Solar Panels threaten Utilities

This is the same reason utilities are instinctively hostile to energy efficiency and demand response programs, and why they must be compelled by regulations or subsidies to create them. Utilities don’t like reduced demand!
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I found this kinda interesting. I understand I live in a bit of a weird place when it comes to electricity. We have way more cheap electricity then we know what to do with, and yet, our hydro company spends a lot of money on campaigns to reduce consumption. No, not because they're a bunch of hippies. They sell whatever we don't use to the US at a huge premium. So when we "save" we're in fact maximizing hydro's profits. Can't say I'm complaining really.

Our natural gas prices however are through the roof.
 
One more thing. The article doesn't really get into this, but I suspect what we'll see is the utilities investing in renewable energy once the tech is cost effective. And I don't see that as a problem really. Why not centralize all the solar panels instead of placing them all over everyone's house - they're kinda ugly.
 
Glaucus said:
Why not centralize all the solar panels instead of placing them all over everyone's house - they're kinda ugly.
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The problem with centralizing solar is that one cloud can take out all the power. With panels on rooftops spread across a large area aggregate power production should be more stable.
The other reason I think rooftop makes sense is all the wasted space that is rooftop. Re-using that space means not having to take over land just for solar power.
That doesn't mean you can't have some kind of model where the utilities own the roof panels as part of their production infrastructure.
 
FluffyMcDeath said:
The problem with centralizing solar is that one cloud can take out all the power. With panels on rooftops spread across a large area aggregate power production should be more stable.
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Correct, but who says a utility would need to place all their solar panels in one place? Not only that, they could mix solar with wind. The solar panels could be larger and mechanized to track the movement of the sun and installed at the most ideal spots. On roof tops you're likely to get sub optimal performance as they're less likely to be oriented just right and unlikely to track the sun. And only so many houses will be properly oriented and not be in the shadow of a tree or other building. But like I said before, there's another issue: they're ugly.

And lots of people would rather have electricity as a service, one that they pay for and not have to worry about. Solar panels on the roof can be problematic, especially in climates like Winnipeg where you're likely to get snow on them. Not only that, because of our winter we need to replace our roofs every so often, and having to worry about the panels is just an extra cost to an already expensive operation. So there certainly are a lot of cons against solar panels on everyone's roofs. Perhaps it makes sense for larger buildings, like a shopping mall which tends to sprawl and it's roof can provide a massive surface area for a large number of sophisticated panels with automatic deicers that can track the sun and still remain out of sight.

What I think makes more sense for homes around here at least is geothermal heating. And since natural gas is so expensive (and rising), the savings of the expensive installation may be worth it in the long run. A buddy of mine built his own house and installed geothermal heating. He has no natural gas hook up, his hot water tank is electric. Pretty sweet. The maintenance is low and it's always on, day or night. But it costs around $20K to install which is why it's so rare.
 
FluffyMcDeath said:
The problem with centralizing solar is that one cloud can take out all the power. With panels on rooftops spread across a large area aggregate power production should be more stable.
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Or 1 Terrorist.

That doesn't mean you can't have some kind of model where the utilities own the roof panels as part of their production infrastructure.
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Of course they can.
Though there may be some gains from centralizing solar. Solar doesn't work at night so some sort of large storage system is needed. Having batteries in one place eases a lot of costs for transportation and troubleshooting. It, also, enables other types of storage - molten sand, for example.

@Glaucus,
Yes snow will have to be removed from solar panels. There is a plus with winter climates the cold effects increase the efficiency by reducing losses of solar panels.

But it costs around $20K to install which is why it's so rare.
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We need a wiser economic system for things like Geothermal. While it was $20K to install it probably cost about 1/5th the cost of propane to operate each year. So after about 8-10 years one is ahead of the game. Banks are very finicky about that stuff. (At least about 5 years ago when I was trying to talk to them.) If one puts it in while building the house is about the only way a bank will loan the money for that application. Post build installs $$ are tricky. Especially when most homes don't have any residual value because of the market.
 
What about putting solar panels on sea and let them electrolyse sea water so the energy can be transported as hydrogen so it won't suffer the energy loss as electricity does, AND can be used by these utilities, with all their benefits over conventional solar panels, like continuity.
Or am I really dumb to suggest such a thing?
 
@Glaucus,
Especially this year! I'm sure Redrumloa will be happy to know that northern MN is experiencing the most snow from Feb-April ever recorded. March was the 17th coldest March ever measured. April isn't looking much better. A huge change from the 70s in early March last year. ... A trend? We'll probably be able to tell in a decade or so.
 
faethor said:
@Glaucus,
Especially this year! I'm sure Redrumloa will be happy to know that northern MN is experiencing the most snow from Feb-April ever recorded. March was the 17th coldest March ever measured. April isn't looking much better. A huge change from the 70s in early March last year. ... A trend? We'll probably be able to tell in a decade or so.
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This weather is depressing. It's snowing today and more is expected later in the week. Not much really, just flurries and a lot of it melts right away as the temp is hovering around 0C. But still, it's really crap. I was really hoping to take Sophia out on stroller rides about now as she's getting antsy as well but it's too cold, windy and wet.
 
we aren't getting "April showers" like we should. so far only 2 days of real rain this month

arg.


anyway, since we are talking about weather, here's something funny:

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Glaucus said:
This weather is depressing. It's snowing today and more is expected later in the week. Not much really, just flurries and a lot of it melts right away as the temp is hovering around 0C. But still, it's really crap. I was really hoping to take Sophia out on stroller rides about now as she's getting antsy as well but it's too cold, windy and wet.
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I think I have a couple of sleds that fit about 3 year old and under. Need me to post them up to you?
 
Nice. We already have a sled for her which she may fit in next winter as well.

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And that was actually a hand-me-down from Sophia's slightly older cousin. At any rate, we're sick of winter.
 
well, at least we are starting to look like Spring:


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