Solar now accounts for over 50% of new electricity capacity added to the U.S. grid

Mr. Blurt is back. And this time can't admit the statement that solar needs to "piggyback" onto existing 24/7 energy production facilities. Solar cannot stand on it's own. With regard to energy return on investment solar and wind are a step back to the efficiencies seen in the Roman Empire.

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Hate to break it to you, but I have 1st hand experience with this. I have solar panels at my home, with Netmetering. It works beautifully.

 

When I put surplus renewable power on the grid, my neighbors grab that power to run their ACs. There is virtually ZERO voltage loss, which accounts for about 20% of Utility generated inefficiency.

The more expansive the service area of the Utility, the more effective this is.

 

I can't fix stupid. Sorry.

 

It works because you fellow taxpayers pay part of your electric bill through tax expenditures and direct subsidies.

 

You got it backwards. I just explained voltage loss, but I’m an EE, and I guess I can’t expect you to understand.

in addition, solar is also a peak load producer. So it prevents the need for additional power plants, holding costs down for everybody.

 

Then why are electricity rates going up??

 

Mine are low. You should install some solar panels if you are unhappy.

 

I choose not to burden my neighbors with paying for my power bills.

 

Your neighbors will be the beneficiaries of the many financial benefits of living in an area with a good solar base.

 

There is no such thing as a good solar base.

 

You should know better, living in California. They have a large Solar residential base.That’sfrom where they did the most comprehensive study on peak load and solar. They showed that solar moves the summer peak load from 4-6 pm to 6-8 pm, but at the same time, lowers the peak. This saves all customers on their electric bill!

 

That’s not a base. Solar and wind cannot stand alone without power generation sources available 24/7. Those 24/7 power generation sources form the power base.

 

Lols!! And you know this how?

 

Lols! I knew you had a different idea of the term “base” than MT was using. Batteries are coming down in costs making home storage more and more affordable

 

A base is a power source available 24/7. Solar and wind are not available 24/7. A modern economy can not be based on wind and solar energy production which additionally have an energy return on investment less than 5. You will of course ask for a link which has been provided previously and selectively ignored.

 

Lols! No link no validation! Again with the vague reference to some link somewhere out there

 

The BOLDED is so apropos!

 

California and Texas are both in the process of modernising their grids with Utility Scale battery storage. Here’s a few links. There are dozens like these.

https://eepower.com/news/megapack-mega-power-tesla-battery-storage-adds-800-mwh-to-grid/

The latest energy storage project in California features a grid-scale modular battery system from Tesla.

A 200 MW/800 MWh battery storage system has started delivering electricity to the grid in Grand Terrace, California

https://www.energy.ca.gov/news/2023...wth-energy-storage-key-component-states-clean

California Sees Unprecedented Growth in Energy Storage, A Key Component in the State’s Clean Energy Transition


SACRAMENTO — New data show California is surging forward with the buildout of battery energy storage systems with more than 6,600 megawatts (MW) online, enough electricity to power 6.6 million homes for up to four hours. The total resource is up from 770 MW four years ago and double the amount installed just two years ago

 

It never made any sense that our grid systems did not have storage. Plus new technology = more jobs and these will be cleaner jobs unlike filthy coal with its “black lung” disease that have taken so many many lives

 

Yes, when you think about Technicians working in a battery-storage plant; they are developing an invaluable knowledge base. They can port this knowledge easily to EV car maintenance, EV charging station implementation and maintenance, renewable system power storage, or used-EV battery grid power storage.

it makes me wonder if vocational training schools are offering this curriculum.

 

Nice article on flow batteries https://news.mit.edu/2023/flow-batteries-grid-scale-energy-storage-0407. Written it appears before we found those big deposits in North West Queensland in between Julia Creek and Richmond.

 

They will be. Coal is so filthy in so many many ways

 

@Media_Truth Have you seen the news out of China about the new Thorium reactor?
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/china-world-first-molten-salt

Promises to be cleaner, greener and more sustainable than Uranium. We shall see. Since Thorium is often a byproduct of rare earth extraction China does have a ready supply but then Aus being an old continent has deposits of all sorts of weird minerals

 

Cool technology! Using tanks of electrolyte is right up my alley, as I worked as an automation Engineer at Breweries for many years (tanks of beer vs tanks of electrolyte!). Sounds like Australia may lead the way on this.