Editing Wind power (section)

=== Penetration ===
[[File:Share of electricity production from wind.png|thumb|right|upright=1.6|Share of electricity production from wind, 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Share of electricity production from wind |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-electricity-wind |website=Our World in Data |access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref>]]
Wind energy penetration is the fraction of energy produced by wind compared with the total generation. Wind power's share of worldwide electricity usage in 2021 was almost 7%,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy/renewable-energy.html.html#wind-energy |publisher=[[BP]] |access-date=15 January 2020 |title=Renewable energy |work=bp global |archive-date=6 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106215146/https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy/renewable-energy.html.html#wind-energy |url-status=live }}</ref> up from 3.5% in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2016 – Electricity|url=http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/pdf/energy-economics/statistical-review-2016/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2016-electricity.pdf|publisher=BP|access-date=12 September 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910023428/http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/pdf/energy-economics/statistical-review-2016/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2016-electricity.pdf|archive-date=10 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2016 – Renewable energy |url=http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/pdf/energy-economics/statistical-review-2016/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2016-renewable-energy.pdf |publisher=BP |access-date=12 September 2016 |archive-date=18 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818051801/http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/pdf/energy-economics/statistical-review-2016/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2016-renewable-energy.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

There is no generally accepted maximum level of wind penetration. The limit for a particular [[Electrical grid|grid]] will depend on the existing generating plants, pricing mechanisms, capacity for [[energy storage]], demand management, and other factors. An interconnected electric power grid will already include [[Operating reserve|reserve generating]] and [[Electric power transmission#Capacity|transmission capacity]] to allow for equipment failures. This reserve capacity can also serve to compensate for the varying power generation produced by wind stations. Studies have indicated that 20% of the total annual electrical energy consumption may be incorporated with minimal difficulty.<ref name=tacklingUS>
 {{cite web
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 | title=Tackling Climate Change in the U.S
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081126220129/http://www.ases.org/images/stories/file/ASES/climate_change.pdf
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</ref> These studies have been for locations with geographically dispersed wind farms, some degree of [[Dispatchable generation|dispatchable energy]] or [[hydropower]] with storage capacity, demand management, and interconnected to a large grid area enabling the export of electric power when needed. Electrical utilities continue to study the effects of large-scale penetration of wind generation on system stability.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-08|title=New research shows Wind turbines, configured right, could provide grid stability|url=https://energypost.eu/new-research-shows-wind-turbines-configured-right-could-provide-grid-stability/|access-date=2022-01-25|website=Energy Post|language=en-GB}}</ref>

A wind energy penetration figure can be specified for different duration of time but is often quoted annually. To generate almost all electricity from wind annually requires substantial interconnection to other systems, for example some [[wind power in Scotland]] is sent to the rest of the [[National Grid (Great Britain)|British grid]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-01 |title=Low winds blamed for fall in Scotland's renewable energy production |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-60948639 |access-date=2023-01-20}}</ref> On a monthly, weekly, daily, or hourly basis—or less—wind might supply as much as or more than 100% of current use, with the rest stored, exported or curtailed. The seasonal industry might then take advantage of high wind and low usage times such as at night when wind output can exceed normal demand. Such industry might include the production of silicon, aluminum,<ref>Andresen, Tino. "[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-11-27/molten-aluminum-lakes-offer-power-storage-for-german-wind-farms Molten Aluminum Lakes Offer Power Storage for German Wind Farms] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407022716/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-11-27/molten-aluminum-lakes-offer-power-storage-for-german-wind-farms |date=7 April 2017 }}" ''[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]'', 27 October 2014.</ref> steel, or natural gas, and hydrogen, and using future long-term storage to facilitate 100% energy from [[variable renewable energy]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Luoma, Jon R. |url=http://e360.yale.edu/feature/the_challenge_for_green_energy_how_to_store_excess_electricity/2170/ |title=The Challenge for Green Energy: How to Store Excess Electricity |publisher=E360.yale.edu |date=13 July 2001 |access-date=8 November 2012 |archive-date=6 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406032321/http://e360.yale.edu/feature/the_challenge_for_green_energy_how_to_store_excess_electricity/2170/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://revmodo.com/2012/08/23/power-to-gas-technology-turns-excess-wind-energy-into-natural-gas/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005211707/http://revmodo.com/2012/08/23/power-to-gas-technology-turns-excess-wind-energy-into-natural-gas/ |archive-date=5 October 2012 |author=Buczynski, Beth |title=Power To Gas Technology Turns Excess Wind Energy Into Natural Gas |publisher=Revmodo.com |date=23 August 2012}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=too old|date=January 2023}} Homes and businesses can also be programmed to [[Demand response|vary electricity demand]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is demand-side response |url=https://en.energinet.dk/electricity/green-electricity/demand-side-response/what-is-demand-side-response/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=en.energinet.dk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-18 |title=Managing wind volatility in Ireland with demand response |url=https://gridbeyond.com/managing-wind-volatility-in-ireland-with-demand-response/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=GridBeyond |language=en-US}}</ref> for example by remotely turning up water heater thermostats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Demand Response – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/demand-response |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>