Why wind power’s variability isn’t a problem

Mr. Varrone explains in very simple terms how the electric utility system works and how it deals with the addition of a variable energy source like wind energy. Key takeaways:

Energy markets are already accounting for the extra cost of handling wind’s variability.

That cost is modest–about 4/10 of a cent per kilowatt-hour of wind-generated electricity.

The European electric utility system is dealing with large amounts of new wind turbines generation without adding fossil-fueled generating capacity to "back it up."

By Tom Gray, www.awea.org/blog/