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249 points Jtsummers | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0.52s | source
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umvi ◴[] No.45762286[source]
Has storage been solved yet? In my experience US power companies hate crediting pushback to the grid because it all happens at the same time during peak sunlight hours and then customers get to use those credits at night and during the winter which the power company thinks is unfair. In Idaho at least the power companies were able to change the laws so that you get much fewer credits for solar panels on your roof which means they aren't great unless you can figure out how to store the generated energy inexpensively.

Personally I like the idea of an electric car doubling as a house battery but so far I think only the F-150 lightning is capable of doing that.

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Retric ◴[] No.45762392[source]
> Has storage been solved yet?

In general yes, grid solar + grid batteries are cheaper than any peaking power plants. So now 24/7 batteries + wind + solar generally outcompetes nuclear, coal, or natural gas on price as long as there’s no tariffs involved.

This isn’t enough to make batteries + solar viable in Alaska but long distance transmission lines could solve that issue cost effectively.

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seanmcdirmid ◴[] No.45762478[source]
Solar is actually viable in places like Alaska and Finland. It just isn't viable in the winter, but in the summer it is extra viable. Greenhouses (another form of solar) also work wonders in Alaska, and outside they can grow the biggest pumpkins you'll ever see anywhere.
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AnimalMuppet ◴[] No.45762550[source]
OK, but nobody has enough batteries to store enough for the winter. Overnight? Sure. Winter? That's a whole different deal.
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1. skrause ◴[] No.45764376[source]
You always combine solar power with wind power, that already solves more than 90% of the storage problem. In places like Europe the darker winter is usually quite windy.

For example, last Sunday Germany covered more than 100% of its own power load with renewables even though winter is approaching. Only a small part of that was solar power, most electricity was generated by wind turbines: https://www.energy-charts.info/charts/power/chart.htm?l=en&c...

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2. pfdietz ◴[] No.45765999[source]
Usually that works, but not always. It's the last part that's the killer. When you optimize against historical weather data in Europe to produce steady power at minimum cost, a wind/solar/battery/hydrogen system cuts the cost in half compared to wind/solar/battery.

As I said elsewhere I'm thinking ultra low capex thermal storage will edge out hydrogen here, though.