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   Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD (ericfielding@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 24-Dec-2024 13:37:11 JST Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD

   • Tony Arcieri 🌹🦀
   • Gray Rockin' Evelyn

   @bascule @Gorfram Yes, they are installing a lot of energy storage that can store the excess for at least a few hours and use it later in the day. This will help even out the supply and demand, but it still means that the total installed capacity is much higher than the average power produced over a year.

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     Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD (ericfielding@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 24-Dec-2024 14:06:17 JST Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD

     in reply to

     • Tony Arcieri 🌹🦀
     • Gray Rockin' Evelyn

     @Gorfram @bascule The energy storage systems help to shift the solar power production to supply electricity when it is needed to some extent, but it does not always provide power when it is required. You are right that the power supply has to have capacity to meet the peak demand, but if peak demand is in August, solar power from April is no help. Electric companies have to keep other sources that can be available at short notice for the peaks in demand.

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     Gray Rockin' Evelyn (gorfram@beige.party)'s status on Tuesday, 24-Dec-2024 14:06:18 JST Gray Rockin' Evelyn

     in reply to

     • Tony Arcieri 🌹🦀

     @EricFielding @bascule I think I'm thick-headedly missing your point:

     All power systems (& indeed most systems) are like this. My local utility has to have enough capacity, of whatever kind, for when everyone in town has their electric heater on in cold weather and also has their Xmas light blazing on the roof. My car engine has to have enough capacity to start off up a steep grade with four occupants & a trunkful of luggage, but it usually operates on level ground carrying just me and a 12 oz water bottle. City storm drains have to be able to accommodate a bomb cyclone, but they just sit there dry half the time even in the PNW.

     Is it a problem that solar energy generation shares this feature?