Will Texas Redo Finland?

This is a excellent review of the current situation, imo. Especially in deregulated energy markets like Texas.

The reason wind is such a good match in a market like Texas is because they already have a large amount of natural gas power supply which is an excellent responsive match for the intermittent renewable resource. This is unlike the extremely unresponsive nuclear baseload option which cannot be economically, and, in some instances, safely, ramped up and down to follow loads. To maximize renewable use, you need to have more peaking power (natural gas) and less baseload power (coal, nuclear) or you need to have storage such as pumped hydro, compressed air energy storage (CAES) or vehicle-to-grid (V2G).

It ends with a nuclear Siren call that will be going out to the new Obama and Chu administrations. The camel's nose of federal loan guarantees that puts the federal taxpayer on the hook, in advance, for any future financial failures.

Texas Can Take Lessons From Finland's Nuclear Power Plant Delays - Dallas Morning News - 21 Dec 08

"Energy Future Holdings also hopes the federal government will put more money into an $18.5 billion nuclear power loan-guarantee program so that more than two or three new nuclear plants have a chance to qualify.

'We are establishing the potential for building new nuclear units,' Mr. McFarland said. 'It makes a lot of sense to use nuclear in Texas for base-load power to reduce our dependence on natural gas. But at the same time, do you want to go ahead with a $15 billion project? ... We need proof this is a project that is financially viable.'"

One can only hope that they put wax in their ears and steer clear of those rocks this time around.

Will Texas Redo Finland?

This is a excellent review of the current situation, imo. Especially in deregulated energy markets like Texas.

The reason wind is such a good match in a market like Texas is because they already have a large amount of natural gas power supply which is an excellent responsive match for the intermittent renewable resource. This is unlike the extremely unresponsive nuclear baseload option which cannot be economically, and, in some instances, safely, ramped up and down to follow loads. To maximize renewable use, you need to have more peaking power (natural gas) and less baseload power (coal, nuclear) or you need to have storage such as pumped hydro, compressed air energy storage (CAES) or vehicle-to-grid (V2G).

It ends with a nuclear Siren call that will be going out to the new Obama and Chu administrations. The camel's nose of federal loan guarantees that puts the federal taxpayer on the hook, in advance, for any future financial failures.

Texas Can Take Lessons From Finland's Nuclear Power Plant Delays - Dallas Morning News - 21 Dec 08

"Energy Future Holdings also hopes the federal government will put more money into an $18.5 billion nuclear power loan-guarantee program so that more than two or three new nuclear plants have a chance to qualify.

'We are establishing the potential for building new nuclear units,' Mr. McFarland said. 'It makes a lot of sense to use nuclear in Texas for base-load power to reduce our dependence on natural gas. But at the same time, do you want to go ahead with a $15 billion project? ... We need proof this is a project that is financially viable.'"

One can only hope that they put wax in their ears and steer clear of those rocks this time around.