DailyDirt: Thanks For The Free Energy, Sun
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
The world economy still largely depends on fossil fuels for energy, and nuclear energy isn't exactly popular after decades of use. Until we figure out nuclear fusion, if we want to reduce our dependence on hydrocarbons, we're going to need to ramp up renewable energy sources from solar and wind. Solar energy capacity seems to be growing robustly, but apparently, there are still some bugs to work out.- Solar farms in California are producing "too much" electricity in the spring and fall -- and the solution so far is to just turn them off. This problem of "excess" renewable energy isn't expected to get better as more solar energy is added to the grid, but hopefully, the state of California will figure out a better way to balance the electrical supply and demand (such as exporting the solar power to nearby states or storing the energy in large batteries). [url]
- Los Angeles might have some problems with blackouts this summer due to that enormous gas leak that was only somewhat recently plugged. That natural gas leak shut down one out of 17 natural gas facilities in the area, but the other facilities may need to be taken offline for safety inspections -- and unfortunately, renewable energy sources and other power plants can't handle the peak electricity demands during hot LA summers. [url]
- China has become the nation with the highest amount of solar energy producing capacity -- 43.2 gigawatts -- compared to 2nd place Germany at 38.4 gigawatts and the US with 27.8 gigawatts. Solar capacity numbers don't exactly translate into how much energy is expected to be produced (or actually will be produced), but more is presumably better. [url]
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: blackouts, energy, fossil fuels, natural gas, renewable energy, solar, solar farms
Reader Comments
The First Word
“Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Frustrating
Decades ago the Germans had the means to convert electricity to fossil fuels. Low yield, but workable.
There's a hobbyist guy in the States that uses surplus electricity from his cells to liquify hydrogen and store it underground. Yes it's leaky, but it's workable.
You can do better, California
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Hydrogen
It is immensely dangerous to put the flame out, as this quickly causes an extremely explosive mix with air.
It does not smell.
It leaks through most metal, and it causes most metal to be brittle by diffusing between the microscopic grains the metal consists of.
If it is stored cold it must be chilled or the pressure start to rise, and the cold temperature also causes metal to become brittle
If it is stored pressured any valve or container that fails cause a serious incident. And additional temperature causes additional pressure.
And it is massively explosive, most mixtures with air does not just burn, but creates a FAE. Mixtures would blow up an entire house or a factory, and have. And will again.
The incumbents focus on hydrogen is an attempt to distract us.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
“Watts” Are Units Of Power, Not Energy
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: “Watts” Are Units Of Power, Not Energy
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Natural gas?
Perhaps the real issue is political, not technical.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Natural gas?
This was my first thought as well. Seems like a no brainer and a good reason to have solar. Perhaps an expert could explain why they are doing something this stupid on the surface.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Natural gas?
It's cheaper to switch off the solar than to go through and manage daily shutdown/startup cycles for Gas or Coal powerplants.
The solar power could be used to pump water uphill at times of excess and release it to produce power later, or in those places where there are better uses for water, to compress air instead.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Why don't they just shut down the natural gas plants where there is excess electricity being produced?
Capitalistic free-market competition versus Socialistic central planning, you know ...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Why don't they just shut down the natural gas plants where there is excess electricity being produced?
As if this actually exists.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Synchrony
It is partly corruption, partly a result of superPAC contribution and lobbying, and partly because commercial monopoly power over infrastructure breed abuse.
An artificial low supply makes it easier to blackmail the populace. This makes the profit soar by not supplying sufficient energy.
Citizens in USA get abused in so many ways. Another example of abuse by constricting supply is AIDS medicine. Medicine that costs less than 365 dollars pr. year in India for medicine with higher consistent quality, and more than 10.000 in the land of the flayed.
Solar panels is marvelously well suited to handle the summer peak demand, as the consumption and supply change in synchrony.
Even the etymology of the word synchrony drives this home: From Ancient Greek σύν (sún, “with”) + χρόνος (khrónos, “time”).
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Synchrony
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Negative price
There have been times where the generator companies had bid negative prices just so they can keep their plants running.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It is not a technical problem
Those how invested suddenly got their income slashed to a quarter. They got to keep the expenses though, all of it. Residents, schools and libraries were victims.
It caused Solar City to leave Nevada and lay off all employees.
This makes USA into a kind of a joke.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Errata
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
right?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]