Thread by @hugh_daigle

It’s been a while since I’ve used Twitter to dunk on a Bad Take I saw on LinkedIn, but I submitted my grades this afternoon so here you go: (clears throat) #renewables cause higher electricity prices because they are intermittent.” (1/9) #energytwitter

Let’s pick this apart. Renewables are indeed intermittent (to quote Billie Eilish, “duh”). Battery storage is $$$ but other forms (eg pumped hydro) are cheap. (2/9)

Renewable generation is often curtailed due to lack of transmission capacity, and it can help out in times of high demand if we could expand transmission. (3/9)

But back to my point: what generates electricity when renewables are curtailed or not producing? Coal and gas. (And a bit from nuclear.) (4/9)

Natural gas prices have soared since the war in Ukraine started. Gas-generated electricity is correspondingly expensive now, because the gas itself is expensive. We’re seeing this throughout the US and Europe. (5/9)

So you see Bad Takes like “German electricity is so expensive bc they are incorporating more renewable energy, which is intermittent.” This COMPLETELY misses the point. (6/9)

If you remove renewable generation and rely solely on gas and coal, guess what? Your prices go up. Because the feedstocks are expensive. (7/9)

More renewable generation in the mix REDUCES prices because you’re insulated from the global fossil fuel market. This is true everywhere, including Texas. #txenergy #txlege (8/9)

So we need more energy storage and transmission everywhere. But “MOAR GAS” will not reduce electricity costs. (9/9)