[djrogers]

<quote> Typically, when it drastically over-produces, it can cause blackouts. This is amplified by the fact that solar produces its maximum amount of output at a time when people don't consume the most electricity.</quote>

This is a pretty regionalistic viewpoint - in many parts of the world the peak solar production and peak electrical usage are highly correlated due to air conditioning use.

[abakker]

That is very true - I should have been more specific. Solar doesn't generate in the evening hours, when everyone is still consuming their AC, their Lights, their TV and many home appliances.

Pumping workloads (AC, Refrigeration) are fairly static loads on the grid though and don't account for very much (~7%) of the overall energy consumption (http://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/).

The trouble with solar only really happens when their are spikes, either in over production, or over consumption.

[malyk]

This is where on-site battery storage "fixes" the issue.

Most people are away from home during the day while their battery charges and then come home for a few hours at night when the battery powers the house.

Now, there are certainly cases, perhaps even many of them, where it wouldn't really work out. But for me it's the ideal setup. My wife and I live in a 1300ft2 house and use 250ish kwh a month in electricity including recharging an electric car a couple times a week. A 1.6 kwh system would cover almost all of our energy needs. Couple that to battery storage so we could use the energy we generate during the day when we are at home at night? Perfect!

[huxley]

Is there any region of the world that uses more energy during non-daylight hours? Everywhere I've lived, peak demand is daytime.

[kiiski]

Where I'm at, today the sunrise was at 09:10, and sunset at 14:30. Peak energy usage is in the evening.

[abakker]

You'll see many power companies that offer incentives like this - https://www.pacificpower.net/ya/po/otou/ooh.html

it is still daytime, but typically not peak solar hours.