Xcel and The Wind . . . Musings of a Curious Mind

For the past couple of days, Xcel has been blanketing the airwaves with warnings that they may have to implement their PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) protocols as a result of the high winds that are forecasted for this area today.

So, my mind working as it does, I got to musing about the "Renewable Energy" mandates imposed by our State government and its effects. Obviously in high winds, you have to shut down the windmills because they might tear themselves apart if operated in these conditions. With the high degree of cloud cover that accompanies such events, the solar cells are going to be producing significantly less power too. We have no storage to draw upon as that technology is far, far behind the pace of implementation of the generation technology, and we no longer have the excess capacity from fossil fuel derived plants because those are being abandoned to "save the planet" from "climate change".

My question is this . . . given all of the above, is it at all possible that rather than shutting down the power for public safety the power is being cut because there simply isn't going to be enough electricity to power our communities during such times?

I mean, I get it, the Marshall Fire was the result of a downed power line sparking the wildfire during a high wind event, and even though we're paying an ever higher price for electricity for infrastructure improvement, thus far it doesn't seem that a lot of the revenue generated is going to mitigation of risk during high wind events through replacement of old towers and poles, strengthening the wire connections, or tree removal so that a falling tree doesn't hit a live wire.

Is the PSPS policy nothing more, and nothing less, than a brownout protocol implemented because our current means of generation can't keep with demand during a high wind event?

This might just be a big FU by our public utility after they lost their lawsuit.
"You want to sue us? We have ways to get back at you for our lawsuit."

PrintSmith wrote: For the past couple of days, Xcel has been blanketing the airwaves with warnings that they may have to implement their PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) protocols as a result of the high winds that are forecasted for this area today.

So, my mind working as it does, I got to musing about the "Renewable Energy" mandates imposed by our State government and its effects. Obviously in high winds, you have to shut down the windmills because they might tear themselves apart if operated in these conditions. With the high degree of cloud cover that accompanies such events, the solar cells are going to be producing significantly less power too. We have no storage to draw upon as that technology is far, far behind the pace of implementation of the generation technology, and we no longer have the excess capacity from fossil fuel derived plants because those are being abandoned to "save the planet" from "climate change".

My question is this . . . given all of the above, is it at all possible that rather than shutting down the power for public safety the power is being cut because there simply isn't going to be enough electricity to power our communities during such times?

I mean, I get it, the Marshall Fire was the result of a downed power line sparking the wildfire during a high wind event, and even though we're paying an ever higher price for electricity for infrastructure improvement, thus far it doesn't seem that a lot of the revenue generated is going to mitigation of risk during high wind events through replacement of old towers and poles, strengthening the wire connections, or tree removal so that a falling tree doesn't hit a live wire.

Is the PSPS policy nothing more, and nothing less, than a brownout protocol implemented because our current means of generation can't keep with demand during a high wind event?

www.enlitia.com/resources-blog-post/wind...act-on-energy-output

Understanding common failure causes in wind turbines is essential for optimising performance and reducing maintenance costs. This article explores seven key failure types, providing insights into their causes, impacts, and the associated estimated costs.

IT APPEARS THAT BEING PROACTIVE ON MAINTENANCE FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS MANDATORY.....THIS GOES INTO DETAILED AND ITEMIZED PROBLEMS/POSS FAILURE.

And now the utility and weather guys are warning the winds will be back on Friday. And the power won't return.

homeagain wrote:

PrintSmith wrote: For the past couple of days, Xcel has been blanketing the airwaves with warnings that they may have to implement their PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) protocols as a result of the high winds that are forecasted for this area today.

So, my mind working as it does, I got to musing about the "Renewable Energy" mandates imposed by our State government and its effects. Obviously in high winds, you have to shut down the windmills because they might tear themselves apart if operated in these conditions. With the high degree of cloud cover that accompanies such events, the solar cells are going to be producing significantly less power too. We have no storage to draw upon as that technology is far, far behind the pace of implementation of the generation technology, and we no longer have the excess capacity from fossil fuel derived plants because those are being abandoned to "save the planet" from "climate change".

My question is this . . . given all of the above, is it at all possible that rather than shutting down the power for public safety the power is being cut because there simply isn't going to be enough electricity to power our communities during such times?

I mean, I get it, the Marshall Fire was the result of a downed power line sparking the wildfire during a high wind event, and even though we're paying an ever higher price for electricity for infrastructure improvement, thus far it doesn't seem that a lot of the revenue generated is going to mitigation of risk during high wind events through replacement of old towers and poles, strengthening the wire connections, or tree removal so that a falling tree doesn't hit a live wire.

Is the PSPS policy nothing more, and nothing less, than a brownout protocol implemented because our current means of generation can't keep with demand during a high wind event?

www.enlitia.com/resources-blog-post/wind...act-on-energy-output

Understanding common failure causes in wind turbines is essential for optimising performance and reducing maintenance costs. This article explores seven key failure types, providing insights into their causes, impacts, and the associated estimated costs.

IT APPEARS THAT BEING PROACTIVE ON MAINTENANCE FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS MANDATORY.....THIS GOES INTO DETAILED AND ITEMIZED PROBLEMS/POSS FAILURE.

An honest assessment would include the word “unreliable”.

BUT, ISN'T THAT FACTOR(MAINTENANCE) A PRIMARY ACTION FOR ALL THINGS MECHANICAL AND OTHERWISE? IF LACK OF ATTENTION IS PRESENT...WHAT WILL GO WRONG IS A HIGH PROBABILITY.

So the presumption you have HA is that Xcel shut down the wind turbines prior to a hurricane force wind event due to lack of maintenance on the turbines? That the solar arrays are producing less energy on overcast days because the weren't maintained properly? If so, I think you miscomprehend the operation and maintenance of these unreliable alternative energy generators.

One doesn't operate a wind turbine in 70+ mile per hour winds, brand new, poorly maintained, exceptionally maintained or otherwise. There are top end limits under which operation of the turbine is allowed, just as there are top end limits under which a crane can be operated, because failure to adhere to those limits will result in catastrophic damage to the unit.

Latest figures are that 43% of generation in Colorado is from renewable sources with wind accounting for two-thirds of that amount, nearly 29% of total generation. This means that Colorado's ability to generate electricity dropped significantly yesterday due to cloud cover and high winds. The entire State was running on let's say between 60 and 65% of a normal day's generation. Might the significant loss of production, and not risk of wildfires, be the reason that Xcel energy enacted its PSPS protocols yesterday and possibly tomorrow given this reality?

YES, U R CORRECT, EXTREMELY HI WINDS WOULD PRESENT A PROBLEM....I WAS JUST SHOWING U THE INTEGRAL PARTS OF WHAT COULD GO WRONG, FROM VARIOUS FACTORS,IF NOT CORRECTED.

Which is a nice attempt to duck the actual question being asked . . . but, you see, I'm going to ask it again in the hopes that this time you'll actually address the question being posed.

Latest figures are that 43% of generation in Colorado is from renewable sources with wind accounting for two-thirds of that amount, nearly 29% of total generation. This means that Colorado's ability to generate electricity dropped significantly yesterday due to cloud cover and high winds. The entire State was running on let's say between 60 and 65% of a normal day's generation. Might the significant loss of production, and not risk of wildfires, be the reason that Xcel energy enacted its PSPS protocols yesterday and possibly tomorrow given this reality?

HEY, I'M NOT THE GURU ENERGY GENERATOR....WEATHER IS WEATHER, U DEAL WITH WHAT CARDS R THROW ON THE TABLE....SO WHAT IS YOUR POINT? WE HAVE WILD WEATHER IN COLORADO,BEEN THAT WAY FOREVER.....