Renewable Energy Shortcoming: It’s Intermittent

Seeking green power solutions for hazy days
Bend Bulletin – August 2, 2009

Portland General Electric got a lesson in one of the shortcomings of renewable energy last week.

With temperatures above 100 degrees in Portland, the company broke its all-time record for summer power consumption Monday, then again Tuesday, and also on Wednesday.

All the while, the company’s Bigelow Canyon Wind Farm 140 miles east of Portland was producing next to no power. The winds that usually suck cool air up the Columbia River and keep summers mild had ceased, baking Portland and idling the turbines at Bigelow Canyon — just when they were most needed.

If wind and solar are going to play a bigger part in meeting the country’s electrical demand, utilities will need to get faster at reacting every time the wind dies down or a cloud moves in front of the sun. Bend’s PV Powered is working on solving a part of the problem.

The federal government recently awarded the company $3 million to get to work building the machines needed to create a future network of thousands or even millions of small-scale solar generating systems.

The Solar Energy Grid Integration System is an initiative of the Department of Energy that seeks to make solar power cost-competitive with other forms of power generation by 2015. Right now, solar power makes up only a tiny fraction of the total energy consumed in the United States, but that could change quickly if current treends continue.

According to a 2007 Energy Department report, 5 to 10 percent of electricity customers could be using some form of solar power within 10 years if homeowners continue adding solar panels to their homes at the current rate.

What About Natural Gas as a Fuel Source?

Natural Gas: A Cleaner Option, But Still A Fossil Fuel
BY April Baer – OPB News – April 20, 2009

A Few Natural Gas Facts:>
> Contribution to current Oregon energy mix — 14%

> Cost per kwh currently — As with coal, there’s a lot of variation depending on the location of the plant, and what kind of plant we’re talking about. Most analyst calculate using  $0.06 to $0.11 per KWh, depending on whether the plant in question is baseload or only used during peak periods. As noted in the story, the numbers fluxuate widely. Best estimates come from the quarterly statements utilities furnish to their customers.

> Is this power source renewable? — No

> Is it intermittent or baseload power? — Baseload, although some plants are only used during peak periods.

One of the most pressing questions in today’s power market is how Oregon can be weaned off polluting fossil fuels, and onto the developing renewable sources.

As part of our on-going series on energy, The Switch, April Baer reports that dilemma is part of what’s driving the hottest commodity on Oregon’s energy market, natural gas.