Comments on: Solar Backup Myth

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:01:00 +0000

Thanks for the note/point.

By: Dcard88

Dcard88 — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:59:00 +0000

Also, moderately cloudy days will still produce up to 50% power and heavy clouds will produce 5 to 10% (most technologies)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:36:00 +0000

Here’s a good site with basic info on various fossil fuel generation methods including startup time.

Note that the turbine portion of combined cycle gas plants are fast to come up but the heat/steam portion takes 1.5 to 3 hours to climb to speed. That does mean that combined cycle can be used for peaker power if needed.

http://www.universalaet.com/docs/combined-cycle-systems-jbc.pdf

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:41:00 +0000

Thanks! I updated that line. Any chance you’ve got links for those numbers that we could stick on that text?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:37:00 +0000

Nicely put

By: Nicholas

Nicholas — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:08:00 +0000

The most recent battery technologies certainly are promising.

By: Jnffarrell

Jnffarrell — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:49:00 +0000

Electric companies charge ratepayers for peak power needed only on the hottest and sunniest days. Moreover they ship high priced power across thousands of miles of electric grid payed for by rate payers. Distributed power at home and at Walmart prevents power failures and rotten food for thousands, not to mention preserving comfort and safety for thousands of old people who have retired to the desert.

Shame on power company lobbying for less safety for old people. Time for Sen. Grassley to speak up against PG&Es ‘death lobby.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:31:00 +0000

Modern gas peaking plants can go from full stop to full speed in 10-15 minutes. Much less than an hour. Hydro generators are essentially instantaneous.

Solar input, if it’s from a number of arrays spread across an area, does not suddenly turn on or off. Clouds move across a region in a gradual and predictable pattern.

Some really interesting stuff is happening with battery technology. We may see new, very inexpensive battery storage in production in the next year or two. When that happens solar and wind are going to take a lot of natural gas off our grids.