Thoughts on Renewable Energy

 Added solar and wind power arising from anti-carbon regulations heightens energy pricing volatility as has been seen in Germany and Australia. This occurs because when more solar and wind power is generated than can be used during peak times, then subsidized solar and wind generated electricity depresses prices on the wholesale market. Alternately, when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow, the price of electricity on the wholesale market skyrockets as the base load generators take up the load and try and recover their unsubsidized costs.

"Germany’s excess power spills over the border into Polish and Czech territory and threatens their electrical grids with collapse, companies and governments there say.

A battle is raging in Central Europe over the balance of power—the electrical kind.

Poland and the Czech Republic see Germany as an aggressor, overproducing electricity and dumping it across the border. Germany sees itself as a green-energy pioneer under unfair attacks from less innovative neighbors.

That creates problems on windy and sunny days when Germany produces far more electricity than it needs. Excess power spills over the border into Polish and Czech territory, threatening their electrical grids with collapse, companies and governments there say." As Reported by the WSJ

It will be interesting to see if the new administration reduces or eliminates federal subsidies for renewable energy and the impact on electricity prices here in Georgetown.