AESO mismanaged situation that prompted blackouts
Despite Premier Smith stating in a recent news briefing that the April 5th rotating blackouts were the result of not enough wind energy being online the reality is that the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) mismanaged this particular situation. As is predictable, the premier was dissing wind, building up fossil fuel generation and, in this circumstance, covering the AESO’s backside.
First, the grid system is not built backwards as the premier states. Wind/solar take priority when generation is available for a reason. These resources bid into the system at $0 per megawatt hour (bringing down the cost of our power) and are totally pollution free leaving our air, water, and soil clean after it has produced its energy. If a fossil fuel power plant could bid at $0 and be pollution free, we would also want that resource online as a priority too, but alas that’s not possible, is it?On April 5th there were 200 megawatts of wind operating. However, the 900 additional megawatts of wind that the AESO had forecast, but which did not materialize should have been backed up, as usual, by fossil fuel generation and it was to a degree. “Firm” generation that is always counted on by both the pPremier and the AESO unexpectedly went offline. When wind/solar come online and go offline they do so slowly; this does not happen in a sudden manner.
When a fossil fuel plant trips offline it is an instantaneous loss of generation and there must be another plant immediately ready to take up the shortfall. Such was the case on April 5th. The AESO was relying on a “firm” gas plant, and it tripped off. As such, there was an immediate loss of 395 megawatts and the AESO had not dispatched enough contingency reserve up take up that loss of capacity.
So, the long and the short of it is that the AESO mismanaged this situation. And, we all get it, mistakes happen, we learn from them and try to do better next time as the AESO always tries to do. However, the point is, own up to your mistakes, and don’t be deceitful by trying to place the blame on renewables.