5 ms·

So, in effect, energy has to be stored during the day, and used during "unsunny" times. Electricity demand is already way higher during the day than during the

So, in effect, energy has to be stored during the day, and used during "unsunny" times. Electricity demand is already way higher during the day than during the night. A good example besides the obvious of "lights" would be air conditioning. Most likely, the amount of solar power built in such a case would converge to (typical peak power during the day) - (typical peak average power during the night), with existing technologies or other renewable technologies used to cover the remaining.

bruce511 16y ago
"Electricity demand is already way higher during the day than during the night." yes and no. Obviously it'll differ from place to place, and climate to climate, but here the highest demand occurs in the early morning and the early evening. Both peaks are caused mostly by domestic consumption - hot water and food preparation being significant. Now depending on the time of the year this may coincide with daylight, or night time. Either way solar performance at this time of day is poor. Of course commercial use keeps demand up through the whole day, but during this time domestic use (including heating and cooling where required) is either minimal or sufficiently random to "smooth" the demand. There is also some use all through the night (lights being an obvious source, although more efficient lighting is becoming more common.) But there are also all-night commercial and industrial requirements.