The Grid

The Beer:  I am well past due for a Brew Day.  The last one was a disaster.

The Bicycle:  Slowly getting back.  This HAS to be the year.

The VRWC:  The "Grid" is the country's electrical distribution system.  There is only enough energy on the grid to meet all the loads plus the losses.  Losses are in the form of heat from what I would call "electrical friction".

The grid runs at 60 hertz and consists of "base load" which are large generating units that run full-out all the time.  Then there are reserve units that follow load.  As load varies throughout the day, they pick up the slack.  All these units are known quantities.  The load follow units also make up for other generators that might accidentally fall off-line (trip).

Wind is a variable source of energy.  It varies not just by the day or hour, but by the minute...even by the second.  Because of the variability, conventional generators must be available to make up for that variability.  Remember, there is only enough energy to meet all the loads and all the losses.  Solar is also variable for the most part, but somewhat more predictable.