Un-Greening: Mexico gives up on renewables, revives coal industry

Mexican flag

Mexico, the eleventh biggest population on Earth, was all enthused about renewables a few years ago, but now they are actively winding back wind and solar and reactivating coal projects.  Mines are being reopened, coal miners are being hired and the state owned Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) has been told to buy electricity from its own coal generators before they buy electricity from the privately owned renewables generators.

López Obrador is called a populist, he talks of energy sovereignty, and speaks badly of predecessors who opened up the energy sector to foreign and private interests. He vowed to put ” at least 80% of the budget – into fossil fuels.””

Mexico was once a climate leader – now it’s betting big on coal

David Agren in San Juan de Sabinas, The Guardian

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, popularly known as Amlo, has unveiled plans to buy nearly 2m tons of thermal coal from small producers like Rivera. He also plans to reactivate a pair of coal-fired plants on the Texas border, which were being wound down as natural gas and renewables took a more prominent role in Mexico’s energy mix.

Not only is López Obrador is betting big on fossil fuels, he is also curtailing clean energy.

The CFE’s current investment plan forgoes clean energy projects entirely. And a bill for overhauling the electricity industry that was recently sent to Congress would force the CFE to purchase power from its own facilities, including coal plants, before renewables.

Renewables were blamed for a blackout in December that hit 10 million people

PEmex Building Mexico

Pemex Mexico

The shift back to coal appears to have been accelerated by a mass blackout in December which left 10 million in the dark for a couple of hours. The electricity commission blames an excess of renewable energy.

The blackout started with a fire, but renewable energy was running at a peak of 28% and the system was too unstable to recover:

“In addition, the CFE noted that at that time there was a historical maximum of integration of renewable energy into the national system, of 28.13 percent of the total national energy, which affected the support of the system.

In a virtual press conference, Mario Morales Vielmas, CFE’s general director of Legacy Contract Intermediation, indicated that if renewable energies had not contributed so significantly to the system, the failure would have been isolated and dealt with in a different way.

Straight after that the hashtag #Venezuela started to trend — in reference to the infamous Venezuelan electricity grid. The Panam Post called it a “Massive Blackout” and warned that the Chavista Ghost Scared Mexicans. 
A lot of this is about money and power.  Mexico is the sixth-largest oil producer in the world.
But it shows yet another country that isn’t buying the fake forced energy transition and will be increasing emissions, while the last few patsy nations on Earth try to reduce theirs. If renewables were so cheap and wonderful why is Mexico going back to coal?

Photo by Jorge Aguilar on Unsplash… | Photo Pemex: Cvmontuy

 

9.8 out of 10 based on 101 ratings

118 comments to Un-Greening: Mexico gives up on renewables, revives coal industry

  • #
    James

    Do they have an interconnect with USA? There could be a market for surplus power in Texas from what I hear!

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      OldOzzie

      Nearly Half of Texas’ Wind Turbines Freeze Contributing to Power Emergency, Over 2 Million Without Power

      It’s pretty hard to imagine, but in Texas, even down to San Antonio, it’s snowbound and bitter cold for an area known for warmth. Parts of Texas allegedly drooped down to 0F (-18C) over the weekend, it’s still bad today and another arctic snowstorm is predicted to hit the area on Tuesday or Wednesday.

      On top of that, there are rolling power outages that for some may mean their power isn’t back on until tomorrow because of the strain on the Texas power grid. The state is asking people to conserve electricity to relieve the demand and has declared a state of emergency. 2.5 million are without power.

      So why is there a problem in Texas, virtually the watchword for energy? It reveals one of the chinks in the armor of renewable energy.

      According to ABC 13 (Houston), there was a systemwide due to multiple power generation plants going offline.

      Why?

      At least in part because of frozen wind turbines, according to MRT.

      23% of Texas’ energy is now powered by wind turbines. There’s also limited natural gas supplies because of the demand to pick up the slack.

      It shows once again there are limitations to renewable energy sources and why you need duplicative systems to take up the slack if you have failures like this. When you want to kill fossil fuels ultimately, like Joe Biden, this is what you would be left with on a more permanent basis if you don’t have such reliable systems. Fortunately, Texas hasn’t turned completely into California yet but this shows the danger that poses, particularly in the frigid temperatures hitting now in the state and why it should never go the road of California.

      Folks in Texas were not happy but perhaps they’ll remember this when they’re asked for their vote from Democrats who would drive us further into such a non-sustainable state?

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        • #
          Peter Fitzroy

          Perhaps TonyinOZ might want to comment on the nameplate capacity of Texas wind, vs the capacity factor vs the total shortfall.

          Also Antarctica has wind turbines, so they can and do operate in extreme cold.

          But the biggest problem is that Texas does not allow interconnects to its grid, following good republican principles of individual responsibility

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          • #
            yarpos

            yes I am sure they are deployed in essential applications too

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          • #
            yarpos

            the issue with cold comes where you have moisture and cold and ice build up

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            • #
              ian hilliar

              whose job is it to sweep the snow off the solar panels?

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              • #
                Klem

                A church near me recently spent $150,000 on rooftop solar panels. Half of the panels face roughly toward the Sun, the others face east and as such will likely never pay for themselves. Today they are under 2 feet of snow and i don’t see anyone in a rush to climb up and sweep the snow away.

                This is not a wealthy church. What I don’t understand is why no one in the congregation stood up and told the church leaders that rooftop solar panels, especially ones that face east, are an expensive and stupid idea. Why were they silent?

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              • #
                Sambar

                Who’s job is it to sweep the solar onto the snow panels.

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              • #
                Annie

                Ignorance and gullibility?

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          • #
            David Maddison

            https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2017/antarctic-research-station-wind-turbine-collapse/

            8 NOVEMBER 2017

            Part of a wind turbine at Australia’s Mawson research station in Antarctica has collapsed overnight. No one was injured in the incident.

            The head of the turbine fell to the ground about 9pm Mawson station time last night.

            General Manager of Support and Operations, Dr Rob Wooding, said all expeditioners on station were safely inside the living quarters at the time.

            “While Mawson can experience regular blizzards, the conditions over the last few days have been moderate, with wind gusts of up to 40 knots,” Dr Wooding said.

            “We have a regular maintenance schedule for all the wind turbines. The cause of the incident is unknown and will be fully investigated.”

            The Enercon E30 turbine is 30 metres high and is one of two on station which came into operation in 2003. The second turbine has been deactivated as a precautionary measure, with the station’s diesel power generators being used to provide power.

            The German manufacturer of the turbine is being notified.

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          • #
            David Maddison

            Antarctica may be one of the few places where there is a genuine niche market for wind plant as the importation of fuel for generators is very expensive and small nuclear plant is politically unacceptable and was already tried once and failed for various reasons unrelated to the actual concept.

            I don’t think solar would be suitable.

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          • #
            wal1957

            But the biggest problem is that Texas does not allow interconnects to its grid, following good republican principles of individual responsibility

            Yeah, those interconnectors. It’s called passing the problem down the line.
            Just like a pyramid scheme. And at the end of the line are fossil fueled generators or nuclear. Reliably backing up the unreliables.
            What happens when these ‘backups’ are phased out?
            Unreliable, intermittent power is just what a 1st world economy needs no?

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          • #
            RicDre

            “Perhaps TonyinOZ might want to comment on the nameplate capacity of Texas wind, vs the capacity factor vs the total shortfall.”

            Nearly one half of the turbines are inoperable due to ice on the turbine blades. Also, most of the fossil fuel back-up plants in Texas use natural gas and a lot of the local supply is being used to heat house and not available to run power plants. The forecast shortfall for today is about 20,000 megawatts.

            ERCOT reports today the spot price for electricity in Texas is currently a stunning $9000 per MegaWatt-hour. Even in the high demand summer months, $100 per MW-hr would be high.

            Wind generation ranks as the second-largest source of energy in Texas, accounting for 23% of state power supplies last year, behind natural gas, which represented 45%, according to Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) figures.

            https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/02/15/texas-frozen-wind-power-outages-ensue-electricity-now-at-unheard-of-9000-per-megawatt-hour/

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          • #
            Hanrahan

            Also Antarctica has wind turbines, so they can and do operate in extreme cold.

            Do you reckon they may have been designed for the environment.

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          • #
            sophocles

            Fitz said:

            Perhaps TonyinOZ might want to comment on the nameplate capacity of Texas wind, vs the capacity factor vs the total shortfall.

            Why don’t you comment, seeing as it’s so interesting for you?

            Texas is on the other side of the globe. That’s rather far outside Tony’s baliwick, which is Australia.

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        • #
          Matthew

          It only takes an unbalanced deposit of snow and ice on the turbine blades to render them useless.

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        • #
          Matthew

          Should have left them useless cowfans in the farmers paddock, intermittently pumping water, it’s about all they’re good for.

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        • #
          Hasbeen

          And we have the hide to think we are smarter than Mexicans

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      • #
        OldOzzie

        Texas Deploys National Guard As ‘Grid Chaos’ Leaves Millions Freezing In Darkness

        Here are the key takeaways from Texas rolling blackouts:

        Southwest Power Pool Says 17 States Limiting Energy Usage
        3.368 million Texans Without Power
        Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Calls Up Texas Army National Guard
        Oncor Electric Delivery Continues To Warn About Extended “Controlled Outages”
        Texas Gov. Greg Abbott States Power Grid Not Compromised
        Power Crisis Hits Texas And 13 Other States
        Southwest Power Pool Declares Energy Emergency Alert Level 3
        Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Warns Of More Blackouts
        Houston Mayor Sylvester Suspends Air Travel In Houston
        ERCOT Wholesale Electricity Prices Plunged From Cap Of $9k per megawatt-hour to around $2.5k
        Oncor Electric Delivery Extends Rolling Blackouts
        2.7 Million Texans Without Power
        ERCOT Wholesale Electricity Prices Exceed $9k per megawatt-hour

        Update ( 1612 ET): The Southwest Power Pool (SSP), which manages the electric grid and wholesale power market for the central US, including Kansas, Oklahoma, portions of New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Wyoming, and Nebraska, released an update Monday afternoon saying 17 states have “curtailed energy usage to balance supply and demand.”

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      • #
        Leonard

        Well, now we will see if the Texas government can honestly identify the problem and reduce wind power and increase natural gas usage.
        AMLO showed he was strong enough to reverse course on so called renewables and do what is best for his country.

        Let’s see if the leaders in Texas and their cooperating states have as much courage to fix their problems as AMLO is doing.

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      • #
        Hanrahan

        I remember in a recent US winter coal generators were credited with saving the day. Gas was in heavy demand for heating [as I assume it is in Texas ATM] so it was only coal stockpiles that met demand.

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    • #
      Serge Wright

      I think you’re onto something James.

      The timing of this is too perfect with the new Biden zero emissions government. No doubt the Mexican president sees a huge commercial opportunity to supply baseload power to the USA, much like the Russians are doing in Europe. Not only would it provide a big revenue windfall, but Mexico would effectively hold the USA to ransom from a political perspective.

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      • #

        I think the timing is mostly happenstance. From the post…
        “Not only is López Obrador betting big on fossil fuels, he is also curtailing clean energy.

        The CFE’s current investment plan forgoes clean energy projects entirely!!!! ( My exclamations)

        Mr Obrador may be a socialist, yet there are indications he is an honest one that wants his nations interests above some global Government utopia. And that honesty goes a long way in a corrupt world.

        President Trump and Mr Obrador had come to quiet an understanding. Mr Obrador was shutting down the illegal immigrant highway, agreed to redo NAFTA, virtually forcing Canada to play President Trump’s game. President Trump was dragging China along against their will, well yielding the powerful hand he held.

        President Trump was demonstrating how nationalism could be mutually beneficial, doing bilateral and Tri-lateral trade deals that simply made good sense for all parties.

        President Trump helped clarify to the world that international government, in league with major international corporations, was not to the benefit of average citizens, and his withdrawal from the Parris CAGW scam showed all independent nations that CAGW is a globalist scam, having zero to do with “saving the world” and everything to do with reducing soverighn authority, and establishing global authority of unelected buracracy.

        That Mexico’s President Obrador has completely rejected the CAGW political scam is very significant, and is being mirrored by India and other diverging nations who refuse to play globalist games. The left will be furious.

        President Trump left an indelible impression on a world that longs for the right to BE LEFT ALONE!

        President Trump may have saved the world, even in defeat. We shall see.

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  • #
    David Maddison

    I wonder how President Imposter Biden’s handlers will treat this situation?

    Sadly, they may use it as an excuse to allow even more illegals to cross the border because they’ll said to be escaping from pro-coal Mexico.

    Mexico’s pro cheap energy policy might even result in Biden’s handlers imposing economic or even sanctions against them.

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    • #
      Wet Mountains

      They don’t need an excuse.

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    • #
      Graham Richards

      David, please use the President’s correct title. It’s President Joe Fraud!

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    • #
      David Maddison

      Before “sanctions” I left out the word military. So “economic or even military sanctions”.

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      • #
        James

        Economic sanctions are easy to deal with. All Mexico has to do is talk about a closer association both trade a militarily with Russia. Then a visit from Lavrov. Russian ship visits, and if that does not do the trick then a Russian Military base. USA will soon back down.

        10

    • #
      Robdel

      So it seems that just a short blackout is enough to change course on fossil fuel versus renewables. There is still hope then when reality bites.

      20

      • #
        Hivemind

        Only when the government is listening. In South Australia, they actually doubled down & claimed it was because they needed more unreliables.

        20

    • #
      Zigmaster

      David
      This difference in policy on energy might see the flow of Mexicans to US reverse. In fact Californians and Texans fleeing to Mexico might become the first Climate Change Policy refugees in the world. People who have had to leave because their state had become uninhabitable due to their governments Climate Change Policies.

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    • #
      Tides of Mudgee

      I call them Cheating China Joe and the Attack Dog. ToM

      20

    • #
      Yonniestone

      Uncle Joe wouldn’t have a clue, he thinks manual labour is a Mexican bandit……

      20

  • #
    Kalm Keith

    It is highly likely that Texas will be incentivised by its present situation and follow Mexico into Engineering Reality.

    https://joannenova.com.au/2021/02/nato-chief-wonders-about-solar-powered-battle-tanks/#comment-2406191

    Shame about the hundred thousand or so windmills that will stand forever as a reminder that all is not well in the world.

    KK

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  • #
    GD

    Hallelujah!

    Is it possible that Australia could sell coal to Mexico?

    150

  • #
    Wet Mountains

    I was involved with a project at a 365Mw coal fired generator plant in Indiana some years ago. We build a unit that sprayed limestone slurry, at a rate of 150,000 GPM, through the flue gas emissions, where a chemical reaction occurred between the sulfur in the gas and the limestone producing gypsum, which was barged up the Ohio River to a plant that makes dry wall. Results: clean air and cheap gypsum.

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    • #
      Kalm Keith

      That sounds like real engineering.

      Lots of good things in Indiana like Straight No Chaser.

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      • #
        Wet Mountains

        In my younger days.

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      • #
        Wet Mountains

        350 million dollar project. Dry wall company said it was the best, most consistent gypsum they had ever used. Six 750 HP, 37,000 GPM pumps, 15′ diameter ball mills, complete facility. Yes, quite a project.

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    • #
      David Maddison

      An excellent engineering project Wet Mountains. That’s what genuine recycling and proper engineering is all about.

      Meanwhile in Germany….

      https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germanys-gypsum-supply-threatened-coal-exit-report

      Germany’s coal exit is threatening the country’s supply of gypsum, Steven Hanke reports in Tagesspiegel Background. More than half of the gypsum used in Germany is derived from the exhaust gases of domestic coal-fired power plants, and the federal government has yet to present a plan to replace the enormous quantities of gypsum that will be lost when the country’s coal plants are shuttered, writes Hanke.

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  • #

    “If renewables were so cheap and wonderful why is Mexico going back to coal?”

    If science mattered, their choice would be clear, except that alarmists have so widely damaged the integrity of climate science, the scientific truth has become irrelevant.

    Is Mexico among the developed world being penalized by forced wealth redistribution under the guise of saving the planet and on are they on receiving side of ‘climate reparations’?

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  • #
    Dave in the States

    Economic reality. It’s a real thing. CAGW not so much.

    61

  • #
    Harry Passfield

    Off-topic, Jo (sorry), but being an old (cough) Jag man (a V12 XJS and two V6 S Types in the past) I was amazed to hear today that Jaguar are to go all electric by 2030 – even Land Rover!!
    Apart from denying the legendary ICE XJ and XK engines of their history, I just wonder what some bucolic farmer are going to have to say about electric Land Rovers which need a quick (haha) charge at a critical point in the farming cycle – like towing a few sheep to market (ymmv).
    Oh dear. Bill Lyons must be turning in his grave – only to be joined by Bill Heynes, the designer og the XJ6 engine.

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    • #
      yarpos

      I think Range Rovers have long gone to the Toorak Tractor brigade (toys for rich ladies in gold shoes, if you arent from Oz) Landrovers arent really a thing anymore as a working vehicle. The serious farmers will still be in their Hiluxes and similar, at least in this country

      Jag has been going down the path towards generic mobiles for a little while now sadly, this is just an extension of that. I say that as a fan as I have an XJ6 in the garage (in the panel beaters really but that’s another story)

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    • #
      Lawrie

      It will be interesting to see how their sales go. It could possibly be the worst decision ever made. There will be a lot of manufacturers watching and calculating. Matt Keans green dream will not be sufficient to keep the lights on let alone charge the family auto.

      00

      • #
        Chad

        Future “Jaguars” wil just be badges stuck on some Indian/Chinese/Korean/ etc,…designed and built metal box.
        The “real” Jags ,..XJs, XKs, Mk2s, etc will always be lurking in garages and turning up in pub carparks on Sundays !

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    • #
      James

      I hope the electrics are better than the Lucas electrics that used to be standard on Jaguar and Rover. Otherwise the accelerator will be there position. Off, shudder and go, like the head light switches. Off, flicker and on!

      20

  • #
    Ian Hill

    In the end the laws of physics will win.

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    • #
      David-of-Cooyal-in-Oz

      Nah,
      Joe Babes, of Washington DC, has shown that laws don’t matter. And what’s this physics stuff anyway. Politicians don’t deal in anything like that.
      Cheers
      Dave B

      40

  • #
    Penguinite

    Good news Mexico! Well done! Let’s see who will be the next domino to fall! Old Slymo may shake off the shackles imposed by the RINO wets in his cabinet! We can but hope!

    240

  • #
    graham dunton

    Not on topic, except the human energy involve, from Michael Smith, exposing modern slavery once again. well done by both Australians.
    https://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2021/02/shes-free-mr-b-and-i-discuss-how-ms-n-was-rescued-today-from-human-traffickers-in-the-middle-east.html

    50

  • #
    Travis T. Jones

    That would explain the snow in Mexico …

    “Juárez roadways were wet and icy.

    The city’s El Diario newspaper reported that authorities closed a highway — the Panamerican that runs to Chihuahua City — due to icy conditions and reported a seven-car crash with only minor injuries.”

    https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2020/02/05/juarez-weather-snow-clear-us-mexico-border-crossings/4665973002/

    Only 3 weeks into Swampy Joe’s presidency and Swampy has stopped Global Warming!

    Unless global warming causes freezing, bitter snow …

    “It’s bitter cold in parts of the US, but climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann explains that’s exactly what we should expect from the [global warming] crisis.

    https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/perfect-storm-extreme-winter-weather-bitter-cold-and-climate-change

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    • #
      el gordo

      ‘ … climate change may be favoring this contrast in temperature by causing the jet stream to meander in a particular pattern …’

      Its actually a global cooling pattern and its caused by a quiet sun shrinking the stratosphere, putting pressure on the jets to meander.

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    • #
      Maptram

      “It’s bitter cold in parts of the US, but climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann explains that’s exactly what we should expect from the [global warming] crisis.

      So, for anyone who believes this nonsense, if the world goes to solar panels and windmills for their electricity, not only will the warming stop but the freezing will as well, and there will be average temperatures, windspeeds, rain etc all round. That’s what I would call climate change.

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  • #
    Graham Richards

    Won’t be long before the UN threatens to expel Mexico from all UN agencies. Lucky old Mexico!!!

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  • #
    Peter Fitzroy

    Just a few facts (and I expect complaints about sources)

    Coal represents 7% of the total – so adding a few plants will not change the energy mix
    This is old news, these plants have been planned since 2012
    Mexico reaffirmed its commitment to phase them out in line with global commitment

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    • #
      el gordo

      They torture the language, referring to coal as ‘carbon’.

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    • #
      el gordo

      The Mexican High Court needs to explain itself, talk about conspiracy.

      ‘Obrador has attempted to block plans for additional, privately funded renewable generation in Mexico, and keep the focus on coal-fired power. The nation’s high court foiled that effort, but he plans to reopen two coal-fired units near the Texas border.’ (Engineer)

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    • #
      Roger Knights

      “Mexico reaffirmed …”
      Link?

      10

    • #
      yarpos

      Yes Obi Fitz, these are the coal plants we are looking for. Remain on narrative.

      10

    • #
      RickWill

      80% of electricity supply in Mexico comes from fossil fuel. Mexico has become increasingly reliant on gas. The supply problems in the US are impacting on Mexico. Coal is a great store of energy. It makes sense to have substantial coal capacity and ready availability of stockpiled coal for weather events like those currently occurring.

      Gas line packing offers only a tiny surge capacity. It makes any gas reliant grid vulnerable to sustained surge in demand. About half the gas plant in Mexico is designed for peak lopping so their fuel supply will be constrained in times of sustained demand. By contrast it is easy to stockpile a month’s supply of coal for any coal fired plant.

      One thing I know for certain is the Earth’s surface is not warming up. Basically Earth’s surface temperature is stuck firmly where it is for a long time to come; controlled by sea ice at -2C at both poles and tropical ocean warm pools at 30C every day of every year:
      https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/ocean/cdas-sflux_sst_global_1.png
      Only two oceans are currently reaching their 30C set point temperature. Atlantic is not quite there yet but that should correct by the boreal summer. If it does not then that will be time to start securing coal reserves for the land around the North Atlantic.

      What I do not know is how well the ocean heat is being distributed over land – current weather patterns. Right now there is some land in the northern hemisphere experiencing cold snaps. Would make sense to have good stockpiles of coal for such events.

      To show the absurdity of climate modellers, they cannot agree on the current temperature within a 2C range:
      https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aq1iAj8Yo7jNhBlQt8jdeBoZ9NhY

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    • #
      Travis T. Jones

      No complaint about your source.
      At least you provided one, and, always need a good laugh during the worst apocalypse. Ever.

      – “Coal represents 7% of the total – so adding a few plants will not change the energy mix
      — “We need a commitment to build no more coal-fired power plants anywhere.” – UN Secretary-General António Guterres
      https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sgsm20530.doc.htm

      – “This is old news, these plants have been planned since 2012
      — “Won’t somebody think of the children?” – Mrs Lovejoy, The Simpsons.

      – “Mexico reaffirmed its commitment to phase them out in line with global commitment
      — “The strategy outlines concrete actions to reduce black carbon and methane from major sources.”
      https://ccacoalition.org/en/news/mexico-launches-national-strategy-reduce-short-lived-climate-pollutants-climate-change-air

      Is “black carbon” the same as the invisible trace gas, co2?

      Did this reduction in methane production stop global warming:

      Historical photo of mountain of bison skulls

      https://theconversation.com/historical-photo-of-mountain-of-bison-skulls-documents-animals-on-the-brink-of-extinction-148780

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      • #
        Serp

        The context of black carbon is suggestive of carbon black having been intended so it’s likely a superadded morsel of ignorance for our delectation.

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      William

      Mexico reaffirmed its commitment to phase them out in line with global commitment.

      Fitz, your source is from December 2019. It would seem that Mexico’s President has realised the errors of his country’s way since then and has seen the light (and he wants to keep that light on!)

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  • #
    Neville

    Go Mexico and good luck to them.
    BTW we all know that the Biden donkey and the DEMS heralded the virtues of so called renewables/S&W during the election, but freezing conditions in Texas have now caused widespread misery across the state.
    Wind turbines have seized up and electricity prices have soared to $ 9,000 a MW hour, just more proof that dirty , toxic S&W are not renewable or sustainable,but are a certifiable disaster.
    And already the Biden donkey plus the DEMS hope to force more of this dirty , toxic disaster on every state in the Union. And at a crippling cost of endless trillions $ for the rest of the century and no measurable change to temp or climate for a thousand years. See Lomborg, Shellenberger, Zickfeld, RS & NAS study, the very Left wing Conversation etc.
    Check out the Texas data and evidence at the link.

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/02/15/texas-frozen-wind-power-outages-ensue-electricity-now-at-unheard-of-9000-per-megawatt-hour/

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  • #
    Saighdear

    Something went wrong a the Priners:the Hymn-sheets may have all the correct letters on them , but in the wrong order “..the electricity commission blames an excess of renewable energy”

    That’s never what it says when you go further EAST, …. does it?

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  • #
    Neville

    Donkey Joe Biden and the DEMS also repeatedly told the US voters about the dangers of climate change/emergency/crisis/ etc for the rest of the century and now the WHO has jumped in to try and help out donkey Joe.
    Here’s Willis Eschenbach’s quick summary of the data and evidence and BIG SURPRISE he found the same results that Goklany and Lomborg etc found years ago and the SAME reasons why everything is so much better today.
    The graphs etc are very easy to understand at the link for Willis’s summary.
    So where is their emergency or crisis or apocalypse and why does donkey Joe want to waste 100s of TRILLIONS $ on his fantasy world?

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/02/15/who-and-the-climate-emergency/

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    • #
      Travis T. Jones

      Swampy Joe Xiden’s commitment to “fight global warming” is admittance that he and Obama failed to “slow the rise of the seas”.

      Doubling down on that failed strategy, expecting a different result, is the sign of insanity with a big dollop of dementia on top.

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      • #
        Serp

        Their grandiosity is limitless as though they are titans pondering the immensity of their tectonic power which can raise the seas and contest the planet warming caused by Kerry’s Carbon Blanket at the top of the atmosphere.

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  • #
    another ian

    “WHO and the “Climate Emergency”

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/02/15/who-and-the-climate-emergency/

    Might be phrased as “The WHO and the “What?”

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    David Maddison

    This is what Mexico committed to under the Paris discords.

    https://www.nrdc.org/experts/amanda-maxwell/mexico-ratifies-paris-agreement

    Unconditionally reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 22% and black carbon emissions by 51% of business-as-usual levels by 2030. With international assistance, these cuts could grow to 36% for GHGs and up to 70% for black carbon.

    Peaking net emissions from 2026 and reducing emissions per unit of GDP by around 40% from 2013 to 2030.

    Taking numerous adaptation measures to lessen the vulnerability of communities to climate change and to ameliorate climate impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure and productive systems. Included in this list is a commitment to achieve 0% deforestation by 2030.

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    Joanne mentions this in her text:

    …..Amlo, has unveiled plans to buy nearly 2m tons of thermal coal from small producers like Rivera.

    I have mentioned this before, but sometimes it’s worth revisiting.

    The average large scale coal fired power plant of 2000MW+ (say, four Units of 500MW each and larger) will burn around 6 Million tonnes of coal a year.

    Think about that for a minute.

    That’s at normal operation of the plant, with Units off line during the year for maintenance etc.

    The coal being burned is crushed (pulverised) to the consistency of a very fine powder, and then force injected into the furnace with forced air as well.

    Okay, now stand up. Place your arms out fully in front of you, and make a 90 degree angle with them. (that angle across your chest) Now, imagine another person doing the same facing you, so that your fingertips are touching. Imagine a cube being formed with the boundaries being your extended arms. Now, fill that space inside between the both of you to the top of your skull with that crushed coal.

    That is (around) one tonne.

    At full operation, ONE of those Units will burn that same amount of coal (one tonne) every ….. SEVENTEEN SECONDS.

    That’s just the one Unit, so with all four Units in operation that’s one tonne of coal being burned at the rate of every four and a quarter seconds.

    Now, for some perspective, China is bringing on line one of these typical large scale coal fired power plants every seven to ten days, has being doing so for more than 12 years now, and still has a long way to go constructing those plants at this same rate. (and that’s just China constructing these plants in ….. their own Country)

    Tony.

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      David Maddison

      Here are some videos about coal combustion for power plants.

      Inside the furnace:
      https://youtu.be/wySZl6JIwQw

      Inside the furnace:
      https://youtu.be/7HoBcy7wyeE

      Starting up process:
      https://youtu.be/Y0B_UH_Ltqs

      How it works:
      https://youtu.be/rL53Jhx7u1s

      A pulverized coal burner in the open (Chinese):
      https://youtu.be/sxHRNiRqDy0

      The anti-scientists and anti-engineers simply have no clue about the tremendous and concentrated energy involved in proper coal, gas or nuclear power plants.

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      Simon B

      Right at the moment the Northern Hemisphere is being affected by the Polar Vortex turning an early winter into metres of snow for weeks completely blanketing solar panels and making wind turbines unsafe for use.
      Combine that with down to -45 deg temperatures not exactly being optimal for the actual coal produced housings of either renewable and less than 6 hours of daylight to produce solar.
      Is there no compromise in the climate cult for the continuation of human society? Or do you want all humans living in the temperate zone overtaxing those resources?
      Please provide the amount of solar and wind generated energy required to produce one 350w solar panel and one wind turbine, from the raw materials through to finished item, delivered and installed – including coal. Then explain the life span of a solar panel, excluding of course any smashed and hail damaged panels.

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    Philip

    Obviously renewable grids are difficult to operate and thermal ones easy. Smart grids may improve with technology and skills, though I doubt it, the problems seem inherent. But they may.

    Their dream is inter-connectivity, massive grid building, and windmills everywhere. But Mexico has just said, look, [Snip]AD, let’s get back to basics.

    Why Australia doesn’t heed this lesson I don’t know. Its so blatantly obvious, we are so small we clearly should be building coal for at least another life cycle and buy into this new stuff when it develops, and not if it doesn’t.

    Scientists make terrible managers, and managers listen to scientists too much. Mexico woke up to that.

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      Hanrahan

      Dispersed generation is not all it’s cracked up to be. ATM the whole of Europe/Asia is in the doldrums.

      https://www.windy.com/?39.544,55.281,4,i:pressure

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        tom0mason

        Yes Hanrahan,

        The old adage of ‘keep it simple’ (aka the KISS principle) applies well to most engineering efforts.
        Fewer high output power plants (with plenty of back-up) distributed over a simple an robust grid network will work better than the spiders’ web of interconnections to a very complex grid, by lot of small unreliable generators.

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      Hatrack

      Many years ago the farmer next to us hooked two tractors up together so he could pull bigger machinery. Dad, with me in toe, went over to have a look at how it all worked. Afterwards, on the way home, I asked Dad what he thought and he said it looked pretty good. So then I asked if he would do it too. “Depends” he said. “On what?” I asked. “On wether they are still using it in a few years time. If they aren’t, then it’s no good – but if they are, then it must be alright.”

      “….. buy into this new stuff when it develops, and not if it doesn’t.” Different words, same sensible meaning.

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    Simon B

    No better argument than we tried, it failed, we are reverting to a known quantity which won’t hold us ransom. Not to mention having your own supply of cheap, efficient energy makes you self reliant and able to resist pressure from those sitting in the dark with 3 feet of snow on their energy ‘producers’ demanding you do the same thing. Now if only Australia had a couple of cheap energy sources like coal, gas, nuclear…….

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    tom0mason

    “If renewables were so cheap and wonderful why is Mexico going back to coal?” ask Joanne.
    The basic answer is because when reality kicks your a$$ not just once but a few times, you better pay attention. Ignoring reality and sound engineering principle costs society dearly in both wealth and early graves.

    So called ‘renewables’ can NEVER be competitive on an open market, just like ‘renewables’ are not be an environmentally sound to produce or as a source of renewable devices or power. Current renewable technology is just political flim-flam virtue signaling guff, offering NO reliable power generation no matter how much national wealth is sunk into the project. It’s just political sloganism of little worth, and in the long term will prove to be utterly impracticable with huge environment and financial costs.

    Give me 3 or 4 nuclear power plants every time over littering the whole nation with virtue signaling monuments to unreliability.

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    The theory promoted by Climate Science that warming was initiated by CO2 increase is false.
    Water vapor change can be calculated from the saturation vapor pressure of the liquid water. The saturation vapor pressure depends only on the temperature of the liquid water. The actual average global water vapor is measured using satellite instrumentation by NASA/RSS. The measured WV increase trend is greater than the WV trend calculated from the temperature of the liquid water. The WV increase is mostly (about 90%) due to irrigation. This demonstrates that CO2 does not contribute to warming. The slight warming attributed to increasing WV is self-limiting. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_2m02r30FmvtgSnOEZunFRpUJwTUFU_V/view?usp=sharing

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    GARETH LEWIS

    Search “Mexico” on Their ABC’s website and try to see whether they mention this newsworthy item…guess what, I can save your time, they don’t. It doesn’t fit the narrative, it’s not important.

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    Dear Jo,

    Your report of electricity supply policy in Mexico says,

    The shift back to coal appears to have been accelerated by a mass blackout in December which left 10 million in the dark for a couple of hours. The electricity commission blames an excess of renewable energy.

    The blackout started with a fire, but renewable energy was running at a peak of 28% and the system was too unstable to recover:

    Oh No! Yet again I am in the unenviable position of having ‘told you so’.
    I draw attention to this item from 2006 http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/images/stories/papers/reprint/courtney_2006_lecture.pdf
    It explains

    Windfarms provide intermittent power. Hence, windfarms increase the risk of supply failures.
    Indeed, they give the certainty of supply failures when the wind is too strong or not strong
    enough.

    The increased risk of supply failures from windfarms is insignificant when there is small
    contribution of electricity to the grid from windfarms. All the output from the windfarms
    forces thermal power stations to operate spinning standby or at reduced output that can cope
    with the risk.

    But the problem of managing the risk increases disproportionately as the risk increases.

    Electricity is not wanted in the same amounts everywhere, and electricity is lost when it is
    transmitted over long distances. The additional risk management difficulties require additional
    spinning standby when the risk of supply failures is very large. Otherwise it would be
    impossible to match supply with demand throughout the grid when a large supply failure
    occurred (17).

    This is demonstrated by the needed amounts of spare capacity shown in Table 2
    and Figure 4.

    Additional power stations must be built and operated on spinning standby (using their
    additional fuel and providing their additional emissions) to manage the increased risk of
    power cuts from supply failures when windpower contributes more than 20% of the potential
    electricity supply (17).

    People are often forgiven for being wrong but rarely forgiven for being right, so I can expect yet another kicking.

    Richard

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    Lawrie

    In 1988, as a PRI member and Secretary (Minister) of the Interior, Bartlett announced that “supposedly,” there were difficulties in receiving information about the presidential election. It was the first time that there were preliminary results. The electoral districts informed the results of the voting by telephone to the Federal Electoral Commission (electoral arbiter).

    And he failed just when the PRD candidate, Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, was ahead in the votes. When the system was re-established, the PRI (his party) had already recovered, and Carlos Salinas de Gortari won the elections.

    Does this sound familiar? Bartlett is the Federal Electricity Commissioner and a political mover and shaker. The breakdown in electoral reporting, a sudden halt and a subsequent restart with a new leader does sound just like 2020.

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