Making ethanol from corn is the least efficient use of farmland

[Landdownunder]

What have I been telling Chuck all along?
That solar power, when the sun is shining, above a certain ( very low) penetration, is less than worthless.

It’s why you have to go to battery nowadays.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

It’s why you have to go to battery nowadays.

Except, as we have been discussing regularly, there is no cost effective, scalable battery technology, and it is only getting worse, as battery costs keep increasing. Last peer reviewed study I saw indicated that battery technology has to get cheaper by 10 times before it will be a viable alternative for existing fossil fuel generation.

[chuckChuck]

Its interesting to see that parts of Australia and Alberta are paying about the same for electricity.

Batteries aren't the only storage system option. There is pumped hydro, compressed air, and lifted weight storage.

So the problem is we have too much energy at times and not enough at other times and there will never be a way to manage this?

So an interconnected smart grid system that uses hydro and and maybe nuclear baseload along with solar, wind, and wave will never work?

The coming EV revolution and increased electricity demand will most certainly allow for a lot of excess solar to be stored in EV batteries for transportation.

If I ever had to pay to out excess solar power into the grid I would just find a way to use that excess power. It could be used to heat or cool water which could be used to heat or cool a building depending on the season.

[TSIPP]

It’s why you have to go to battery nowadays.

Coal is a battery, it was solar energy made millions of years ago and is in battery form now.

[chuckChuck]

Will coal drive your cordless impact wrench or phone?

[Hamloc]

Its interesting to see that parts of Australia and Alberta are paying about the same for electricity.

Batteries aren't the only storage system option. There is pumped hydro, compressed air, and lifted weight storage.

So the problem is we have too much energy at times and not enough at other times and there will never be a way to manage this?

So an interconnected smart grid system that uses hydro and and maybe nuclear baseload along with solar, wind, and wave will never work?

The coming EV revolution and increased electricity demand will most certainly allow for a lot of excess solar to be stored in EV batteries for transportation.



If I ever had to pay to out excess solar power into the grid I would just find a way to use that excess power. It could be used to heat or cool water which could be used to heat or cool a building depending on the season.

Yes Chuck2 in Alberta we would pay rates similar to Queensland and Victoria, the 2 lowest prices posted.

As for your assertion that excess energy could be stored in EV’s. Most people travel to work during the day. So will every vehicle need to have access to an electric charger at work during the day for this to work?
I still think your argument that people reduce the useful lifespan of their EV by being expected to absorb excess solar energy and then put it back in the grid at night makes no sense. How will they be reimbursed for this shortened battery life?

[chuckChuck]

Yes Chuck2 in Alberta we would pay rates similar to Queensland and Victoria, the 2 lowest prices posted.

As for your assertion that excess energy could be stored in EV’s. Most people travel to work during the day. So will every vehicle need to have access to an electric charger at work during the day for this to work?
I still think your argument that people reduce the useful lifespan of their EV by being expected to absorb excess solar energy and then put it back in the grid at night makes no sense. How will they be reimbursed for this shortened battery life?

Storage for transportation is the primary goal. A second benefit may be backup. Ford is certainly offering this.

And of course people can charge their EVs at work providing the infrastructure is in place. Most cars sit and do nothing most of the day.

For shorter city commutes the amount of stored electricity needed is relatively small.

"The battery’s kWh rating measures how many hours it can deliver its power, but that’s based on standard tests, rather than what the car may actually use in real-world driving. When cruising, an electric car generally uses 1 kWh of energy to travel approximately 4.8 to 6.4 kilometres (three to four miles). With a Tesla Model S, its 100-kWh battery can continuously deliver 100 kW for one hour, and the car uses 1 kWh of energy to go 6.4 kilometres. Multiply 100 kWh by 6.4, and you get the car’s estimated range of about 640 kilometres on a charge."
https://driving.ca/column/how-it-works/how-it-works-making-sense-of-ev-specifications

[Guest]

honest question;
Can solar panels be shut off ?
Or does that excess power have to be sent somewhere ??

[beaverdam]

Will coal drive your cordless impact wrench or phone?

Yes,,, Yes it will,,, Yes it does, because burning coal is being used to heat water, create steam, spin turbines, that generate electricity. That very electricity will charge the battery for my wrench and charge my phone,,, and it will do so, day or night, sunny or cloudy or rainy or blizzardy, whether it's windy or calm or hurricane force wind. It will power my tools and phone during a snow storm that leave 2'' of snow or 12'' of snow, or freezing rain with half inch of ice covering everything.

In fact right now,,, not only is coal being used to charge my wrench and my phone,,, coal is also being used to charge someone's Electric Vehicle!

[shtferbrains]

The whole EV powered by solar is available now.
We just need bigger subsidies to make it work.
They can see there the typical gas station type refuel/charge won't be of use as even the quickest charge times will cause delays and lineups.
Currently there is a pod solar/battery storage setup being sold to goberment funded places like hospitals and universities or any large government employer.
https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a35447887/solar-powered-charging-stations-are-vital-to-promoting-evs/

Off grid. Just drop it in the parking lot ready to go. The 85K price kind of limits it to government funded but there it is. Providing FREE charging at work.
Everything can be done. Just needs more "Funding".