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Solar Overtakes Coal in US Electricity for the First Month on Record`

ember-energy.org

1–10 of 11 posts

Re: Solar Overtakes Coal in US Electricity for the First Month on Record`

#5
post #3

incredible milestone, but getting the power where it needs to go and storing it at scale are still the biggest problems. making the power is solved, moving it is next.

I think I'm missing your point. I'm under the impression that electricity has never been easy or cheap to move very far, and it's not clear to me how solar-generated electricity is different in that respect.

Re: Solar Overtakes Coal in US Electricity for the First Month on Record`

#6
post #5
post #3

incredible milestone, but getting the power where it needs to go and storing it at scale are still the biggest problems. making the power is solved, moving it is next.

I think I'm missing your point. I'm under the impression that electricity has never been easy or cheap to move very far, and it's not clear to me how solar-generated electricity is different in that respect.

You're mixing up two different things. Moving electricity with HVDC is easy and cheap... building the grid infrastructure is, well, not so easy or cheap.

The system cost depends on connection queues, transmission buildout, substations, transformers, planning permission, curtailment, etc.

Production of transformers, cables, and labour capacity are bottlenecks. Planning is a bottleneck.

Re: Solar Overtakes Coal in US Electricity for the First Month on Record`

#7
post #3

incredible milestone, but getting the power where it needs to go and storing it at scale are still the biggest problems. making the power is solved, moving it is next.

Not for residential power...

It annoys me grid issues get screamed at the top of the lungs in solar/wind, but powering AI DCs is crickets.

If grid concerns are that great then subsidize home solar + storage.

Oh wait! Power companies hate that.

Really? This is all posturing for maintaining regulatory capture and increasing monetary draws from government subsidies they go to the power companies and not with their customers.

Re: Solar Overtakes Coal in US Electricity for the First Month on Record`

#9
post #5
post #3

incredible milestone, but getting the power where it needs to go and storing it at scale are still the biggest problems. making the power is solved, moving it is next.

I think I'm missing your point. I'm under the impression that electricity has never been easy or cheap to move very far, and it's not clear to me how solar-generated electricity is different in that respect.

solar farms are often far from cities. moving that new power across the country is the real test.

Re: Solar Overtakes Coal in US Electricity for the First Month on Record`

#10
post #3

incredible milestone, but getting the power where it needs to go and storing it at scale are still the biggest problems. making the power is solved, moving it is next.

Not for residential power... It annoys me grid issues get screamed at the top of the lungs in solar/wind, but powering AI DCs is crickets. If grid concerns are that great then subsidize home solar + storage. Oh wait! Power companies hate that. Really? This is all posturing for maintaining regulatory capture and increasing monetary draws from government subsidies they go to the power companies and not with their custo…

home solar is great. but big cities still need a massive grid update to use pure green power.
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