General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: New Report: Solar could provide 100% of world's energy needs by 2050 using only 1% of world's land [View all]upi402
(16,854 posts)I talked to a senior manager at a large utility company in the NW. The Dept. of Homeland Security wont let any old data tranfer happen on their grid. Meter readers have been replaced with smart meters that send signal data for each customer with the new style meter. Grid security is serious business.
I lost hope for smart grid technology interfacing with small net metering, or production metering generation installs.
Grid headroom is a problem, just like peak demand periods are a problem. Windmills stand idle because there is not the headroom to transfer the power generated on existing grid near the Columbia River in WA and OR.
Commercial areas need energy during the day primarily - so that's hopeful.
Residential needs 'non-sun hours' energy. This requires storage or dispatchable energy sources.
We need to do it all, it seems to me. Pumping water up hill when there's too much sun energy for use at night is one option - but lifting any mass and releasing it to allow gravity to harvest the potential energy is the same concept. Hawaii does the water thing, I'm told.
Solar may get cheap if we employ a 'Manhattan Project' type effort with respect to thin metallic film nanoparticle technology. Low cost per watt hour is the key.
Rebates from the utility companies incentivise early adopters in my area. More of that would increase installations. Portable energy for cars is important.