Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by Manfredo_1 1904 days ago
We'd actually need 3 weeks of storage to migrate to a fully renewable grid: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2018/03/01/12-hours-energy-stora...
1 comments
Qwertious 1904 days ago
From your own source:

"The solar heavy network wouldn’t need energy storage with an HVDC network."

So no, we wouldn't need that. HVDC would be far cheaper.

link
Manfredo_1 1904 days ago
A solar heavy network would still need 12 hours of storage to accommodate nighttime energy use. More actually, because of greater seasonal fluctuations further from the equator.

All of the Americas experience night time simultaneously for at least 8 hours a day. Even if we ran HVDC lines to the Sahara, there's still a period of time where most sunlight is shining on the pacific ocean.

link
Qwertious 1902 days ago
Yes, 100% solar makes no sense. Thankfully, we have other sources such as wind.

Also, if you can run HVDC to the Sahara you could run it to hydro plants, so I don't think that's a good hypothetical.

But mostly, talking about pure solar just makes no sense.

link