Editorial: Solar, wind possibilities

Although photovoltaic solar arrays like that recently installed at Salisbury's Wallace and Graham law office currently account for a fraction of the state's energy production, a new study by a retired Duke University professor shows why that percentage can and most likely will shift dramatically in the near future.

John Blackburn is a professor emeritus and former chancellor at Duke. In a study undertaken for Energy and Environmental Research in Maryland, Black presents a persuasive, data-driven argument which challenges the often-voiced concern that solar and wind power are too variable to provide the reliable baseload power required by North Carolina's residential and commercial users. Because the amount of sunlight and wind are unpredictable, the thinking goes, we simply can't rely on such renewable sources to generate a major portion of our power without new large-scale power storage systems or conventional backup power supplies.

Obviously, the sun doesn't shine all the time, and the wind doesn't blow constantly at any one location. Yet Blackburn's study shows that by dispersing wind turbines and solar systems at various locations around the state, the "intermittency" problem dramatically shrinks. In fact, his study argues that a well-planned system of dispersed wind and solar generations sites could reliably meet most of the state's electricity needs, with shortfalls filled by hydropower, natural gas generation and other sources.

"The truth is that solar and wind are complementary in North Carolina," Blackburn says. "Wind speeds are usually higher at night than in the daytime. They also blow faster in winter than summer. Solar generation, on the other hand, takes place in the daytime. Sunlight is only half as strong in winter as in summertime. Drawing wind power from different areas — the coast, mountains, the sounds or the ocean — reduces variations in generation. Using wind and solar in tandem is even more reliable. Together, they can generate three-fourths of the state's electricity. When hydroelectric and other renewable sources are added, the gap to be filled is surprisingly small."

Capturing solar and wind energy isn’t a simple matter, of course. The technologies are still evolving, as was seen with Monday’s announcement that Greensboro-based RF Micro Devices can now produce solar chips on a scale that will change the industry. Economics and politics also enter the renewables equation. As Duke and other energy companies explore the possibilities of coastal and mountain wind turbines, community opposition can generate controversy. However, that also occurs with nuclear or coal-burning plants.

What Blackburn's study points to is an intriguing possibility. As the Wallace and Graham installation and similar projects coming online suggest, it's a possibility that may be more within our grasp than we realize.

You can read Blackburn's full report online at http://www.ieer.org/reports/NC-Wind-Solar.html.