Not really. That was the case five years ago…much has been learned and fixed although there is probably more to do.
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Energy Discussion
- Thread starter Treetop Flyer
- Start date
When you read reports on what it takes to fully exploit nuclear, renewables, energy storage (batteries, hydro) etc., and to service energy sinks like EVs and data centers, they are all pretty much in agreement that we need a 2x or 3x increase in grid capacity, along with in general an increase in technology used (superconducting transmission, DC transmission, extremely high power electronics switching,...)
Googling on "Superconducting grid power transmission" is always interesting.
Are you insane?
The article refers to disruptions of electricity delivery due to weather related failures/damage. The too hot
/too cold reference is related to capacity to deliver over a nominal grid.
Rather than calling Chuck names, I'd like to ask how Texas has improved their grid, as in dollars, and actual completed infrastructure.
I have a buddy who works at the Western Area Power Administration (former SWO). He explained to me the uniquely isolated Texas grid and how it contributes to their past problems with reliability. I expect changing that would be extremely costly and time consuming.
Their proud go it alone approach to not integrating with the rest of the national grid is kind of dumb.
We end up with places with excess power capacity at the same time that Texas undergoes a severe windstorm followed by plummeting temperatures. The power is there to share, but the wires to share it aren't.
A supergrid, analogous to the internet or the interstate highway system, that would allow any source in the country to sell power to any sink essentially instantaneously, would enable an incredible economy.