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Sounds suspiciously like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell_efficiency#/media/File:PVeff(rev180813)a.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell_efficien

• zafiro17 8y ago
  No, they meant percentage of total energy production/consumption. It means that given Palau's existing grid, substations, generators, transformers, etc. it would be impossible to put on more solar/wind than an amount equivalent to 45% of consumption. Traditional grids are centralized, with the highest capacity transmission/distribution lines closest to the source, then stepping down (tree-like) as they fan out over the population to where it's consumed. It's often impossible to retrofit such grids, because in places you'd like to produce energy through solar/wind you've got only low capacity lines available over which to evacuate the power. Thus, the completely-new build out. Another factor is losses across the network, which were potentially high enough that no amount of new solar/wind could reach the community's total consumption. The new grid will be better-built, reducing total losses and therefore the amount of energy needed to be generated, and therefore allowing renewable energy to play a greater role. Interesting story, and this is my field, so happy to have a chance to add to the conversation.