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Texas’ Wind Power Generation Cut In Half Due To Winter Storm


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2021 Feb 15, 2:10pm   6,934 views  98 comments

by RWSGFY   ➕follow (4)   💰tip   ignore  

Texas’ average power production has decreased after almost half of the state’s wind turbines were frozen over the weekend in a winter storm. Parts of Texas reportedly are experiencing temperatures of (-18C) over the weekend, causing over 2 million homes and businesses to experience power outages.

The Austin American-Statesman reported, “Wind farms across the state generate up to a combined 25,100 megawatts of energy. But unusually moist winter conditions in West Texas brought on by the weekend’s freezing rain and historically low temperatures have iced many of those wind turbines to a halt,” they added. “As of Sunday morning, those iced turbines comprise 12,000 megawatts of Texas’ installed wind generation capacity, although those West Texas turbines don’t typically spin to their full generation capacity this time of year.”

A photo began circulating on Twitter which shows a helicopter is using fossil fuel-derived chemicals to defrost a wind turbine, showing that only relying on renewable energy leads to many unforeseen complications.

“Wind power has been the fastest-growing source of energy in Texas’ power grid. In 2015 winder power generation supplied 11% of Texas’ energy grid. Last year it supplied 23% and overtook coal as the system’s second-largest source of energy after natural gas,” the Austin American-Statesman added. “The frozen turbines come as low temperatures strain the state’s power grid and force operators to call for immediate statewide conservation efforts, like unplugging non-essential appliances, turning down residential heaters and minimize use of electric lighting.”

https://thescoop.us/texas-wind-power-generation-cut-in-half-due-to-winter-storm/

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49   Maga_Chaos_Monkey   2021 Feb 17, 11:47pm  

Woo hoo! Finally got power late at night 3 days later! Warming up... Still no water pressure so no shower, no clean cloths...

Get this: My rent houses are pretty new. Recently gas water heaters turned over to piezo electric starters instead of the old light-a-match method. This is so when not heating the gas can be cut entirely and when needed it's started electronically. Sort of like shitty cars these days.

Well one of my renters got his power back yesterday and couldn't turn the heater back on. It's close by and I was just looking at ice melt so I went over to try to help. It has a button on it to initiate a spark much like a BBQ grill.

Fucker doesn't work. He's fucked.

Anyone who's started a gas appliance can tell you even with a cigarette lighter they can be finicky. You have to warm them up with the damn lighter when they are cold to get the gas flowing.

What a fucking moronic idea!
51   Maga_Chaos_Monkey   2021 Feb 18, 8:05am  

Shave n shower. Awe yeah!
52   Maga_Chaos_Monkey   2021 Feb 18, 8:05am  

First world here i come!
53   Ceffer   2021 Feb 18, 9:24am  

All those snot nosed LibbyFuck weasel Californians are going to come running back weeping. Where is California going to spread its cancer now?
54   Automan Empire   2021 Feb 18, 9:38am  

Patrick says
My wife was saying that Texas somehow entirely prohibits buying power from other states.

Maybe it's because California got so completely screwed by the Enron guys 20 years ago or so.


This decision was made in the 1930s when the Federal government set rules for interstate electricity exchanges. Texas opted out of "Federal interference." There may exist good reasons for this, but it was sure painful for them when their generating capacity was widely impacted.
55   Automan Empire   2021 Feb 18, 9:42am  

Eric Holder says
It's like shopping for a generator during CA fire season - good luck with that.


This is why you make purchases like this in the off season when you don't NEED them at the same time as millions of your fellow Americans. Factory refurbished is the way to go. The Generac factory store on Ebay had a few batches of refurb units at a VERY good price last spring that I regretted not jumping on. Cheap generators are loud (and inefficient) as fuck and belong on construction sites, not neighborhoods and campgrounds.
56   Eric Holder   2021 Feb 18, 11:32am  

Automan Empire says
Eric Holder says
It's like shopping for a generator during CA fire season - good luck with that.


This is why you make purchases like this in the off season when you don't NEED them


A bit late for that, don't you think?
57   Ceffer   2021 Feb 18, 11:34am  

Biden approves 100 million dollar package to teach illegal immigrants how to snow ski in Texas.

This supersedes Biden's previous 100 million dollar package to teach illegal immigrants how to line dance.
58   FortwayeAsFuckJoeBiden   2021 Feb 18, 11:39am  

Eric Holder says
Fortwaynemobile says
Why did red Texas do this retard shit?


Their energy sector is deregulated and therefore is max efficient. Which means almost no redundancy. Which is good when everything goes right and very bad when something goes wrong.


Yeah but why they did wind shit that literally everyone knows has limitations. That is some dumb shit there.
59   Eric Holder   2021 Feb 18, 11:44am  

Fortwaynemobile says
Yeah but why they did wind shit that literally everyone knows has limitations. That is some dumb shit there.


Maybe there were some kind of federal subsidies involved?

UPD. Found the answer:

"In 2005, then-Governor Rick Perry — who most would agree is a “champion” of the fossil fuel industry — signed into law a mandate requiring Texas to increase its wind power electricity. Why? Rick Perry is not an electrical engineer, and I’m not saying he is to blame for what happened. But even fossil fuel advocate Rick Perry, may have the teensiest notion in his head that fossil fuels are “bad,” insufficient, and therefore, we “need” wind."

So it's not federal-mandated or encouraged and was completely self-inflicted.
60   joshuatrio   2021 Feb 18, 12:16pm  

Get ready for gas to go up even more. I'm predicting another $4-5/gallon run during the Biden administration.
61   fdhfoiehfeoi   2021 Feb 18, 12:21pm  

What was that thing we used to burn to keep warm..? Oh yeah, coal!
62   Eric Holder   2021 Feb 18, 12:26pm  

NuttBoxer says
What was that thing we used to burn to keep warm..? Oh yeah, coal!



Noooooooooooooo!
63   Maga_Chaos_Monkey   2021 Feb 18, 1:02pm  

Ceffer says
Biden approves 100 million dollar package to teach illegal immigrants how to snow ski in Texas.

This supersedes Biden's previous 100 million dollar package to teach illegal immigrants how to line dance.


Texans don't line dance. They 2-step. They laugh at line dancers.
64   Automan Empire   2021 Feb 18, 4:42pm  

HunterTits says
The left is saying that the gas lines are freezing up too and that is the real reason why Texans don't have heat.


You... might want to spend a few minutes looking into a topic before dropping some sanctimonious partisan talking point mocking "other political sportsball team" but making it obvious you actually know nothing about the topic at hand.
65   Automan Empire   2021 Feb 18, 4:45pm  

What dataset does that map depict? Does the talking point still stand when you include Alaska and Canada in the map?

Booger says
66   Booger   2021 Feb 18, 4:56pm  

Automan Empire says
What dataset does that map depict? Does the talking point still stand when you include Alaska and Canada in the map?

Booger says


Satire.
67   Bd6r   2021 Feb 18, 5:45pm  

HunterTits says
The left is saying that the gas lines are freezing up too and that is the real reason why Texans don't have heat.

Some power generating capability was lost because 1. wind turbines iced over, and 2. too low temperature froze residual water in gas lines so some capacity went offline. The question is, what was percentage of renewable vs non renewable sources failed. From data I saw yesterday, 40% of renewable power failed vs about 20% of fossil fuel.
68   Eric Holder   2021 Feb 18, 5:50pm  

Rb6d says
HunterTits says
The left is saying that the gas lines are freezing up too and that is the real reason why Texans don't have heat.

Some power generating capability was lost because 1. wind turbines iced over, and 2. too low temperature froze residual water in gas lines so some capacity went offline. The question is, what was percentage of renewable vs non renewable sources failed. From data I saw yesterday, 40% of renewable power failed vs about 20% of fossil fuel.



Here was Texas' electricity makeup in kilowatt-hours on Sunday:

Natural Gas: 43,798
Coal: 10,828
Wind: 8,087
Nuclear: 5,140

And Monday 8pm, at the height of the storm:

Natural Gas: 30,917
Coal: 8,023
Wind: 649
Nuclear: 3,785

https://thefederalist.com/2021/02/18/basic-math-shows-wind-energy-failures-contributed-to-texas-deadly-power-loss/
70   EBGuy   2021 Feb 18, 6:13pm  

Still waiting for Tres Amigas to come online...



Or, atlernatively, a Nationwide HVDC grid. See Interconnections Seam Study (which, evidently, was suppressed, by the previous administration -- because MOAR coal).
71   Bd6r   2021 Feb 21, 7:47am  

The only good news story about this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyEWREHxjJQ
72   WookieMan   2021 Feb 21, 9:31am  

Rb6d says
HunterTits says
The left is saying that the gas lines are freezing up too and that is the real reason why Texans don't have heat.

Some power generating capability was lost because 1. wind turbines iced over, and 2. too low temperature froze residual water in gas lines so some capacity went offline. The question is, what was percentage of renewable vs non renewable sources failed. From data I saw yesterday, 40% of renewable power failed vs about 20% of fossil fuel.

How do gas lines freeze up though? There's not enough water in even a 1/2" line to freeze. This seems like pure BS. It's literally been ~18*F or below for all of February here in my part of IL. Much of that below 0*F during darkness. Natural gas lines don't freeze here, ever. Shit, I don't even winterize my pool lines every year (I should). Why would it be any different in TX for a few day cold snap?

I'm probably going crazy, but I feel like everything is propaganda at this point. The weather happened down there for sure, but how it's being portrayed with little to no ability to verify that what is being said is even true. All the footage from local affiliates here in IL are all using stock footage from somewhere in Europe and not TX. Maybe propaganda or maybe laziness grabbing a clip to fill the time.

Either way, what should have been a trivial events has turned into some big story. I just question why now. Especially when it doesn't sense.
73   Maga_Chaos_Monkey   2021 Feb 21, 12:42pm  

Rb6d says
The only good news story about this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyEWREHxjJQ


I bought some of his shirts as Christmas gag gifts.
74   NDrLoR   2021 Feb 21, 1:41pm  

WookieMan says
How do gas lines freeze up though?
We never had these outages during the ice storms of the 70's--we also didn't have wind farms in the 70's.
75   Bd6r   2021 Feb 21, 3:15pm  

WookieMan says
How do gas lines freeze up though?

Redneck oil field friends of mine say that they have "water plugs" in gas pipelines, which froze and stopped gas flow.
76   WookieMan   2021 Feb 21, 6:22pm  

Rb6d says
WookieMan says
How do gas lines freeze up though?

Redneck oil field friends of mine say that they have "water plugs" in gas pipelines, which froze and stopped gas flow.

They probably know better than I do, but I've never heard of that. Are you talking individual houses or the suppliers lines freezing? I've never heard of either, just interested more than anything.
77   HeadSet   2021 Feb 21, 6:23pm  

Rb6d says
WookieMan says
How do gas lines freeze up though?

Redneck oil field friends of mine say that they have "water plugs" in gas pipelines, which froze and stopped gas flow.

Sounds like they need to stop pissing in the manifolds...
78   PeopleUnited   2021 Feb 21, 7:50pm  

Refined natural gas won’t freeze, but the unrefined stuff is prone to freezing. The pipes that feed their power plants must be carrying unrefined natural gas. Seems if this is true it was bound to happen sooner or later.
79   WookieMan   2021 Feb 22, 4:27am  

PeopleUnited says
Refined natural gas won’t freeze, but the unrefined stuff is prone to freezing. The pipes that feed their power plants must be carrying unrefined natural gas. Seems if this is true it was bound to happen sooner or later.

We've got two pipelines near me. Those fuckers are huge. 36" roughly. All buried deep. There was one in our backyard. Every Tuesday an inspector plane would fly over to make sure no one was digging.

I guess maybe in TX they don't bury them as deep to save money? It wasn't that cold either and if it's moving, it's hard to comprehend it freezing. Could be part of the cause I guess, just doesn't compute for me with it freezing ass here now and in the past, and we've got quite a few nat. gas plants. We do have the most nuke capacity though too, so maybe that's a factor of not experiencing outages? I think we also have some of the largest wind farms too. I'm somewhat near one.
80   zzyzzx   2021 Feb 22, 5:39am  

PeopleUnited says
Refined natural gas won’t freeze, but the unrefined stuff is prone to freezing. The pipes that feed their power plants must be carrying unrefined natural gas. Seems if this is true it was bound to happen sooner or later.


I was thinking that it was moisture in the lines that was freezing and clogging the line.
81   WookieMan   2021 Feb 22, 7:55am  

zzyzzx says
PeopleUnited says
Refined natural gas won’t freeze, but the unrefined stuff is prone to freezing. The pipes that feed their power plants must be carrying unrefined natural gas. Seems if this is true it was bound to happen sooner or later.


I was thinking that it was moisture in the lines that was freezing and clogging the line.

I'm not some engineer, but I'm still lost on how a gas line can freeze. I mean the upper part of the country and Canada would be fucked. That's a huge source of heating and electric supply. Unrefined is usually in large diameter gas lines. That would be a fuck ton of water in the line.

Again, not saying it's not possible, just seems improbable. It also wasn't that cold either in Texas compared to much of the country. Really seems like a case of utilities and government fucking things up as usual and making excuses.
82   zzyzzx   2021 Feb 22, 8:15am  

WookieMan says
I'm not some engineer, but I'm still lost on how a gas line can freeze.


I'm still wondering about this as well. Pure speculation:
Maybe they don't bury stuff below the frost like because they aren't used to doing it or otherwise don't believe it applies to them?
Maybe their maintenance sucks and they do have enough water in their lines to freeze?
Don't winterize because "global warming"?
83   Bd6r   2021 Feb 22, 2:10pm  

zzyzzx says
Don't winterize because "global warming"?

Don't winterize because T gets cold in S. Texas once every 35 years
84   PeopleUnited   2021 Feb 23, 5:09am  

zzyzzx says
I was thinking that it was moisture in the lines that was freezing and clogging the line


Yes water is often in he lines that come from natural gas fields.

From a career gas industry expert: “Before it’s processed, natural gas lines can freeze, mostly due to the formation of natural gas hydrate, which forms at conditions of high pressure and low temperature in the presence of water.

During the production process, pressure is dropped at the wellhead. Gas expansion = thermodynamic cooling, often causing water to condense. Dense hydrate plugs can form. Usually the freezing is combatted with methanol.

Gas pipelines have quality standards for gas they will accept on their lines, as too many liquids will collect in low points and cause pipeline operation problems. Operators may have to dehydrate the gas prior to sales and process the gas at a gas plant to remove natural gas liquids.

The distribution utilities work hard to keep gas and only gas in their distribution lines”

But it appears in Texas they did not work hard enough to make that happen.
85   WookieMan   2021 Feb 23, 6:56am  

PeopleUnited says
During the production process, pressure is dropped at the wellhead.

Isn't it still moving though? I've kept pipes from freezing dozens of time from just having a moderate drip going. It obviously happened and it's not 100% water, but just seems strange to me. It's very hard to freeze buried lines and it wasn't that cold and it seems like it would take quite a bit of water in the mix.

Maybe because of the low likelihood of freezing they cutback on prevention? That still doesn't make sense with relatively accurate 10 day forecasts temperature wise. Some engineer should have thought of that or whoever is running that shit. I mean that's like the equivalent of bagging bread first and throwing a gallon of milk on top of it. Most thinking people know that's wrong to do. If I'm in charge of pipe I'm making sure it doesn't leak or freeze. No different than landing a plane, can't do it without the gear down.

I don't know. I don't trust anything anymore. Seems fishy. We're finally thawing out here a touch, but most of Feb has been 15*f or lower for highs. Hard ass freeze for 2 weeks plus. Never have had natural gas freeze up. Ever. Texas has been cold before too. My wife did a half marathon in Biloxi, MS during a snow storm with a layover in Houston where it was snowing. Gas didn't freeze up then? Not saying you're wrong, just doesn't make sense.
86   zzyzzx   2021 Feb 23, 9:41am  

WookieMan says
Maybe because of the low likelihood of freezing they cutback on prevention?


This is my best guess.
87   RWSGFY   2021 Feb 24, 9:45am  

Donald says
So I learned an interesting fact over the last week: They have wind turbines in Antartica. And they work in cold weather.


It's basically a stationary aircraft: these work in Antarctica too when properly equipped.
88   zzyzzx   2021 Feb 25, 11:07am  

Look at all the videos of people filming themselves crying while their homes flood from a burst pipe.. was their 1st priority to capture themselves crying so they could share it online? Why not prioritize finding a way to shut off the water?

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