{"id":386182,"date":"2025-07-01T14:24:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T12:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=386182"},"modified":"2025-07-01T14:25:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T12:25:55","slug":"too-much-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=386182","title":{"rendered":"Too Much Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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

From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Paul Homewood<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
https:\/\/www.solar.sheffield.ac.uk\/pvlive\/#<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, the 28th of June, was, you may recall, both sunny and windy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solar power peaked at 10.9GW at 1.00pm, while wind power was running at 12.4GW. Total electricity at that time was 32.3GW, including 2.51 GW, 0.90GW and 4.79GW from gas, bio and nuclear respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All well and good, you might say!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here is the rub. Ed Miliband is planning to triple offshore wind, double onshore wind and double onshore wind capacity by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a similarly sunny and windy day in June 2030 then, we can expect to see solar power hitting 33GW, and wind around 31GW. Even allowing for a small increase in demand, we will have twice the amount of electricity we need. Moreover, our nuclear plants will have to be switched off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently NESO pay a handful of remote wind farms to switch off when bottlenecks in the grid cannot cope. But in 2030, this will be a nationwide problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A particular problem is that all of this solar power and much of the onshore wind will be embedded in the regional distribution network. It will, in technical terms, be invisible to NESO, simply showing up as reduced demand. NESO will not have the ability to constrain these generators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interconnectors might take away a small part of this surplus, but Europe will be in the same boat, with excess solar power of their own. Meanwhile using the surplus to charge batteries might help for an hour or two, but the surplus will be building up for hours. Batteries are also likely to be already fully charged on days like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NESO admit that many days will feature 100% wind and solar \u2013 indeed even during autumn and spring as well. Their chart below has no y-axis, but their database shows weather dependent generation hitting nearly 60GW plus \u201cFirm\u201d capacity on most days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nowhere does their plan state how they will deal with these surpluses in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
NESO Clean Power 2030<\/strong>
https:\/\/www.neso.energy\/document\/346781\/download<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saturday, the 28th of June, was, you may recall, both sunny and windy.<\/p>\n

Solar power peaked at 10.9GW at 1.00pm, while wind power was running at 12.4GW. Total electricity at that time was 32.3GW, including 2.51 GW, 0.90GW and 4.79GW from gas, bio and nuclear respectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":386189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691836175,691831484,691831352,691818267,691836174],"class_list":{"0":"post-386182","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-double-onshore-wind","9":"tag-energy-secretary-ed-miliband","10":"tag-neso","11":"tag-solar-power","12":"tag-triple-offshore-wind","14":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/OIG.Lrbgef0x_.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1CsK","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":387247,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=387247","url_meta":{"origin":386182,"position":0},"title":"Solar Farms Paid To Switch\u00a0Off","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"07\/07\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"British\u00a0solar farms\u00a0have been paid to switch off for the first time as sunny days prompt a surge of clean power that could overwhelm the grid.","rel":"","context":"In \"EDF Renewables\"","block_context":{"text":"EDF Renewables","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=edf-renewables"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ChatGPT-Image-2.-Mai-2025-12_11_51.png?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ChatGPT-Image-2.-Mai-2025-12_11_51.png?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ChatGPT-Image-2.-Mai-2025-12_11_51.png?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ChatGPT-Image-2.-Mai-2025-12_11_51.png?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":291058,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=291058","url_meta":{"origin":386182,"position":1},"title":"Deluded Over Wind and Solar Security\u2013Euan Mearns","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"13\/12\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Sir, I imagine many P&J readers will be wearing woolly hats and jumpers, huddled around a candle trying to keep warm. It is very cold, calm and dark outside. Ideal conditions for excess winter deaths.","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate crisis\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate crisis","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-crisis"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":368803,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=368803","url_meta":{"origin":386182,"position":2},"title":"Yes, Coal and Natural Gas are Much Cheaper Than Wind and Solar","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/03\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Renewable power advocates often claim wind and solar are less expensive energy sources than coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. Such a claim begs the question of why the heavily subsidized Ivanpah solar power facility is going out of business, following a long line of other renewable energy project bankruptcies.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"coal\"","block_context":{"text":"coal","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=coal"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/00wind-turbines-2991696_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/00wind-turbines-2991696_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/00wind-turbines-2991696_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/00wind-turbines-2991696_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/00wind-turbines-2991696_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":350872,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=350872","url_meta":{"origin":386182,"position":3},"title":"Mad Miliband","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/11\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"How on Earth did this moronic idiot ever get near the levers of power?","rel":"","context":"In \"Net zero\"","block_context":{"text":"Net zero","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=net-zero"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0shutterstock_editorial_12467730d-2000x1331-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0shutterstock_editorial_12467730d-2000x1331-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0shutterstock_editorial_12467730d-2000x1331-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0shutterstock_editorial_12467730d-2000x1331-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0shutterstock_editorial_12467730d-2000x1331-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":359985,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=359985","url_meta":{"origin":386182,"position":4},"title":"Do conventional and intermittent system have the same\u00a0dynamic?","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/01\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently, I came across the blog post titled\u00a0The Dunkelflaute Disaster: What Happens When Wind Power Goes Silent. That post discusses the phenomenon known as Dunkelflaute, a German term that means \u201cdark doldrums\u201d (periods when there is little to no wind and sunlight, leading to a significant drop in energy production\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Dunkelflaute or \u2018dark doldrums\u2019\"","block_context":{"text":"Dunkelflaute or \u2018dark doldrums\u2019","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=dunkelflaute-or-dark-doldrums"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0RWE_Blog_Thema-Dunkelflaute_1340x590.webp?fit=1200%2C528&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0RWE_Blog_Thema-Dunkelflaute_1340x590.webp?fit=1200%2C528&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0RWE_Blog_Thema-Dunkelflaute_1340x590.webp?fit=1200%2C528&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0RWE_Blog_Thema-Dunkelflaute_1340x590.webp?fit=1200%2C528&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0RWE_Blog_Thema-Dunkelflaute_1340x590.webp?fit=1200%2C528&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":329472,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=329472","url_meta":{"origin":386182,"position":5},"title":"What Is The Most Pernicious Example Of “Misinformation” Currently Circulating?","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"20\/05\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cMisinformation\u201d \u2014 It has been one of the most-used buzzwords of the past few years. The \u201cmisinformation\u201d label has been applied by advocates on both sides of the political divide in the attempt to discredit their opponents.","rel":"","context":"In \"cheapest electricity\"","block_context":{"text":"cheapest electricity","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=cheapest-electricity"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/windfarm-money.webp?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/windfarm-money.webp?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/windfarm-money.webp?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/windfarm-money.webp?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/windfarm-money.webp?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=386182"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":386190,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386182\/revisions\/386190"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/386189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=386182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=386182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=386182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}