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California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

electrek.co

11–20 of 162 posts

Re: California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

#11

for 0.25-6 h per day That's nice and all, but 15 minutes is a much lesser achievement than the headline implies.

Agreed. But every step is worth celebrating.

Next is 12 hours, after that a day and then finally months and years.

Incredible progress is being made.

Re: California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

#12
post #7
post #5

For a few minutes at low demand time. These kinds of over-grand claims are seriously harmful to the cause of promoting renewables because it makes it seem like we’re almost there and can stop caring. Just look at the excellent, accurate, and up-to-the-hour charts put out by the electricity market itself and you will see where and when the challenges we face still are. https://www.caiso.com/TodaysOutlook/Pages/supply.…

The most striking thing is how incredibly flat the line for nuclear is.

Governor just signed something letting Diablo Canyon run for a few more years. Thank god for that. Impossible to get new nuclear so have to keep what we have.

Re: California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

#13
post #7
post #5

For a few minutes at low demand time. These kinds of over-grand claims are seriously harmful to the cause of promoting renewables because it makes it seem like we’re almost there and can stop caring. Just look at the excellent, accurate, and up-to-the-hour charts put out by the electricity market itself and you will see where and when the challenges we face still are. https://www.caiso.com/TodaysOutlook/Pages/supply.…

The most striking thing is how incredibly flat the line for nuclear is.

Nuclear makes for great base generating capacity because it has an incredibly stable output, but that also means the line needs to be kept flat or tons of energy will be wasted.

Re: California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

#15

” California will entirely be on renewables and battery storage 24/7 by 2035. California passed a law that commits to achieving 100% net zero electricity by 2045. Will it beat that goal by a decade? We hope so. It’s going to be exciting to watch.” Remarkable, especially considering California’s population is 39 million people.

> Remarkable, especially considering California’s population is 39 million people.

All else being equal, it is easier to accomplish, the larger the population, as the statistics will be somewhat in your advantage.

simple example: if you want to be on 100% renewables on your self, your energy production needs to meet your energy consumption 100% of the time. The moment you pool with a neighbor, that no longer is true; if you need more than you produce, but your neighbor needs less than they produce, the pair of you still can be 100% on renewables.

Now, energy production and energy demand between neighbors are highly correlated, so the effect isn’t very high for n=2 (but even then, it’s easier to buy a mix of solar and wind once you pool with a group than when doing it alone), but with millions of people spread out over hundreds of kilometers, that changes.

Re: California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

#16
post #8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same thought. It’s a bit of a bait and switch as the title implied to me a major milestone. But it’s not and the real milestone of renewables providing power continuously day and night remains.

running solar at night would be a real achievement!

I have fun news for you https://x.com/bennbuilds/status/1767961251186163857

Re: California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

#17
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most striking thing is how incredibly flat the line for nuclear is.

Nuclear makes for great base generating capacity because it has an incredibly stable output, but that also means the line needs to be kept flat or tons of energy will be wasted.

> or tons of energy will be wasted.

There are good potential industrial loads for that intermittent extra energy (nuclear or solar): desalination, CO2->methane, air->ammonia, etc.

Re: California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

#18
post #5

For a few minutes at low demand time. These kinds of over-grand claims are seriously harmful to the cause of promoting renewables because it makes it seem like we’re almost there and can stop caring. Just look at the excellent, accurate, and up-to-the-hour charts put out by the electricity market itself and you will see where and when the challenges we face still are. https://www.caiso.com/TodaysOutlook/Pages/supply.…

Thank you, the headline is just basically a lie then.

Re: California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

#19
post #5

For a few minutes at low demand time. These kinds of over-grand claims are seriously harmful to the cause of promoting renewables because it makes it seem like we’re almost there and can stop caring. Just look at the excellent, accurate, and up-to-the-hour charts put out by the electricity market itself and you will see where and when the challenges we face still are. https://www.caiso.com/TodaysOutlook/Pages/supply.…

Thank you, as a German paying absurd electricity prices I applaud this nuance.

Re: California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days

#20
Spent many decades in California...

Somehow 100% renewable but the most expensive electric I've ever paid for. How much does 2000kWh cost again?

Also, the most prone to fire-hazard because of above-ground electric. Remember when PG&E caused the most destructive wildfire in California history?

Weird rub-it-out article IMO most likely paid for by some PAC. With all the money pumped into California power projects, it never equaled lower power prices, reliability, or safety...

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