Re: PV solar design example

"John Larkin" <jjlarkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ghqf44hansgu79nj3tcphdmg2m1vefeab2@xxxxxxxxxx
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.

This would only be true if the power companies implemented infrastructure to
provide 100% of the expected loads 100% of the time (or some number very, very
close to 100%). This is no longer true today, in most places: During "peak
demand" season (usually hot summer days with lots of air conditioners going),
rolling blackouts are not at all uncommon. They make people upset and usually
"something" is then done to try to prevent them, but it's no longer considered
"completely unacceptable" that they happen. Of course, one technique to
prevent them is how (in many places) people can voluntarily have a widget
attached to their AC which gets shut off if the grid is being stressed. Many
big companies that draw significant power (mills, foundries, etc.) have a
similar provision -- the electric company can cut them off with, e.g., 20
minutes notice and a big check that apparently covers the lost profits of the
company but is far cheaper than building additional infrastructure.

Convenient how PV typically works best in the very same conditions where you
need a bit of a "boost" to the grid, isn't it?

---Joel


.

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