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How much solar capacity is actually residential? I'd say quite small since solar is hard to deploy residential + lack of home value improvement. Nuclear shoul

by r00fus 4y ago

How much solar capacity is actually residential? I'd say quite small since solar is hard to deploy residential + lack of home value improvement. Nuclear should be part of the equation (it has it's own issues with wastewater) but if adding nuclear means not investing equally or more in solar/wind renewables, that's completely misguided.

mlyle 4y ago
> How much solar capacity is actually residential? I'm not sure how much is residential, but about 25% is utility-scale projects. The rest is stuff on commercial buildings and homes-- which have an average capacity factor around 12%. > Nuclear should be part of the equation (it has it's own issues with wastewater) but if adding nuclear means not investing equally or more in solar/wind renewables, that's completely misguided. I totally agree. I think our priorities should be, in order: - Wind - Pumped storage - Improved utility interties - Demand-side management - PV - Nuclear - Battery storage - Electrolyzers, etc But even the lowest priority item should be aggressively pursued.
- pfdietz 4y ago
  Utility scale solar is greater than small scale (< 1 MW) solar in the US, and this is disparity is projected to increase through 2050. This is good, because utility scale solar is cheaper per unit output than small scale solar. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50357 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50357
  - mlyle 4y ago
    > Utility scale solar is greater than small scale (< 1 MW) solar in the US Your graph shows in total generated energy per year it's roughly even--- not in nameplate power. Because the capacity factor is worse, you need a lot more nameplate power at non-utility installations to get the same energy out. > This is good, because utility scale solar is cheaper per unit output than small scale solar. Yup. Small scale solar really needs to stop, other than for installations that have special requirements (e.g. need for power backup / diversity).
    - ncmncm 4y ago
      You would forbid me to buy panels?
      - mlyle 4y ago
        Since we know your use of panels isn't going to be efficient compared to utility scale--- I sure wouldn't subsidize you, and would subsidize the utility scale stuff instead. Better that production go to installations that have good capacity factors than to your roof. It's also time to reconsider how good an idea net metering at retail electrical prices is. Grandfather existing customers, but ... sure looks like we need a grid, so maybe only buy power from new end customers at wholesale rates (this further incents storage!)

by r00fus 4y ago

mlyle 4y ago

> How much solar capacity is actually residential? I'm not sure how much is residential, but about 25% is utility-scale projects. The rest is stuff on commercial buildings and homes-- which have an average capacity factor around 12%. > Nuclear should be part of the equation (it has it's own issues with wastewater) but if adding nuclear means not investing equally or more in solar/wind renewables, that's completely misguided. I totally agree. I think our priorities should be, in order: - Wind - Pumped storage - Improved utility interties - Demand-side management - PV - Nuclear - Battery storage - Electrolyzers, etc But even the lowest priority item should be aggressively pursued.

pfdietz 4y ago
Utility scale solar is greater than small scale (< 1 MW) solar in the US, and this is disparity is projected to increase through 2050. This is good, because utility scale solar is cheaper per unit output than small scale solar. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50357 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50357
- mlyle 4y ago
  > Utility scale solar is greater than small scale (< 1 MW) solar in the US Your graph shows in total generated energy per year it's roughly even--- not in nameplate power. Because the capacity factor is worse, you need a lot more nameplate power at non-utility installations to get the same energy out. > This is good, because utility scale solar is cheaper per unit output than small scale solar. Yup. Small scale solar really needs to stop, other than for installations that have special requirements (e.g. need for power backup / diversity).
  - ncmncm 4y ago
    You would forbid me to buy panels?
    - mlyle 4y ago
      Since we know your use of panels isn't going to be efficient compared to utility scale--- I sure wouldn't subsidize you, and would subsidize the utility scale stuff instead. Better that production go to installations that have good capacity factors than to your roof. It's also time to reconsider how good an idea net metering at retail electrical prices is. Grandfather existing customers, but ... sure looks like we need a grid, so maybe only buy power from new end customers at wholesale rates (this further incents storage!)