To control for extreme weather events (e.g. Dunkelflaute) might require that batteries completely ignore wind and solar capacity. Leaving tremendous amounts of unused capacity most of the time.

11.We are at a tipping point for renewables. #44

• Which renewables are included is debatable. #40
• Tipping point is not defined and only weak evidence is cited. –  #44

12.Wind Solar and Battery technologies collectively contribute to a cleaner environment, economic growth, energy security, and a sustainable future. #40 & #42

• They might contribute small amounts at low penetration, but they are dwarfed by huge drawbacks at higher penetration levels.
• In delicate environments, small compact fossil fuel-based energy sources may be superior to renewable resources with more intrusive footprints. #14
• See v above.

13.The world is facing severe consequences from increased CO2 emissions.

• The greater the risks from increasing CO2, the less we can afford to favor wind, solar and battery technology over more pragmatic approaches. #32
• This is the most dangerous component to be incorporated into this narrative.
  • Because of this fear, it is argued we must chase bad ideas. #18
  • Because of this fear, dissent from these bad ideas is demonized. #18
  • Because of this fear, we must move to a panic mode and do counterproductive things. #1
    
    • The greater the risk from climate change:
      • The smarter we need to be.
      • The less we can tolerate bad ideas and wasted efforts.
    • Climate concerns do not change the physics of the grid nor the functioning of resources.
      • However, extreme weather will make “green” resources less suitable.
      • While the need for reliable, affordable power will be greater.
    • Green plans misdirect a lot of resources and weaken energy policy approaches. #42
      • If situation is that grim as regards CO2 emissions:
        • Perhaps that should outweigh any concerns around nuclear energy.
        • Perhaps environmental damage from new hydro is warranted as well to address climate.
        • If new nuclear and hydro are out, changing civilization is an option that needs to be on the table, frequently discussed and fully considered.
        • False appeals to questionable technologies will not help us.
        • False hopes of improving technology will only hurt us.

14.There will be an inevitable and necessary transition to clean economic renewables

• When? It is very unlikely to be in the foreseeable future and certainly not in a planning time frame.

15.Green Energy will allow independence from world energy markets

• We depend on other countries for material and components needed to construct renewable facilities.
• Wind, solar and batteries cannot run steel mills and industrial processes needed for a “green” energy transition, not sustain civilization after (unless you call nuclear and hydro green)..
• How is the fear of “foreign oil” so much more of concern than dependence on rare earth metals and other foreign imports.

16.The clean grid will facilitate clean buses, trucks, tanks, and planes

• Not if it doesn’t work.
• Wind, solar and batteries alone clearly cannot provide for such growth in electric consumption.

17.The third world will bypass fossil fuels and promote global equity

• Nonsense

18.Replacing fossil fuels with green energy will have huge health benefits

• More costly energy is associated with alternative use of dirty fuels creates hazardous pollution in many third world areas.
• Rising costs of electricity generally encourages less clean alternatives that are more difficult to monitor.

19.It’s all about Urgency and Action

• If urgency and action could dependably solve hard problems, years ago we’d have a cure for cancer and the common cold, flying cars, jet packs and ended world hunger.

It might be argued that the above refutations (even with citations) are too quick and lack detailed substantial evidence. While there is quite a bit out there that can be referenced, it should be pointed out that the arguments supporting a green transition are asserted without with much serious reasoning and far flimsier support than provided here.  That which is easily asserted without foundation should not require overly demanding refutations. Clearly when and if more detailed claims supporting a green energy transition are made, they can be answered with more detailed rebuttals.

Academics are a key part of the problem of a sustained false narrative. Much of the “evidence” out there comes from small studies of single variables with academic models which are stretched far behind what was analyzed.  Additionally, expert opinions come from many “experts” who “preach” far outside their fields of expertise and training. There are rewards in academia for furthering optimism on the green transition.  There are not so many incentives for nay-sayers.  Academics who understand the problems and would offer caution, generally do not have the reach of those who promote optimism by clouding the facts.  The many half-truths presented from different sources cannot be summed up to imply a credible narrative, even though many have the impression this makes a strong case.  #44

Clearly there are many discontinuities between theory and what is observed in the real world as regards the potential for wind, solar and batteries.  Milton Friedman said, “One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.” I’d add, “What happens in the field should be more convincing what you calculated on paper”.  The next section will cover truths that need to be added to any considerations around our energy future.

Truths that need to be part of Energy Transition Narrative

These truths don’t get near as much attention as the above. Sometimes they are hidden and sometimes they are summarily denied rather than given the attention they deserve.

1)Adequately addressing the energy future requires we understand the true costs and benefits of ALL available and potentially available technologies. #1 & #3

2)Large grids are dependent upon and run on rotating machines. #3, #7, #11, #26 & #12

3)No Grids run on asynchronous generation only (or majority asynchronous) without significant backup.

• Despite reports that wind, solar and batteries power a system – real world cases always involve significant conventional generation backing them up somewhere on the interconnected grid.
• Asynchronous wind, solar and batteries without rotating backup resources are not feasible power supply element for large power systems.

4)Hydro, biomass and geothermal are fine for grid support, but are problematic and/or not available in many areas.

5)Wind and solar face major challenges in achieving significant penetration levels and have many underdiscussed issues.

• Wind and solar resources have more limited lifespans and greater costs than typically modeled. #8 & #9 Batteries may be worse.
• Expected performance during and after disasters is often over-exaggerated.

6)Costs of Wind and solar resources are often hidden and assigned to others. #5, #6, & #31

• Rates that are subsidized by non-users. #5
• Support costs are built into the transmission or distribution rate and paid by others.
• Shorter life and costlier maintenance and replacements.
  • Ivanpah Solar facility ($2.2 Billion. 400 MW) shuttered in 11th year because it’s not worth the operating costs to keep the “free” energy online.
  • Wind Turbines have short lives and costly repairs.

7)If Nuclear is the right direction, current efforts at wind and solar are misguided. Nuclear plants run best full out with low incremental cost.   Displacing nuclear with intermittent wind and solar makes little to no sense.

8)It’s possible to subsidize a few things that have small costs to support development of green resources, but small costs multiplied by orders of magnitude are crushing. #6

9)Utility costs are regressive, dis-proportionally hitting those less well-off and least able to afford rising costs. These costs are more regressive than taxation schemes. #5 #6, & #31

10)If we must cut carbon emissions without nuclear and hydro, drastically changing civilization is an option that needs to be on the table, openly and frequently discussed and given full considered.

11)Energy Markets are not working well.  My take is energy provision cannot effectively and efficiently be broken into separated independent components. Utilities used to provide an amalgamation of goods and services for their customers.  Separating out distribution, and transmission services increase complexity, but still doesn’t set up energy or its components as commodities. Separate commodities for hourly energy, capacity, emergency power, reliability services, backup power, and spinning reserve eliminate many of the efficiencies available from full-service power supply. For example: daily energy markets don’t support long term emergency power. Who pays for facilities needed for only once in a decade extreme weather, and when and how do they pay for it?  Daily markets drive those resources which have emergency value out of business. Perhaps I am wrong, but experience tells us markets uncharacteristically are not working well for energy and energy services. #45

12)Credible plans for any electric energy future, let alone a major transition, will need to integrate studies of both supply and deliverability while balancing economics, costs and public responsibility. No conclusions about what may be worthwhile is possible without such considerations. #16 & #39

Other Topics that need to be considered

A)China and India’s CO2 emissions will likely dwarf emissions from western nations soon. Which is a more effective role for the US:

1. As a leader developing, promoting and sharing clean fossil-based technologies to be emulated by developing and third world nations. #36
2. As a leader among advanced nations promoting green technologies largely overlooked by most of the planet as they use less clean resources and their emissions grow exponentially?

B)What about developing countries in the third world? How we can hold them back by requiring they use a path that we can’t make work.  Their burdens are more significant than ours.

1. Economic barriers – high initial investment or crushing burdens from foreign loans.
2. Human capital -technical skill needs.
3. These resources work even less well without an established strong grid.
4. Often more extreme climates increase challenges.
5. Specialized problems such as theft, waste management, and cultural acceptance.

C)Can effective regulation, as opposed to current regulatory practices revive nuclear construction significantly?

D)Energy density problem (EROEI) – Can solar and wind provide enough energy to be self-perpetuating considering full lifetime needs?

1. There is no significant production of “green” infrastructure with wind and solar energy.
2. Wind and solar infrastructure depend today on fossil fuel-based energy for their construction and operation.

E)Grid and energy prices are globally critical to healthy economies and a reasonable quality of life.

F)How do we incentivize policy makers to prioritize long term goals versus what’s expedient the next few years. #38 & #1

1. Imprudent short-term boosts (ignoring maintenance, depleting reserves) provide temporary advantages while building for the future initially entails greater costs.
2. For job evaluations, it’s easier to see what was done, rather than evaluate the long-term benefits of such programs
3. Engineers professionally suffer for not supporting green goals
4. Supporting green goals has rewards for practicing engineers.
5. I have never seen anyone recognized & rewarded for standing up for the grid ten years ago.
6. Bad incentives and the hope that technology or policy changes will arrive on time before things have gotten too bad, keeps most of those who might speak out in check.

G)How do we combat feel-good narratives? Energy is much more complex than recycling. Despite great under-achievement, renewable hopes have persisted for long time periods.  Will the false hopes of wind, solar and batteries be just as intractable despite real world experience?

How Does the Green Energy Narrative Remain Strong Despite the Big Picture?

It’s hard to argue against the “green energy“ agenda. “There’s always something just around the corner that’s going to change everything”, we’re often told (#34, #43 & #24 ).  It’s seductive, “Somebody is investing a lot of money now in the next great thing and we should be part of that as well.” But those things don’t pan out.  There is broad support and rewards for going along with the “green” narrative, even for projects as ridiculous as “electric roadways” ( #42) and especially for projects as big and bold as the German Energiewende.  A decade ago, when warning of emerging  problems, countless times I was told that Germany had proved it could be done.  In this piece (#21) in 2017, a coauthor and I tried to point out the problems with that representation. Despite voices like ours, the world remained largely impervious to criticisms of the German experiment. By the time Germany’s huge failure became apparent for all to see, the argument moved on to Australia where “it’s now  being proved it can be done”.  Chris Morris and I did a series (#33, #34, #35) on Australia in 2023 highlighting our understandings of those efforts and our expectations for underperformance.  It’s not looking good for Australia, or England or for any who have raced to have high penetrations of wind and solar.  But dismal real-world results so far have not been much of a brake on the movement.  Renewable “experts” remain undeterred and unmoved by failed ideas.( #37)

Prior to the green energy narratives, there had been near continuous progress with engineers building and maintaining stronger and more robust grids that held up well across varied challenging conditions.  The trend was that widespread grid outages (not the same as distribution outages) were becoming increasingly rare as grids became more robust and resilient. The beginnings of the “green transition” served to slow and reverse that progress. Most grids are sufficiently strong such that significant degradations do not show up as system problems for quite some time. The likelihood that problems won’t manifest for some years down the road makes it hard for defenders of the grid to stand up to short term pressures to go greener. (#38)

The strong robustness of the grid makes it hard to clearly identify and point out emerging problems with the grid.  As I wrote here (#27)

The power system is the largest, most complicated wonderful machine ever made. At any given time, it must deal with multiple problems and remain stable. No resources are perfect; in a large system you will regularly find numerous problems occurring across the system. Generally, a power system can handle multiple problems and continue to provide reliable service. However, when a system lacks supportive generation sources, it becomes much more likely it will not be able function reliably when problems occur.

When an outage occurs, you can always choose to point a finger at any of the multiple things that went wrong. (#44, #26)   Some traditional fossil fuel technology will always be included in the set of things that were not right.  (Loss of just renewables doesn’t usually cause big problems because apart from energy, they don’t support the system while in service.) For various reasons, advocates insist the finger should be pointed away from renewables (and the gap in needed system support) and at the conventional technology that was not perfect when the outage occurred.  It’s critical to note that conventional technology is never perfect across a large system, however we were able to make reliable robust systems that could easily accommodate such imperfections. But now the presence of less dependable resources and inverter-based energy makes systems far less robust, even during times when those problematic resources are working well. It’s  a near sure bet the next large grid outage will be largely caused by problems associated with high levels of wind and solar penetration, whether those resources are available during the outage or not.  That bet can’t be made, because no referee acceptable to both sides can be found.

Conclusions

The case for an energy transition based on wind, solar and batteries is grossly incomplete and stands against evidence and reason.  The green narratives sub-propositions in isolation contain some truths, but they are extended in misleading ways.   A collection of 200, 800, or ten million studies showing that isolated challenges around renewable resources can be addressed cannot make a case for reliable, affordable deliverable energy.  When the resources are ready, proponents can make a case by operating a small system without connection to conventional generation that experiences  varied load conditions and real-world challenges.  When a case for large scale penetration of wind, solar, and batteries has been made with adequate considerations of costs, reliability and deliverability, it can then be reviewed and challenged with detail.

Planning must balance economics, reliability and environmental responsibility using  real workable technology which conforms with the physics of the grid and meets the needs of society (#15,#16, #25, #23 & #32).  Electric supply and the grid are too important to base policies upon poor narratives and incomplete understandings. Hope for future improvements must be based on realistic expectations.  Going a short way down the “green” path is easy.  Adding a bit more “renewables: isn’t that expensive and the gird is plenty robust for incremental hits.  For most involved, it’s easier to go with that flow than to stand up for long-term concerns.  But we are getting closer to the cliff as costs continue to increase and reliability problems become more prevalent. 

Policy makers need to consider a fuller and more complete array of truths around renewables and the grid. Rigorous considerations of many complex and interlinking issues between generation and transmission are needed to build and support modern grids. No-one, even those with a lifetime in the business, fully understands everything involved. Experience and incremental changes have served the development and operation of the grid well.  Many outside “experts”,  have next to no real knowledge of the complexities involved and propose dramatic changes. Without serious and time-consuming efforts from policy makers, real grid experts can’t compete with proposals that are basically founded upon tee-shirt slogans.  Spending money, altering systems, and hoping for the best based on the green narrative alone is a recipe for disaster. 

Notes

Thanks to Meridith Angwin, Roger Caiazza and Chris Morris for reviewing drafts and providing useful comments.  I’ve tried to do a lot here in a limited space and the treatment is somewhat uneven across the broad range of topics. I welcome others to improve and build upon these ideas and structures.  I would be glad to assist in such efforts as long as it is not tied to other political, religious, or social issues.  My focus is on energy and encouraging reasonable energy policies and regulations. 

Previous Postings and Articles Referenced

1. Myths and Realities of Renewable Energy – 2014/10/22  
2. More renewables? Watch out for the Duck Curve – 2014/11/05
3. All megawatts are not equal – 2014/12/11
4. Taxonomy of climate/energy policy perspectives – 2015/02/03
5. Clean Air – Who Pays? – 2015/02/09
6. What should renewables pay for grid service? – 2015/04/21
7. Transmission planning: wind and solar – 2015/05/07
8. True costs of wind electricity – 2015/05/12
9. Solar grid parity? 2015/05/31
10. Why Skeptics hate climate skeptics – 2015/06/03
11. Microgrids and “Clean” Energy – 2015/07/28
12. Renewables and grid reliability 2016/01/06
13. Energy strategies: horses for courses – 2016/03/20
14. Energy and Environment on the “Garden Island” – 2016/06/16
15. Drivers & Determinants for Power System Entities, Electric Energy (RMEL), Summer 2016,
16. Balance and the Grid – 2016/09/12
17. Reports of the Electric Grid’s Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated Power Magazine 2017/04/1
18. Science Marchers, Secretary Perry’s Memo and Bill Nye’s Optimism – 2017/04/24
19. Renewable resources and the importance of generation diversity – 2017/05/09
20. The Grid End Game T&D World 2017/06/26
21. Myth of the German Renewable Energy Miracle – T&D World 2017/10/23
22. Trying to Make Sense of Musk Love and Solar Hype – 2017/10/27
23. Third-World Grid, Smart Grid or a Smart Grid? T&D World 2018/6/25
24. Reflections on Energy Blogging – 2019/10/21
25. Will California “learn” to avoid Peak Rolling Blackouts? – 2022/09/12
26. The Penetration Problem. Part I: Wind and Solar – The More You Do, The Harder It Gets -2022/10/3
27. The Penetration Problem. Part II: Will the Inflation Reduction Act Cause a Blackout? – 2022/10/11
28. Academics and the grid Part I: I don’t think that study means what you think it means – 2023/01/04
29. Academics and the grid. Part II: Are they studying the right things? – 2023/01/09
30. Academics and the Grid Part 3: Visionaries and Problem Solvers – 2023/01/15
31. Green energy: Don’t stick Granny with the bill – 23/01/29
32. Net Zero or Good Enough? – 2023/02/09
33. Australian Renewable Integration – Part 1 – 2023/03/02
34. Australian Renewable Integration – Part 2 – 2023/03/08
35. Australian Renewable Integration – Part 3 – 2023/03/11
36. The Earths Green Future is Forked – 2023/04/03
37. Renewable Experts: Undeterred and Unmoved by Failed Ideas – 2023/04/17
38. Silence of the Grid Experts – 23/05/03
39. Fauci, Fear, Balance and the Grid – 2023/05/08
40. Time to retire the term ‘renewable energy’ from serious discussion and energy policy directives – 2024/02/05
41. Time to Retire the Term “Renewable Energy” from Serious Discussions and Policy Directives: Part II – 2024/02/16
42. Time to Retire the Term “Renewable Energy” from Serious Discussions and Policy Directives: Part 3 – 2024/02/22
43. Wind and Solar Can’t Support the Grid – 2024/12/05
44. How the Green Energy Narrative Confuses Things – 2025/1/30
45. Assigning Blame for the Blackouts in Texas – 2021/2/18