Do aluminium smelters normally generate their own power, or do they normally use power from the electrical grid (which in large parts of North America means hydro power)? If the latter, then what’s the difference?
Sure, a given solar or wind farm is subject to local weather. But over a large area, different wind and solar farms tied to a big electrical grid like we have today, the power is reliable.
And that’s without adding other sources. Wisconsin recently made a hydro deal with Manitoba. When the wind is blowing they’ll sell excess electricity from their wind farms to Manitoba. Manitoba cuts back on the water flowing through its hydro dams, storing more energy upstream. When the wind slows down in Wisconsin, Manitoba will open the dams and let power flow the other way.
