Solar energy has been touted as a clean, efficient replacement for fossil fuels. But the reality of solar power has been decidedly cloudy. In Europe, solar companies are going bankrupt amidst an energy shortage, while some countries are even firing up coal-powered plants to make up the losses. That has prompted critics to call out the Seven Dirty Secrets of Solar Energy. Here in Texas, ERCOT even issued pre-emptive warnings about possible grid issues during last weekend's solar eclipse.
David Holt, president of the Consumer Energy Alliance, tells KTRH there is nothing wrong with solar energy in and of itself, but so-called 'renewables' like solar and wind cannot fully replace fossil fuels. "Solar and wind are called intermittent power, meaning if the sun's not shining then solar's not working, if the wind's not blowing then wind is not working," he says. "What you need is what's called permanent power, which is really natural gas, or nuclear, or hydro, or something like that."
Texas is a great example of the unreliability of solar energy, with our extreme temperatures often putting undue strain on the grid. Last summer, ERCOT issued several power warnings due to low solar output around sundown. And during last winter's ice storm in central Texas, it was fossil fuels that kept the lights on while wind turbines and solar panels were useless. "The need for permanent power sources is especially true on those extreme weather days, like when it's really hot, or God forbid when it's really, really cold," says Holt. "And really, really cold is when human life is the most at risk."
Ultimately, Holt believes wind and solar are best as part of an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy, but will never be counted on as reliable sources on their own. "From a grid perspective, we must be certain that we're adding sufficient capacity for natural gas, nuclear, hydro, things like that," he says. "So when the sun's not shining and the wind's not blowing, we're able to meet our power demand."
Photo: E+