A small step

[Old Rocks]

Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it's not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it's running the island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover "nearly 100 percent" of electrical needs. It's not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key -- it's the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta'u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don't have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.

The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta'u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity. Locals previously had to ration power (say, if a diesel shipment wasn't on time) or accept periodic outages. Now, they can assume they'll have power at all times

© Provided by Engadget

Tesla runs an entire island on solar power

A small step In the right direction.

 

[westwall]

Looks like an excellent use of solar power. Should make a excellent test bed for future tech development as well.

 

[ABikerSailor]

Yanno............you really gotta like Musk and his company.

If he can show it's sustainable for at least a year, other countries will start looking at it as well.

Me? I'd rather have wind farms and solar farms than coal plants.

 

[koshergrl]

hahahhahahahah

You poor deluded fools.

 

[ABikerSailor]

Interestingly enough Old Rocks, when solar and wind power first came out, it was just the "kooks" and the "hippies" that were seeing if they could make it work out for their house. Then, some businesses started supplementing their energy needs with wind and solar as well.

Now? They've successfully powered an entire island. Musk has done an excellent job with his batteries.

Maybe this will spur other towns and places to shift over to green energy as well.

 

[Old Rocks]

As the cost of the grid scale batteries come down, we may see, even here in the US, some small isolated municipalities creating their own power systems at far less than what the electricity costs them at present.

 

[BuckToothMoron]

Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it's not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it's running the island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover "nearly 100 percent" of electrical needs. It's not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key -- it's the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta'u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don't have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.

The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta'u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity. Locals previously had to ration power (say, if a diesel shipment wasn't on time) or accept periodic outages. Now, they can assume they'll have power at all times

© Provided by Engadget

Tesla runs an entire island on solar power

A small step In the right direction.

Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it's not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it's running the island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover "nearly 100 percent" of electrical needs. It's not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key -- it's the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta'u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don't have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.

The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta'u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity. Locals previously had to ration power (say, if a diesel shipment wasn't on time) or accept periodic outages. Now, they can assume they'll have power at all times

© Provided by Engadget

Tesla runs an entire island on solar power

A small step In the right direction.

American Samoa is like 12 degrees from the equator and gets nearly contstant daylight sun. Guess what, there is no place like that in the continental USA. Southern Florida is twice as far from the equator. If you believe this can be extrapolated to replace the energy needs of this country, you are delusional.

 

[Old Rocks]

Germany is successfully using solar to supplement it's electrical grid. And it is much farther north than most of the lower 48. And solar is just part of the renewable equation that will power this and other nations.

 

[ABikerSailor]

Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it's not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it's running the island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover "nearly 100 percent" of electrical needs. It's not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key -- it's the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta'u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don't have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.

The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta'u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity. Locals previously had to ration power (say, if a diesel shipment wasn't on time) or accept periodic outages. Now, they can assume they'll have power at all times

© Provided by Engadget

Tesla runs an entire island on solar power

A small step In the right direction.

Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it's not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it's running the island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover "nearly 100 percent" of electrical needs. It's not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key -- it's the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta'u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don't have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.

The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta'u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity. Locals previously had to ration power (say, if a diesel shipment wasn't on time) or accept periodic outages. Now, they can assume they'll have power at all times

© Provided by Engadget

Tesla runs an entire island on solar power

A small step In the right direction.

American Samoa is like 12 degrees from the equator and gets nearly contstant daylight sun. Guess what, there is no place like that in the continental USA. Southern Florida is twice as far from the equator. If you believe this can be extrapolated to replace the energy needs of this country, you are delusional.

Apparently, you didn't read the article very well. It's not so much the solar panels that make this work so well, it's the advanced batteries that are capable of storing enough energy to keep the place running even if there is no sun for THREE DAYS IN A ROW.

 

[BuckToothMoron]

Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it's not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it's running the island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover "nearly 100 percent" of electrical needs. It's not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key -- it's the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta'u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don't have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.

The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta'u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity. Locals previously had to ration power (say, if a diesel shipment wasn't on time) or accept periodic outages. Now, they can assume they'll have power at all times

© Provided by Engadget

Tesla runs an entire island on solar power

A small step In the right direction.

Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it's not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it's running the island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover "nearly 100 percent" of electrical needs. It's not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key -- it's the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta'u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don't have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.

The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta'u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity. Locals previously had to ration power (say, if a diesel shipment wasn't on time) or accept periodic outages. Now, they can assume they'll have power at all times

© Provided by Engadget

Tesla runs an entire island on solar power

A small step In the right direction.

American Samoa is like 12 degrees from the equator and gets nearly contstant daylight sun. Guess what, there is no place like that in the continental USA. Southern Florida is twice as far from the equator. If you believe this can be extrapolated to replace the energy needs of this country, you are delusional.

Apparently, you didn't read the article very well. It's not so much the solar panels that make this work so well, it's the advanced batteries that are capable of storing enough energy to keep the place running even if there is no sun for THREE DAYS IN A ROW.

I hate to do this to you, but here are some realities-

The power requirements in Samoa are not indicative of the power requirements in the mainland. They use little if any power to for heating, and have zero skyscrapers. Look at the pictures below of New York City and Apia, the largest city in Samoa. Which do you think uses more power per square mile? No matter how you slice it, the metrics don't work.

 

[ABikerSailor]

Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it's not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it's running the island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover "nearly 100 percent" of electrical needs. It's not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key -- it's the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta'u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don't have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.

The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta'u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity. Locals previously had to ration power (say, if a diesel shipment wasn't on time) or accept periodic outages. Now, they can assume they'll have power at all times

© Provided by Engadget

Tesla runs an entire island on solar power

A small step In the right direction.

Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it's not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it's running the island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover "nearly 100 percent" of electrical needs. It's not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key -- it's the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta'u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don't have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.

The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta'u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity. Locals previously had to ration power (say, if a diesel shipment wasn't on time) or accept periodic outages. Now, they can assume they'll have power at all times

© Provided by Engadget

Tesla runs an entire island on solar power

A small step In the right direction.

American Samoa is like 12 degrees from the equator and gets nearly contstant daylight sun. Guess what, there is no place like that in the continental USA. Southern Florida is twice as far from the equator. If you believe this can be extrapolated to replace the energy needs of this country, you are delusional.

Apparently, you didn't read the article very well. It's not so much the solar panels that make this work so well, it's the advanced batteries that are capable of storing enough energy to keep the place running even if there is no sun for THREE DAYS IN A ROW.

I hate to do this to you, but here are some realities-

The power requirements in Samoa are not indicative of the power requirements in the mainland. They use little if any power to for heating, and have zero skyscrapers. Look at the pictures below of New York City and Apia, the largest city in Samoa. Which do you think uses more power per square mile? No matter how you slice it, the metrics don't work.
View attachment 99679
View attachment 99680

Never said anything about NYC going to all solar. I said if it works here, it can keep developing and other towns can start to do what they are doing. Wanna know where towns would be able to do stuff like that? Places like Nevada, Utah, Arizona and others where they have moderate sized towns that get lots of sunshine every year.

And..............if enough of the small towns are totally solar, it will free up more power for the bigger cities from the means we currently use.

 

[Old Rocks]

Not only that, look at all the warehouse roofs, the commercial buildings, and even industrial ones, that can be put into solar production. And there would be no transmission losses because the source and use would be close. Add grid scale storage, which is now for sale at prices that are commercially viable, and even cities can provide much of their own energy.

 

[Anathema]

The biggest Blick to all of this already exists.... the Federal ban on one company owning all three parts of the electric system (Generation, Transmission, and Distribution). Without the ability to own and operate all three sectors, it will not be PROFITABLE to run this type of system.

 

[Old Rocks]

The biggest Blick to all of this already exists.... the Federal ban on one company owning all three parts of the electric system (Generation, Transmission, and Distribution). Without the ability to own and operate all three sectors, it will not be PROFITABLE to run this type of system.

Well, old man, apparently you are not conversant with the power of computers. And all they have to do is switch the grid to a distributed grid, and each building becomes both a consumer and a generator. So, as generation, they are seperate from the transmission and distribution.

 

[ABikerSailor]

Not only that, look at all the warehouse roofs, the commercial buildings, and even industrial ones, that can be put into solar production. And there would be no transmission losses because the source and use would be close. Add grid scale storage, which is now for sale at prices that are commercially viable, and even cities can provide much of their own energy.

You know, the Veterans Hospital here in Amarillo has already done something like that. They have parking lots, and put the solar panels up over the top of them, so now the cars are protected and shaded, as well as the hospital gets some free power.

 

[Anathema]

Well, old man, apparently you are not conversant with the power of computers. And all they have to do is switch the grid to a distributed grid, and each building becomes both a consumer and a generator. So, as generation, they are seperate from the transmission and distribution.

I work with computers and the electric transmission-distribution aystem on a daily basis. Including pretty much every 500kW or larger generator or inverter brought online in our New England service area.

A large ISO is not going to put its faith in renewable sources as a primary source of power. The reliability isn't there.

 

[BuckToothMoron]

Germany is successfully using solar to supplement it's electrical grid. And it is much farther north than most of the lower 48. And solar is just part of the renewable equation that will power this and other nations.

Sure, their use of energy has increased and some of that increase is supplied by renewables, but they still get less than 15% from renewables, and solar and wind is a small portion of that.