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@ 392daba0:a7db61e7
2025-04-29 00:21:03
Grok response to my questions:
1. Could an imbalance between very high renewable generation and very low demand cause a blackout?
Yes, absolutely.
In a grid, generation must exactly match demand at every instant. If supply wildly exceeds demand, grid frequency rises (in Europe, from the nominal 50 Hz), and protective systems kick in to shed load or disconnect generation to protect equipment and grid stability. If the imbalance is too sudden or too large, cascading failures and blackouts can occur.
In your scenario:
High solar (fotovoltaic) + high wind (eolic) during spring midday.
Low demand (moderate temperatures, no AC/heating) + railway strike (trains are major electricity consumers).
This is the perfect recipe for an overgeneration event.
Spain has already been experiencing negative electricity prices at midday in spring 2024, showing there’s too much generation compared to consumption.
If grid operators (like REE, Red Eléctrica de España) couldn't curtail enough solar/wind or couldn't redirect or export the excess energy fast enough, a blackout could indeed happen.
2. Could bitcoin mining help balance the grid to avoid this kind of blackout?
In theory, yes — and this is increasingly being considered seriously worldwide.
Bitcoin mining is extremely flexible: it can ramp up or down almost instantly, without caring about minor interruptions (unlike industrial processes).
Demand response role: When there's too much generation, bitcoin miners could absorb excess electricity, keeping frequency stable.
Curtailment mitigation: Instead of curtailing (wasting) clean energy, it would be put to use.
Incentives: Miners could set up agreements with the grid operator to only mine during periods of overgeneration or negative prices — profiting when otherwise electricity would be wasted.
Challenges:
Public perception: Bitcoin mining has a bad environmental reputation (even if here it would use otherwise-wasted renewable energy).
Regulatory issues: Spain has strict regulations on energy use, and installing large mining operations might require permitting and political will.
Economic feasibility: Miners would need very cheap access to stranded renewables, and infrastructure might be needed in specific rural zones.
In short:
✅ Overgeneration in Spain could definitely cause blackouts.
✅ Bitcoin mining could technically be part of a flexible demand response strategy to stabilize the grid during these periods — if properly managed and accepted.