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Extreme Weather and Alberta’s AWOL Renewable Energy

Jan 17, 2024
Extreme weather in Alberta leads to grid alerts and raises concerns about electricity planning. Alberta's wind fleet goes AWOL, prompting a feasibility study on nuclear reactors deployment in the province. The podcast explores the strain on the Alberta grid, resentment towards central Canada, transition to renewable energies, challenges of intermittent wind and solar energy, and the potential for nuclear power in Alberta.
01:03:01

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Quick takeaways

  • Extreme weather events in Alberta exposed the intermittent nature and reliability concerns of wind and solar power.
  • Alberta's energy mix faces challenges in terms of emission intensity, limited diversity, and reliance on fossil fuels.

Deep dives

Fluctuations in Alberta's electricity grid during extreme weather events create strain

Alberta's electricity grid has recently been under strain due to extreme weather events, specifically a cold snap and polar vortex. The southern part of the province experienced warm winds called Chinooks that melted snow, but the rest faced extremely low temperatures. Alberta's grid primarily relies on coal-fired power stations, with a transition to natural gas and the addition of intermittent sources like wind and solar. However, the intermittent nature of wind and solar power became apparent during the extreme weather, raising concerns about their reliability. Gas-fired plants were also affected due to maintenance and limited supply. The strains on the grid led to rolling blackouts and challenges in meeting electricity demand.

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