Re: Remember "Bit-Slice" Chips ?

On Mon, 9 Dec 2024, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2024-12-07 15:29, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Windmills and solar panels are useless for the same reason. - there is no storage able to meet the intermittency problem.

>
I don't know why you are talking of that in this Linux group, but for your information, we have an island that goes with renewable energy for months, not touching the fueled generators.
>
<https://www.endesa.com/es/proyectos/todos-los-proyectos/transicion-energetica/renovables/el-hierro-renovable>
<https://www.endesa.com/es/la-cara-e/energias-renovables/gorona-viento-renovable>

I asked my friendly neighbourhood AI about the project:
The Proyecto El Hierro, aimed at making the island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands self-sufficient through 100% renewable energy, faced significant challenges that led to its partial failure. Here are the key reasons for its shortcomings:
1. Overly Ambitious Goals
The project initially aimed to achieve a 100% renewable energy system based on wind and pumped hydro power. However, this target was fundamentally flawed due to the island's geographical limitations. Studies indicated that achieving such a goal was unrealistic given the required energy storage capacity and the island's topography, which could not accommodate the necessary water reservoirs1
2
.
2. Technical and Operational Issues
During its operational phase, the system struggled with grid integration and efficiency. For instance, while the project aimed for a wind energy penetration rate of approximately 65%, it only achieved about 34% in practice during its first year of test operation1
. The capacity factor of the wind park was significantly lower than expected, indicating inefficiencies in energy production and management1
.
3. Energy Losses and Inefficiencies
The design of the system resulted in high energy losses—estimated at around 40%—due to inefficiencies in pumping water and converting wind energy into usable electricity1
. The hydro power contribution was disappointingly low, accounting for only 3.9% of total energy generation, which highlighted flaws in the overall system design1
.
4. Dependence on Diesel Backup
Despite its renewable ambitions, El Hierro continued to rely on diesel-powered backup systems during periods of low wind or water availability. This reliance undermined the project's goal of complete renewable self-sufficiency2
3
.
5. Marketed Expectations vs. Reality
The project was marketed as a pioneering model for renewable energy, yet it failed to meet its claims. This discrepancy between marketing and actual performance has led to criticism and skepticism regarding its viability as a model for other regions aiming for similar goals1
3
. In summary, while Proyecto El Hierro has made strides towards renewable energy use, its ambitious goals were not fully realized due to technical limitations, operational inefficiencies, and an ongoing dependence on fossil fuels for backup power.