Article Summary
A massive blackout recently hit Spain, Portugal, and parts of France and Belgium, affecting more than 50 million people. The cause is believed to be a malfunction at two solar power plants in southwest Spain. This incident highlights the vulnerability of relying heavily on intermittent renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, which are prone to power disruptions. The U.S. is not immune to such problems, as power outages have increased by 93% in the last 5 years, with Texas and California leading the nation in wind and solar generation, respectively.
What This Means for You
- Be aware of the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and their potential impact on grid reliability.
- Advocate for a balanced energy portfolio to ensure the long-term stability of the U.S. grid.
- Encourage government policies that prioritize grid resilience, affordability, and reliability.
- Prepare for potential power outages in your area by having backup power sources and emergency plans in place.
Original Post
In our modern age, the electric grid is the mother of all networks. Without electricity, advanced forms of transportation and communications virtually grind to a halt and nearly all digital and electronic devices are rendered practically useless. When the grid goes down, we lose conveniences like air conditioning, lighting, and other amenities that we often take for granted.
Several days ago, Spain, Portugal, and parts of France and Belgium ” target=”_blank”>relies heavily on renewable energy sources like solar and wind for a large share of its power production.
The problem with this is that these energy sources are inherently intermittent. The sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow. Therefore, these sources are much more susceptible to power disruptions.
For those interested in reading an in-depth analysis of the specific “causes, consequences, and challenges ahead” vis-à-vis the Spanish and Portuguese blackout, the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University recently produced an excellent ” target=”_blank”>American Energy Alliance notes, “power outages have increased by 93 percent across the United States over the last 5 years — a time when solar and wind power have increased by Anti-fragile. Things that Gain from Disorder, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. In the book, Taleb describes how systems that are “anti-fragile” thrive under chaos and adversity because they are robust. He uses the example of the multi-headed hydra in Greek mythology to demonstrate the point. When one head is cut off, two grow back in its place.
The electric grid should operate under the principle of anti-fragility. It should always have constant baseload power available, supplied by coal, natural gas, and nuclear.
Chris Talgo (
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Image: </p>%0A<p></p>%0A<h2><span%20class=" ez-toc-section id="Key_Terms">Key Terms
- Electric grid reliability
- Renewable energy sources
- Intermittent power
- Baseload power
- Energy policy
- Grid resilience
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