Germany wind power surplus

http://ift.tt/2yX8NfI

Quote:

Wind generation is forecast to climb to a record on Sunday, creating more output than needed and driving electricity prices below zero, broker data compiled by Bloomberg show. It would be the first time this year that the average price for a whole day is negative, not just for specific hours. Germany’s grid operators can struggle to keep the balance between how much energy people are using and how much is being produced when there are high amounts of wind generation. Negative prices mean that producers must either shut down power stations to reduce supply or pay consumers to take the electricity off the grid.

The power can't be sold to others instead? I don't really believe the "driving electricity prices below zero" part. Sounds like the dubious claims I heard about nuclear power (in the 1950's) being so cheap that power would be free in the future.

via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/2gYoqN5