4 ms·

> frequently have days of negative energy prices, where producers need to pay to feed energy into the greed because of overproduction of energy on windy/sunny

by EADGBE 9y ago

> frequently have days of negative energy prices, where producers need to pay to feed energy into the greed because of overproduction of energy on windy/sunny days This is one reason why I'm skeptical for home production of solar and wind for the ability to "feed back" into the grid while getting a credit on your account. If the power company is also doing this, at scale, I find it really hard to believe that there's no reason the power company won't discredit/discount my rates being returned to the grid. In which case, I'd rather have a battery installation and not rely on the power company at all. Most service reps for solar disagree with me. Maybe because battery storage isn't super common/in their inventory?

maxerickson 9y ago
It's more that batteries are expensive. Especially in places where there is a law saying that the power company has to pay a nice rate for power fed back to the grid.
- EADGBE 9y ago
  Understandable, the legislation isn't brought up (but maybe this concern isn't, either) that often. It could certain be a non-issue. Though I rarely experience power outages, knowing almost all instances would be non-existent is really nice (for a battery backup program), especially as more and more heating solutions are using electricity as the main component (heat pumps; winter power failures are most of the power failures for me).
lscharen 9y ago
I think is a totally reasonable point of view and comes down to a classic cost-benefit analysis. Are you OK with using the grid as a highly-reliable, ~infinite capacity power source to smooth over your uneven solar generation at a cost of selling your excess back at a discounted rate, or do you want to try and capture that discount yourself at the cost of having to buy, install and maintain your own integrated battery backup system? Maybe the calculus works out in your favor for you, specifically. Maybe not. But it's good to have options.

by EADGBE 9y ago

maxerickson 9y ago

It's more that batteries are expensive. Especially in places where there is a law saying that the power company has to pay a nice rate for power fed back to the grid.

EADGBE 9y ago
Understandable, the legislation isn't brought up (but maybe this concern isn't, either) that often. It could certain be a non-issue. Though I rarely experience power outages, knowing almost all instances would be non-existent is really nice (for a battery backup program), especially as more and more heating solutions are using electricity as the main component (heat pumps; winter power failures are most of the power failures for me).

lscharen 9y ago

I think is a totally reasonable point of view and comes down to a classic cost-benefit analysis. Are you OK with using the grid as a highly-reliable, ~infinite capacity power source to smooth over your uneven solar generation at a cost of selling your excess back at a discounted rate, or do you want to try and capture that discount yourself at the cost of having to buy, install and maintain your own integrated battery backup system? Maybe the calculus works out in your favor for you, specifically. Maybe not. But it's good to have options.