{"id":280997,"date":"2023-09-29T10:25:40","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T08:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=280997"},"modified":"2023-09-29T10:25:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T08:25:44","slug":"texans-left-scrambling-for-power-as-wind-turbines-take-another-summer-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=280997","title":{"rendered":"Texans Left Scrambling For Power As Wind Turbines Take Another Summer\u00a0Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Wind turbines in the Papalote Creek Wind Farm near Taft, TX. Monday, Oct. 28, 2013.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From STOP THESE THINGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Texas is littered with solar panels and wind turbines, but don\u2019t expect them to deliver power as and when you need it. As happens most years, wind turbines across Texas have been on their annual summer vacation, for weeks now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In their absence, solar is able to pitch in for a while, but sunset has this remarkable and dramatic effect on output. Which means that, by the time householders turn on their air conditioners and settle down for an ice cold beer in the evening, almost all of their electricity needs are being covered by gas, coal and nuclear, in that order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet again, a calm and balmy Texan summer has shown the part-time power producers to be utterly meaningless, as Ed Ireland explains below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Texas Dunkelflaute<\/strong>
Thoughts About Energy and Economics
Ed Ireland
9 September 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Texas’ blackout left millions powerless.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The hot Texas wind has been dropping off in the summer afternoons of 2023, sending Texas wind turbines on summer vacation. Solar power has faired pretty well on most days, but when the sun sets every evening, solar power goes to zero. The German word for weather conditions that result in no wind or solar generation is \u201cDunkelflaute.\u201d The Texas version of Dunkelflaute has occurred many evenings this summer, with some pushing the Texas grid to near collapse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The operator of the Texas electricity grid, ERCOT, declared an Emergency Level 2 on September 6, 2023, because reserve generation capacity had dropped to less than 1,750 megawatts. The emergency notice said: \u201cERCOT expects tight grid conditions, requests conservation today from 5 PM to 9 PM CT.\u201d It goes on to explain the reasons underlying the emergency:<\/p>\n\n\n\n