During a period of extreme cold, with temperatures dropping to -35°C in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta's electricity grid has been under severe strain, leading to an AESO grid alert and emergency alerts about potential rotating power outages. Fossil fuels have been the dominant source of electricity, with generation percentages ranging from 83.5% to 94.9% across various reports by ReliableAB. Wind power's contribution has been inconsistent, with capacity reaching as high as 34.3% but often producing less than 5% of total generation. Solar energy has been negligible, at times providing 0% capacity and at best 5.43% of total generation. Alberta has both imported up to 647 MW of power, accounting for up to 5% of the total generation, and exported up to 453 MW. Criticism has been directed at the reliance on renewables, with tweets from users like robdoel and TheRealKeean highlighting the grid's challenges during the cold weather. The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) issued a grid alert, and emergency alerts warned of high risks of rotating power outages due to the grid's strain. The maximum capacity of Alberta's solar power is 1650 MW, but production has been as low as 44 MW. The Genesee NG/Coal plant has been a significant contributor, producing 1285 MW. Amidst the crisis, Saskatchewan provided an additional 153 MW of electricity to support Alberta through the night.
Alberta hourly percentage of electricity generation for January 13, 2024. https://t.co/p0z6V6EJaD
Fossil fuels generated 92.1% of Alberta's electricity on January 13, while wind and solar provided 2.3%. Average Temperature = -33.3°C https://t.co/fAIuKTlLQO
At this moment 88.8% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 1.2% of capacity and producing 0.5% of total generation, while solar is at 35.8% of capacity and producing 5.27% of total generation. At the same time we are exporting 141 MW https://t.co/kcl6wn34yx
At this moment and current capacities, Alberta would need: - 79 more Brazeau sized dams. OR - 301727 more wind turbines. (75 per day by 01-Jan-2035) OR - 256656 more acres of solar panels. (658092 NHL ice surfaces) to replace all carbon based generation. https://t.co/r53DDN8Lk4
After Alberta issued an emergency alert about the possibility of rolling blackouts because of high power demands on their grid during the extreme cold, Saskatchewan fired up their coal and gas plants to provide Alberta with an extra 153 MW of electricity through the night. Sask… https://t.co/CffdbDawjk
At this moment 90% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 0.1% of capacity and producing 0.0% of total generation, while solar is at 31.9% of capacity and producing 4.66% of total generation. At the same time we are exporting 242 MW https://t.co/R2mMWoJzom
From a few minutes ago. Alberta's power production. Renewables 1MW, Hydrocarbons keep us alive. https://t.co/lDQZBwp6cY https://t.co/AELlWFNJMy
⚡ Alberta ⚡ 🔌 Your Current Energy At A Glance 🌝 Solar: 0.00% 🌬️ Wind: 0.009% 🌊 Hydro: 3.40% ⛽ Fossil Fuels: 93.66% Still want Net-Zero? 🤔 cc: @AlbertaLiberals @Alberta_UCP https://t.co/FBr08ZPxin
Good morning Alberta. #GreenEnergy is currently suppling 0 MW of wind, 0 MW of solar and 0 MW of Battery Storage. NG is suppling 8948 MW, Coal 1285 MW, Hydro 294, and Bio Mass 331 MW. Temperature in Edmonton -37 Calgary -37 Stay safe and stay warm. 🇨🇦😜 https://t.co/tyRL7afrrN
At this moment 94.6% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 0.1% of capacity and producing 0.1% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are exporting 453 MW https://t.co/w9A0EwJ8JK
At this moment 94.9% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 1.7% of capacity and producing 0.7% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are exporting 17 MW https://t.co/HdGs8zST4M
At this moment 93.9% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 2.5% of capacity and producing 1.1% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are exporting 49 MW https://t.co/bjm92twN0e
The cold in Alberta is extremely dangerous and the power grid is so strained, some may lose their heat altogether. This is very scary. @weathernetwork https://t.co/SJY4KU7j1T
Alberta's oil sands take up less space than all of Alberta's solar fields. The waste from oil energy production is elemental carbon. The waste from solar panels causes cancer and a slew of neurological disorders. Oil produces energy in -50. Solar produces waste.
At this moment 94% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 2.9% of capacity and producing 1.2% of total generation, while solar is at 0.1% of capacity and producing 0.01% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 298 MW or 3% https://t.co/NY9F1BBckH
Shut down everything you don't need Alberta. I'm watching the AESO and your gas plant/coal plants are maxed out. Biomass is pumping hard and wind turbines are almost non existent. Good luck, stay warm and don't forget to thank the @NDP for all that useless expensive #GreenEnergy https://t.co/5lAFysdyZJ
Power grid in Alberta is on the verge of collapse at -35C because of the green agenda that has infiltrated all of our institutions. Build more natural gas fired power generation now!
BREAKING: Rolling blackouts for Alberta tonught. The province is now feeling the full effect of Rachel Notley prematurely shutting down our coal plants. Wind and Solar at ZERO, while Natural Gas is barely keeping the lights on, literally. https://t.co/XVGjgm4lft
This is an Alberta Emergency Alert issued by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. Extreme cold resulting in high power demand has placed the Alberta grid at a high risk of rotating power outages this evening.
Alberta EMERGENCY Alert issued for excess demand on the power grid due to the extreme cold. Let's do all of our neighbours a favour and shut off any unnecessary power sources, right now. https://t.co/lXtjMGl33x
Alberta Emergency Alert that just came through… 🤨 🚨 “Alberta grid at a high risk of rotating power outages this evening” Welcome back to Canada eh 🥶🧊 https://t.co/kXYjuGUWhV
At this moment 90.8% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 2.1% of capacity and producing 0.8% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 404 MW or 3% https://t.co/wjxS0rAjQe
At this moment 91.% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 2.2% of capacity and producing 0.9% of total generation, while solar is at 0.7% of capacity and producing 0.10% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 54 MW or 0% https://t.co/lkMoENYUpL
'Green energy' nightmare in Alberta: 1. EVs only getting half the mileage because of cold weather. 2. Grid stressed because wind only 1% of capacity. https://t.co/VGbwhuNYJy
At this moment 88.1% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 2.3% of capacity and producing 0.9% of total generation, while solar is at 37.5% of capacity and producing 5.43% of total generation. At the same time we are exporting 76 MW https://t.co/0TXuXkFRJo
Alberta has approx. 13,000 acres of solar panels. Currently producing 533 MW. The Genesee NG/Coal plant is currently producing 1285 MW. It takes approx. 10 million tons of coal to build 350 acres of solar panels. #GreenEnergy ? https://t.co/1xq8FTXWan https://t.co/dQ9WNlnel4
The current temperature in Calgary is -35 in Calgary and -34 in Edmonton. Solar is generating nothing. Wind can't even get above 0.5% capacity only 5 windfarms out of 45 producing anything. I don't think people understand how far we are from be able to rely on "green" energy… https://t.co/9PuutaJr6A
At this moment 94% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 0.2% of capacity and producing 0.1% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 456 MW or 4% https://t.co/hLExiJrZZk
At this moment 92.3% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 0.2% of capacity and producing 0.1% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 630 MW or 5% https://t.co/I8z1b3JW5B
So Alberta's wonderful wind and solar generation are pretty much useless. Don't even think about suggesting battery backup as they would have been depleted days ago. Thankfully natural gas generation was able to ramp up to meet record loads. https://t.co/Jdg45jjZQR
At this moment 92.7% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 0.2% of capacity and producing 0.1% of total generation, while solar is at 0.5% of capacity and producing 0.07% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 647 MW or 5% https://t.co/N7q3m57gc0
⚠️ Warning: the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) has issued a grid alert for Alberta. As of 4pm today, wind power is only generating 8MW of electricity… that’s only enough to power less than 10 homes for one day. Thankfully, natural gas plants have increased capacity to… https://t.co/SGud0FA9pE
The maximum capacity of Alberta Solar Power is 1650 MW. It is currently making 44 MW as of 3:00 PM. Thousands of acres and billions of dollars. Good thing the NDP government launched the Renewable Energy Program. What a waste of money 🤦♂️
#cdnpoli #cdnmedia #ableg Wind is a no show in Alberta today. Aren't you glad you don't depend on this chronically unreliable energy source to keep you war in -35 C temps ? https://t.co/qerzHEqa1L
At this moment 89.2% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 0.3% of capacity and producing 0.1% of total generation, while solar is at 35.1% of capacity and producing 5.10% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 344 MW or 3% https://t.co/m4srOKMT3Q
Calgary -32C at 1400 on Jan 12 2024: Wind is currently 0% of total generation (yes zilch). Solar is currently 5% of total generation. (almost nothing) Natural gas and coal currently 90% of total generation. (thankfully) 👇👇👇 https://t.co/amORWjdpey https://t.co/ZQcF6Xo0wC
45 wind farms in Alberta. Currently producing 25 MW. Gas 9106 MW. As Warren Buffet said " With wind energy, we get a tax credit if we build a lot of wind farms. That's the only reason to build them. They don't make sense without the tax credit." Turbines are a #GreenEnergy scam. https://t.co/MCVO3LNPFc
At this moment 91.8% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 7.5% of capacity and producing 3.0% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 216 MW or 2% https://t.co/Y22cR6XS3W
Update: #Unreliables are churning out 2.9% of Alberta's power right now. If you still believe #renewables can power a modern society, please go outside and turn off your gas for the night. https://t.co/rx6uB710BH
At this moment 91.1% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 8.9% of capacity and producing 3.5% of total generation, while solar is at 0.1% of capacity and producing 0.01% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 258 MW or 2% https://t.co/CO9rdb0KCl
At this moment 89.4% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 11.2% of capacity and producing 4.4% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 403 MW or 3% https://t.co/NfvrvawXKY
See how #naturalgas generation is having to pick up the slack as #wind and #solar drop to nothing - despite large 'max capability' ...#Alberta #powergeneration #electricity #ableg #abpoli BTW #wind and #solar don't stop #ClimateChange. Google engineers found that out a decade… https://t.co/5GV1V8091g
Well only 7.5% of power 🔋 generation from "renewables" right now. If @s_guilbeault & @JustinTrudeau get their wish, who gets their power tonight in #Alberta at -30°C??? This is what @RachelNotley and the @NDP had us on track for. https://t.co/VD2CL3tSO9
At this moment 83.5% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 34.3% of capacity and producing 13.1% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are exporting 84 MW https://t.co/GKck85HACb
At this moment 94.3% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 1.0% of capacity and producing 0.5% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 490 MW or 5% https://t.co/MxYLcXV1TQ
At this moment 94.1% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 0.5% of capacity and producing 0.2% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 538 MW or 5% https://t.co/cP2XnjTOFq
At this moment 93.7% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 3.3% of capacity and producing 1.4% of total generation, while solar is at 0.1% of capacity and producing 0.01% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 486 MW or 4% https://t.co/52MgTEl8KS
At this moment 90.6% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 6.4% of capacity and producing 2.7% of total generation, while solar is at 11.0% of capacity and producing 1.69% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 382 MW or 3% https://t.co/RgKeBtLP6i
At this moment and current capacities, Alberta would need: - 200 more Brazeau sized dams. OR - 17849 more wind turbines. (4 per day by 01-Jan-2035) OR - 330605 more acres of solar panels. (847705 NHL ice surfaces) to replace all carbon based generation. https://t.co/a2WUygOP34