Solar ... In the news

JKenH

Martyn1981 said:

Coastalwatch said:

Quite an output should it all eventually come to fruition. It would be good if it finally gets adopted.

I wonder what output might be achieved if a similar project was adopted here?

‘Massive’ EU rollout of rooftop solar proposed

The European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy has adopted a report supporting a pan-European solar rooftop programme.

The pan-European solar rooftop programme has an aim of “meeting the rooftop potential of the EU”, which could generate around 680TWh per year, according to the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, and promote the deployment of both building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and distributed storage.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/massive_eu_rollout_of_rooftop_solar_proposed

The old figure for the UK was about 20% of domestic properties. [The figure for commercial properties is higher (I believe) but runs into lots of problems with leases v's owned.] So 20% probably means around 5m properties at an old figure of say 3-4kWp average = 17GWp potential on the domestic side.
However, that figure was for properties with southerly facing rooves (SE to SW) and unshaded. Today we can ramp up the figure with E to W, more powerful PV*, shading solutions, and even wall mounted PV for tall properties with unsuitable rooves, so I'd guess at least double, perhaps fourfold.
*Today, my system could be increased on a ratio of roughly 235Wp:400Wp. So 5.58kWp becomes 9.5kWp (though the DNO would scream!)
On the demand side, obviously nothing can really compete with PV, but on the supply side wind may be better, but the economics of PV, even in the UK might still win out.

This idea does seem appealing but how practical is it? As long as it is for self consumption, then great, but as I have argued on another thread an excess of solar (or wind) generation may cause as many problems as it solves. 

Personally I would like to see all new commercial properties built with solar as 8am to 5pm occupation fits well with solar generation. The size of installation could be linked to usage. Also I would like to see extensive solar car ports at places of work, with access for the general public (who may not have domestic facilities) to charge their EVs. Similarly put it solar on all suitable new dwellings but with mandatory battery storage. East/west roofs are more suitable than south facing for 6 months of the year, avoiding excess lunchtime generation but need more grid back up in winter.

Now to practicalities. At the 17GWp you believe is possible with solar how do you see the rest of the grid being composed? What do we do with all the wind generation we already have? We have seen the problems of excess generation when the sun was shining in April and May. Would the problem not be greater with more renewables?

Then as you point out there is the local grid. Like you, I have had a fight with my DNO and we have to accept on a local level further integration of domestic solar may cause problems.

Trust me, I would love for everyone to have solar pv but as well as cheerleading it we have to think about how it can be integrated into a balanced grid. 

ABrass

The solar peak is already manageable now. Battery prices have dropped to the point where charging during the peak hours means they can discharge during the evening hours. There's GWh sized battery farms being built in the US for that reason, coming on line next year.

Then those batteries can take some of the wind/nuclear surplus overnight to use in the morning. Some surplus might be wasted but that's not the end of the world.

The only challenge that isn't solved on a renewable grid is seasonal variation and the rare periods of no wind or sun. For that the answer looks like hydrogen, but whilst there's GW of capacity being built it isn't here yet.

Martyn1981

Solar glass that is designed to perform better (or worse) at different times of the year, helping to reduce heat gain when you don't want it. Sounds good, also sounds like deep future theoretical science, but as we know PV technology moves forward rather rapidly, to say the least.

Customizable Smart Window Technology Could Improve Energy Efficiency Of Buildings

Windows play multiple crucial roles in our homes. They illuminate, insulate and ventilate our spaces while providing views of — and protection from — the outdoors. Smart windows, or windows that use solar cell technology to convert sunlight into electricity, present the additional opportunity to leverage windows as energy sources.

joefizz

ABrass said:

Some surplus might be wasted but that's not the end of the world.

And that, right there, blows every single internet argument comparing efficiencies right out of the water.

Nail on head.

Finally.

Solarchaser

joefizz said:

ABrass said:

Some surplus might be wasted but that's not the end of the world.

And that, right there, blows every single internet argument comparing efficiencies right out of the water.

Nail on head.

Finally.

Erm really?
Don't see how.
If we have surplus thats being wasted, you now have an argument for more battery storage capacity. Or even inefficient hydrogen production.

The argument has always been, fill your most efficient first, then if there's still excess, fill the next most efficient.

I'm failing to see that argument blown out of the water🤔

Martyn1981

Solarchaser said:

joefizz said:

ABrass said:

Some surplus might be wasted but that's not the end of the world.

And that, right there, blows every single internet argument comparing efficiencies right out of the water.

Nail on head.

Finally.

Erm really?
Don't see how.
If we have surplus thats being wasted, you now have an argument for more battery storage capacity. Or even inefficient hydrogen production.

The argument has always been, fill your most efficient first, then if there's still excess, fill the next most efficient.

I'm failing to see that argument blown out of the water🤔

I started to reply, but then thought 'what's the point' since he constantly claims that something is new and unknown to us, when we've been chatting about it for years, on thread after thread.
As we've discussed so many times, and so many articles over the years, the most economic solution always starts with waste/spill as the amounts are too small and irregular to be worth bothering with. In fact I recall posting an article some years ago that a US study had found that the cheapest/simplest RE solution was one simply building overcapacity with spill, as RE is getting so, so cheap. [Always important to remember that whilst waste is of course 'wasteful', wind and solar don't incur fuel costs, so their OPEX is extremely low on any waste generation.]
From that/those starting positions, as you say, we simply roll out storage that is economical for the job in hand, presumably BEV's and time of use tariffs, and also these ever larger grid connected storage facilities that tend to be economic via multi revenue streams such as frequency support.
Then when intraday storage is struggling and expansion will be uneconomic (due to ever fewer cycles) we move on, as you say, to longer term less efficient storage, that's cheap and can weather lower annual cycles economically.

Is any of this new? Pretty sure I've waffled on like this for half a decade and most on here have contributed or at least put up with my repetition! 

Martyn1981

For anyone missing their perovskite news and updates:

Low Cost Perovskite Solar Cells Breathing Down The Neck Of Coal, & Fossil Gas, Too

Solar cells weighed in at an eye-popping $300 per watt when they first popped on the scene back in 1956. Who woulda thunk those pricey baubles would some day drop into the single digits and chase mighty king coal out of the energy generation market? Well they are, and fossil gas is the next planet-killing domino to fall. Anyone who still thinks gas has a chance should take a gander at the latest news about low cost perovskite solar cells.

Coastalwatch

And if the the news of Perovskite Solar Cells isn't bad enough then the article below should help cap a bad week in the office, or pumping station for Fossil Fuels. Seems the Koch brothers influence is not quite what it was!

Breaking: FERC dismisses petition by shadowy group to end net metering

More than 450 organizations, 57,000 individuals and 37 states submitted comments opposing the NERA petition that could have ended the net metering program that has helped the residential and commercial solar industry to grow over the last decade.

Reports indicate that the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, the Heartland Institute and NERA all have ties to the Koch brothers, who have funded climate denial and pro-fossil fuel campaigns for roughly three decades, according to Pine Tree Watch.

Abigail Ross Hopper, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, had a comment on this decision: “As the leader of a coalition of conservative groups, solar advocates, state regulators and elected officials from both sides of aisle in opposition to this petition, SEIA applauds FERC’s unanimous decision to dismiss this flawed petition.”

“Solar has created hundreds of thousands of jobs in states across the country and contributed more than $100 billion to the U.S. economy. Our industry holds great promise to help create jobs and revive local economies. We are grateful to the state utility commissions and many other partners who strongly opposed this petition. We will continue working in the states to strengthen net metering policies to generate more jobs and investment, and we will advocate for fair treatment of solar at FERC where it has jurisdiction.”

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/07/16/ferc-dismisses-petition-by-shadowy-group-to-end-net-metering/?utm_source=pv+magazine+USA&utm_campaign=b206ab28de-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_80e0d17bb8-b206ab28de-159341337

Coastalwatch

It looks like Rugby and Cricket are not the only areas of antipodean rivalry down under! Either way it's a win for renewables!

NZ Govt announces six new public sector clean energy projects

The New Zealand Government is quickly turning the antipodean rivalry over climate legislation and renewable energy integration into a veritable Bledisloe Cup. This is to say that for Australia the situation is now plain embarrassing. Today, NZ’s Climate Change Minister James Shaw announced six new projects to receive funding as part of its clean-powered public service fund.

“The projects will reduce state sector carbon emissions by an estimated 14,730 tonnes annually and help lower New Zealand’s dependence on fossil fuel,” declared Shaw. :That’s the equivalent of taking more than 6,000 petrol vehicles off the road…the passing of world-leading climate laws must always be followed by detailed work in communities all over the country, and that’s exactly what we are doing.” 

According to state-owned enterprise Transpower, New Zealand could cover 100% of its electricity demand with a generation mix based exclusively on wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower by 2050.

https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2020/07/17/nz-govt-announces-six-new-public-sector-clean-energy-projects/?utm_source=pv+magazine+USA&utm_campaign=b206ab28de-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_80e0d17bb8-b206ab28de-159341337

Martyn1981

Article on the rapid expansion of solar in Texas. Previously, the graphs seem to show that a decade long increase in demand has been met by growing gas generation, whilst wind has steadily been displacing coal. Now it looks as if solar will be stepping in to push more of that coal off the grid too.

Solar Will Kick Most Of Texas’s Remaining Coal Fleet Offline

In Texas, solar will soon push most of the remaining coal fleet offline, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). IEEFA’s recent report, Solar Surge Set to Drive Much of Remaining Texas Coal-Fire Fleet Offline, shared that this is largely due to the growth in utility-scale PV production and how it’s rapidly changing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market.

ERCOT manages the coal plants across the power-generation market, and the report shares just how vulnerable these are. It predicted a 70% rise in risk for daytime coal-fired generation in ERCOT by 2022. Let’s dive into the report and some key points.