California can't use all its solar power. That's a problem

https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/california-solar-power-oversupply-problem-19953942.php

by robg • 2 years ago

9 10 2 years ago

sfgate.com

toomuchtodo2• 2 years ago

California is actively working to address this and the data shows signs it is arguably improving the relevant metrics.

https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/califo...

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/texas-california-top...

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/califo...

ZeroGravitas4• 2 years ago

If every last drop of solar is being stored in a battery for later, then the system is less efficient and costlier than one where some solar was curtailed.

They've been using this framing to slow renewables rollout for decades now, we should be immune to it.

toomuchtodo2• 2 years ago

Please review the last link I provided (Control-F "CAISO is putting more solar on the grid without increasing relative curtailment", graphic below that header).

Storage is what is alleviating pressure causing excess curtailment. Excess curtailment is a function of battery deployment rate (transmission too). Only recently has battery storage scaled to catch up to existing solar deployments and the deployment trajectory.

CAISO’s recent relative curtailment downtick could be due to several factors besides batteries, such as weather conditions and new transmission lines. Still, grid storage battery deployment has undeniably been an important element. CAISO’s addition of over 2.4 GW of battery storage capacity from June 2023 through the end of the year coincided with a sharp reduction in curtailment.
CAISO is set to continue deploying even more batteries in 2024. The US Energy Information Administration’s latest estimates suggest it will install nearly 5 GW of incremental battery storage capacity in 2024, along with 3.5 GW of new solar photovoltaic capacity. While not every project in queue will ultimately move forward, CAISO’s absolute increase in battery capacity and its relative rise as a percentage of solar capacity will mitigate curtailment.
More encouragingly, it’s early innings in the rise of batteries. While lithium-ion battery technologies are most prevalent on the grid today, other advances are possible. Most deployed batteries today, such as lithium-ion batteries, have storage of around four hours or less. New technologies, such as iron air batteries, could provide multiday storage solutions. As the quantity and quality of battery deployments improve, the grid will become more resilient and, all else being equal, solar generation’s share of the electricity grid will continue to grow.

more_corn• 2 years ago

What? No. You have more solar power than you need. Do you throw it away and then use gas powered energy at night or do you store the solar power and use it later?

ZeroGravitas4• 2 years ago

This is just blogspam of the LA Times "analysis" they link to.

Also, the LA Times piece is itself just slanted anti-renewables propaganda.

They make selling solar to neighbouring states sound downright nefarious.

opwieurposiu• 2 years ago

At 85°C, you can store around 10kWh of solar in your water heater. At PG&E power prices, that's worth about $5/day. This is a lot cheaper then batteries, though admittedly less flexible.

https://www.pvh2o.com/

karmakaze• 2 years ago

Honest question about the dead "Bitcoin" comment.

Would consuming solar to mine Bitcoin generate more heat (wrt. global warming) than simply letting the rays heat the earth directly? If so, by what factor?

tim333• 2 years ago

Not much difference. The sunlight is either going to heat the earth or be reflected back so it depends a bit what colour the bit of earth would be if there wasn't a solar panel there.

California can't use all its solar power. That's a problem

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