[bryanlarsen]

> you can never design a grid that relies solely on renewables.

If the wind is always blowing somewhere within the grid, yes you can.

Adding storage makes it cheaper, but it's not a necessary part of the design.

[epups]

I cannot make this issue any simpler, I'm afraid, but here is a try: it's not about the binary existence of "wind" "somewhere within the grid", it is about having enough wind AND wind turbines to power your entire grid from that corner alone. Again, no grid has ever or will ever operate like that, as you acknowledge by not pointing out any counter examples.