We should conserve...it's pretty hard to actually do it enough so it makes a big difference though.
The main problem with renewables is they are often intermitent, so will probably not be generating electricity when it's actually needed. The solution is to store this energy somehow. I've seen combinations of renewables such as solar / wind --> pumped storage / hydro. Is there a reason this cannot be implemented on a large scale?
The main problem with renewables is they are often intermitent, so will probably not be generating electricity when it's actually needed. The solution is to store this energy somehow. I've seen combinations of renewables such as solar / wind --> pumped storage / hydro. Is there a reason this cannot be implemented on a large scale?
The highest demand for grid mains power is during the middle of the day. This is the peak time that the power companies charge more for. Fortunately it's also the time when solar panels produce the most energy...
Which is why governments of countries and states all over the world are providing special rebates and buy-back schemes to buy the excess power that citizens generate at home and can HELP the grid during the peak times.
On TV the other night they were discussing the system here in Australia (in I believe 3 states) where the government guarantees to pay "top dollar" and buy your excess power, or the government guarantees to pay the difference between what the power company pays you and the top dollar price.
Coupled with government rebates to pay for some of the solar equipment to get set up, it's taking off pretty well here.
And rather than be seen as a "problem" of feeding power into the grid locally, it's seen as a benefit to feed power in locally, which cuts the distribution costs, reduces substation requirements and losses, reduces cable heating etc etc.
I am not following the purpose of the interconnecting the houses with a DC line.
But the issue of power storage is probably the biggest challenge the overall world electrical systems are facing when going to cleaner renewable power sources.
I would personally like to see far more development of privately owned storage media. The pumped water hydro method is by far the cheapest and lowest set up and operating cost me
tcmtech said:But until someone shows me how I get $200K to build the storage and pump/generator system I cant do it.
Killivolt, I dont know what US state you are in, but you may find there is already some system in your state to allow grid tie and buy backs etc.
You could google search or try most newsagents have the "alternative energy" magazines... (just get the ones with pictures of solar panels on the cover, not alien UFOs)
I'm going to get a contractor to come see how much I can do with my limited space maybe he'll gimme a better price than what I can do for myself ?
You make me laugh sometimes KV!
A contractor that will do work cheaper than for what the person that needs the work done can do himself . Now thats funny!
Get some how too DIY books and some tools. Your money ahead and probibly will get a better quality of work done too!
When you do it wrong and it breaks, no big deal. When you pay big money and it breaks then its a big deal.
Personaly I can live with doing it wrong myself. Its when I payed someone to do it wrong for me that I get wound up!
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