{"id":1372,"date":"2019-05-20T06:01:12","date_gmt":"2019-05-20T13:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/delsolenergy.com\/?p=1372"},"modified":"2023-06-23T12:30:58","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T19:30:58","slug":"california-power-grid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delsolenergy.com\/california-power-grid\/","title":{"rendered":"California Power Grid: Ready for More Solar?"},"content":{"rendered":"

New legislation woven into California’s building code has mandated that nearly all new homes have solar. This new law is starting in January of 2020.\u00a0 The new building mandates are designed to help California meet green energy goals. Which aim for 50% of all energy being used in the California power grid to come from a renewable source in 2030 and 100% by 2045. This building code is exciting for the state in terms of becoming a greener state. But has created many raised eyebrows when it comes to the current state utility electricity grid.\u00a0 This article will briefly discuss what we can expect come 2020 and our power grid.<\/p>\n

The Duck Curve<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Currently, the state of California’s Power Grid is flooded with so much solar power. Many other sun-fueled energy plants must be turned off during the day – or excess green energy has to be shipped to neighboring states.\u00a0 Broken down, this means that within the state, there is an excessive amount of solar energy being produced. But, there is not quite enough space within the grid to store it until people want to use it.\u00a0 This is what utility grid experts call the “Duck Curve.”\u00a0 \u00a0This curve is created when net power demands over the spectrum of the entire grid craters during daylight hours and then ramps up after the sunset and natural-gas generators fire up to meet customer need.<\/p>\n

What this means is that the state has done a great job incentivizing green energy. Also incentivizes solar options for homeowners. But there is no way that with current electrical dependence and the ‘duck curve’ there is enough electricity stored in the grid to keep homes with energy after the sun goes down.\u00a0 Utility regulators explain that for goals to be met, people will need to generate more of their own power or continue their dependency on getting energy from major utility suppliers.<\/p>\n

A Potentially Temporary Problem\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Utility regulators cannot deny that the current infrastructure in California utilities is not quite ready for the 2020 solar mandate. The new homes are predicted to add as much as 260 megawatts of annual solar power in the state. This is equivalent to about 1 solar farm. However, even with the new great influx in solar power that is being generated, the current overproduction of usable energy during daylight hours will still mean that neighboring states will benefit from our solar power more than we will.\u00a0 As there are no grid upgrade plans to provide for more solar energy storage in the grid, this means as we continue to make more green energy – our greenhouse emissions will not be reduced, but our neighboring states may see the benefit. On a global level of energy -there is a win.<\/p>\n

However, in California, it means our legislation will support the creation of renewable, green energy, but there is nothing written that will decrease our dependence on gas, or other natural gases to power our homes and businesses once the sun goes down.<\/p>\n

A Necessary Solution\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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