Beyond the bluster: Why wind power is an effective technology. Institute for Public Policy Research, August 30, 2012

• “The conclusions of the report note that:
• It is inaccurate to describe the output from wind power as ‘unpredictable’.
• In the short term, wind power output is remarkably stable and increases and decreases only very slowly.
• The risks associated with ‘long, cold, calm spells’ have been overstated.
• In the UK, National Grid has reported that up to 30GW of wind power can be accommodated even if no changes are made to the way that the electricity system functions.
• In the longer term, there are numerous technological options to facilitate much greater amounts of wind power – such as improved interconnection with other countries and intelligent management of supply and demand through a ‘smart grid’.
• For these reasons the authors conclude that wind power can play a major role in a secure and reliable future electricity system.”