Old Rocks
Diamond Member
A very interesting lecture on progress in integrating solar into the grid. Real science and engineering, by a Phd.
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Yes indeed...Actually the lecture is concerned with utility scale solar. Any time that a disruptive technology is introduced, there are inevitable downsides to it that have to be ironed out.
As many of the gas generation plants are backup plants, that is. they are only used on peak demand, and charge a very high rate for the electricity they produce, the batteries charge far less, and are in constant use smoothing out the variable output from solar and wind. That makes them a bargain for the utility and the consumer."Houston-based Calpine opposes the order. In a Dec. 29 letter to the commission, the company said the move imposes “unreasonable costs and risks on customers” and departs from a “considered, thoughtful approach to grid reliability.”
Here's the problem: what's it going to cost the consumers to move away from natural gas, which I thought was clean burning. How much extra will they have to pay on their energy bills? And what's the rush? For a party that claims to be for the little guy, the Dems don't seem to mind raising their energy costs. The costs of solar power is dropping, and I would think in the not too distant future it will be a lot more affordable. And the technology behind those batteries will improve too, so again what's the rush?