whatyareckon

Wind power is a fickle critter: wind too slow (no power); wind too fast (no power); wind turbine frozen solid (again, no power).

The habit of freezing up during cold spells is just another reason why wind power will never amount to a meaningful power source, not now, not ever.

Sure, there are ‘solutions’ when these things turn into giant popsicles.

Spraying steam from a diesel-fuelled boiler slung under a helicopter can help remove tonnes of debilitating ice from their blades.

But that doesn’t deal with the inner workings of these things, when bearings, brakes, gearboxes, yaw controls and generators lock-up solid.

Some are equipped with internal heating systems meant to keep their working from doing so. Those heating systems are run from power delivered from the grid – ie, electricity generated with coal-fired power – or even local diesel generators. Which is precisely what’s been happening in the Scottish…