The Truth About Grid Reliability
What does "reliability" mean in the context of our electrical grid? At its core, reliability in the power grid means one simple thing:
The ability of a power system to consistently and reliably deliver power.
In the energy world, "reliability" isn't just a buzzword. It's a measurable standard. It’s the expectation that when you flip a switch, the light comes on. Instantly. No flicker, no delay. That expectation is deeply embedded in American life. We've grown accustomed to a world where the internet responds in milliseconds, and we carry pocket-sized supercomputers that grant us instant access to nearly everything. Remember when you had to crack open an encyclopedia to learn something new?
We can all agree that sustainability is a positive and important part of the energy conversation.
What gets lost in the optics and marketing language is how to implement green in a way that doesn't just satisfy the need for cleaner energy, but also turns the lights on when you flip that switch. If you read a variety of blogs, articles, and posts, you'll see plenty of information and user engagement that says, "wind and solar are the only way to reliability" or "renewables are the only answer to reliability" and this kind of language is confusing and misleading for a lot of reasons, but the biggest reason is simply that it is not true. Renewables like wind and solar are, by definition, intermittent, meaning not continuous or steady.
Let's dive into why:
- The sun goes down every day.
- There are often clouds in the sky.
- The wind does not always blow.
- Batteries are a storage (output) solution, not an energy source.
If the statements above are true, and they are, it is impossible given present technologies and power system capacities to produce and store sufficient amounts of electricity during the day, or when wind is blowing, to achieve "consistent and reliable" energy through green methods alone, 24/7. Even the best battery systems are only as strong as the energy sources feeding them.
With that in mind, let's revisit the original question: what does "reliability" mean in the context of our electrical grid? It means that a blend of green and brown energy sources are necessary if we want to keep the lights on. It means we have to start having honest conversations about what the REAL problems are confronting renewable energy sources on the grid without all the noise.
Natural gas has proven vital in meeting the growing energy demands not only of the United States, but globally. There are simple cycle and combined cycle plants around the world bridging the gap and meeting demand (these in addition to coal and nuclear plants) but it isn't as simple as saying use the green methods during the day and gas turbines at night, considering:
- What happens on a cloudy day or a windless day?
- How are unexpected large surges in power demand picked up?
- If we lose a section of the grid, what power source re-energizes it?
- How long does it take to start a power plant?
- Can all industries tolerate power disruption, even for a short period?
- Are we willing to turn off all non-essential services from dusk to dawn?
- What is the present battery storage capacity in each nation?
- Recharging battery storage is best done from which power source?
These are not trivial technicalities—they are the reason grid management is so complex. They also do not make for great headlines or soundbites, so you are not going to hear many people pointing them out.
How long would you be willing to wait for the grid to come back up during a power switch? What is the best time to schedule a switch, in what time zone, and who gets priority - bedtime, dinner time, when grandma is doing her daily breathing treatments? We all have daily needs that are different, some more important than others—but we all expect the power to be there when we need it. That's why reliability must remain the foundation of any energy strategy. Green energy is an essential part of our future, but it must be integrated in a way that does not sacrifice the reliability we have come to rely on.