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Environment & Energy
In reply to the discussion: Why (baseload) generators are terrified of solar [View all]kristopher
(29,798 posts)116. Reference 3 for the "Merit Order Effect"
MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2011
Merit Order Effect in WNY in 2010
Introduction
In 2010, several wind farms had at least a full year of commercial operation - and one of them (Wethersfield 1) has been going for 10 years. Thus, it is possible to test if there is a likely Merit Order Effect (MOE) present in our part of NY. Apparently there is one, and one to the benefit of WNY electricity consumers and one NOT to the benefit of WNY pollution sourced electricity generator owners. The estimate is that customers were saved $31 million on their 2010 electricity bill ($604 million was spent to make an average of 1762 MW at an average price of nearly $39.22/MW-hr). Without wind power in the region, that extra $31 million net would have been scarfed up by (mostly) the AES and NRG corporations.
So, here is a link to the paper (12 pages, with some graphs) in .pdf format (214 kb):
http://www.4shared.com/document/IKgU61cv/Lee050411e.html
titled "Estimate of the Wind Power Merit Order Effect in Western New York State in 2010".
Discussion
And here is the a reason why the owners of coal burners, nukes and natural gas suppliers are not happy with wind turbine installations:
http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2010/4/25/62541/6173
http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2009/5/1/174635/6513
In places like Texas...
Merit Order Effect in WNY in 2010
Introduction
In 2010, several wind farms had at least a full year of commercial operation - and one of them (Wethersfield 1) has been going for 10 years. Thus, it is possible to test if there is a likely Merit Order Effect (MOE) present in our part of NY. Apparently there is one, and one to the benefit of WNY electricity consumers and one NOT to the benefit of WNY pollution sourced electricity generator owners. The estimate is that customers were saved $31 million on their 2010 electricity bill ($604 million was spent to make an average of 1762 MW at an average price of nearly $39.22/MW-hr). Without wind power in the region, that extra $31 million net would have been scarfed up by (mostly) the AES and NRG corporations.
So, here is a link to the paper (12 pages, with some graphs) in .pdf format (214 kb):
http://www.4shared.com/document/IKgU61cv/Lee050411e.html
titled "Estimate of the Wind Power Merit Order Effect in Western New York State in 2010".
Discussion
There are many examples where adding significant quantities of wind energy into a "NYISO-like" market (where hourly auctions determine the marginal price, and where all bidders for that hourly period get that marginal price, regardless of the actual cost or a steady price needed to obtain a reasonable return on investment (profit rate)) drops the marginal price. In Europe, prices can even go negative - that is, for some time periods, polluters using coal or nuclear generated electricity actually have to PAY people to take their electricity for that time period. Here are some examples:
http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2010/7/5/7516/54118
And here is the a reason why the owners of coal burners, nukes and natural gas suppliers are not happy with wind turbine installations:
http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2010/4/25/62541/6173
http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2009/5/1/174635/6513
In places like Texas...
Much more at: http://wagengineering.blogspot.com/2011/06/merit-order-effect-in-wny_06.html
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So Solar PV needs to be PV + Conservation programs + ? to meet/beat AND reduce demand?
patrice
Apr 2012
#3
How does the current explosion in manufacturing capacity disprove the OP's thesis?
kristopher
Apr 2012
#7
How does the current explosion in manufacturing capacity disprove the OP's thesis?
kristopher
Apr 2012
#9
Yes the homeowners and the local communities who are getting that money are pretty happy
kristopher
Apr 2012
#14
So you think people should be forced to live around nuclear plants they believe are unsafe?
kristopher
Apr 2012
#28
See, I think you come off as someone who is more motivated by being anti-nuclear
XemaSab
Apr 2012
#72
Your posts lack specificity, don't blame me for your sloppy communication skills.
kristopher
Apr 2012
#44
Their claim "what is happening now" is not the graphic I see on any given day today.
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#47
No, I am not. If that graphic was representive of overall pricing between 2008 and 2012...
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#61
I'm very sure your self deleted comment to wraith is not relevant to our conversation.
kristopher
Apr 2012
#77
In a discussion specifically about sources of generation being put under pricing pressure
kristopher
Apr 2012
#96
The article does actually weasel around consumer pricing with capitalism verbiage.
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#99
The OP makes claims about "the impact that solar is having on electricity prices in Germany."
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#75
The OP supports the claims it makes as opposed to the strawman you are creating
kristopher
Apr 2012
#78
You're a liar when it comes to accusing me of having a "quest to protect the nuclear industry."
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#82
You consistently take positions that further the agenda of the nuclear industry.
kristopher
Apr 2012
#85
I take a position against misrepresentations in text. I take positions against being fooled.
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#86
What is the actual mechanism by which nuclear power shuts down a coal plant?
kristopher
Apr 2012
#118
So you do not want to shut down coal plants and you want to expand energy consumption.
kristopher
Apr 2012
#124
Remarkable! You accuse me of "not answering" when I've waited 2 days for your reply.
kristopher
Apr 2012
#126
You had your chance to talk about it like a grown-up kris. You chose the way of...
Dead_Parrot
Apr 2012
#130
Just to demonstrate how long this same conversation has been going on... nt
kristopher
Feb 2013
#136