Is it just coincidence that electricity blackouts in Spain and Portugal occured just days after Spain proudly proclaimed it had generated all the electricity used that day from renewable energy sources? This post provides links to two videos.
The first video explains the impact that grid-scale blackouts have on modern day life and considers some of the wider impacts on energy costs of renewable energy. It is worth thinking about some of the consequences:
- Electric trains grind to a halt – perhaps in a remote area or in a tunnel
- Traffic lights won’t work
- The lights go out
- Purchases can’t be made – even if you have cash, tills won’t work
- The internet won’t work – I know, we can survive without food and water but no internet!!!
The second explains how lack of stability in renewable energy supply makes the electicity grid more difficult to manage and as a result, makes blackouts more likely. The reality is, that the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow, and even when it does, its strength varies. As a result, electricity generation is not stable, something that the grid craves if supply is to be maintained across the nation.
We should add that no bacon sandwiches were harmed in the making of these videos as far as we know. Enjoy!