We have not yet seen where the long-term wind penetration in national grids ends up, so it seems somewhat premature speculate on whether the penetration in a properly integrated European grid is going to end up above or below the average national grid penetration. An integrated grid with demand-side load-balancing makes it possible for wind penetration to go clear up to 100 %, or near enough as makes no matter.

Of course basing your entire grid on wind is unlikely to be efficient, for the same reason that basing your entire grid on any other single mode of generation is unlikely to be efficient. But since a kWh of wind electricity is still cheaper - including load balancing costs - than a kWh of nuclear electricity under present industrial conditions (the fossil fuels are not even within shouting distance when you internalise their externalities), it is unlikely that nuclear power will crowd out wind to any extent that obviates the economic value of an industrial policy for wind energy.

Which is really all that matters at this point in time.

- Jake

Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.