Re: PV solar design example

On 5 Jun 2008 07:01:58 GMT, Robert Latest <boblatest@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

John Larkin wrote:

Well, if you're grid-tied, and the LLP (loss of load probability -- this is
the term the solar guys use) for solar is independent of that of the power
grid (approximately true), then the total LLP is just the product of the LLP
of each one, i.e., pretty small.

The LLP of any PV solar system will always be above about 0.75. So it
doesn't help the grid much.

What's missing is truly free trade of any form of electrical energy. I
can only speak for Germany, but I'm sure it's pretty much the same all
over the world. The "classic" electric grid is fed from a few huge
sources (plants), and distributes power to a few big sinks (industry)
and millions of small sinks (households). That's how the grid is laid
out, and since the big power suppliers also own and operate the
distribution grid, they are not interested in changing any of that.

What we need is an independent and intelligent grid that can be fed into
and consumed out of at pretty much any point, to a price that is
instantly calculated from supply and demand at that minute.
Solar power probably would immediately be economically feasible in
regions whose energy demand soars when the sun shines.

It's only "economically feasible" with massive public subsidies. And
since a bit of clouds can shut off most of the solar power, the
conventional utility generators and grid still need to be on standby
to handle 100% of the load.

Many places, like California, already have sellback provisions for
household solar, with the sellback rate often a lot higher than the
usual purchase rate. That still doesn't make residential solar
sensible.



It's also important that the generation of electrical energy is
calculated at the true cost. Polluting the atmosphere is, in fact, using
a ressource that all of us need and therefore it shouldn't come for free.

A little CO2 never hurt anybody.



This would be a self-balancing truly free market. That's why the more
right-wing folks don't want it. Big industry likes free markets just as
long as the freedom is politically balanced in their favor.

The "right-wing folks" don't like distributed solar power because it
requires big artificial subsidies to even pretend to be economically
viable. If solar makes money on its own, lots of right-wingers will
raise money and put up plants.

John

.

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