Re:Solar Industry's Future Lies in Lightweight Technology
by llukas on Sunday December 02, 2018 @10:01PM
(#18586052)
> Storing and using it consistently 24x7 is now the hard part.
Is it really? https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2018/03/01/12-hours-energy-stora...
edit: added quote from parent
Re:Solar Industry's Future Lies in Lightweight Technology
by walrus01 on Sunday December 02, 2018 @10:53PM
(#18586207)
It's not so much that it's hard technologically, as the Tesla massive battery system in Australia has recently proven, but to do on a REALLY huge scale at an economical $ per kWh cost, and the lifecycle cost of the batteries. When compared to current non-carbon-producing energy sources like big hydroelectric dams, big pumped-storage hydroelectric.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-big-battery-turns-one-cele...
Every few months I see some big press release and tech press media hype about liquid metal batteries and flow batteries, I've yet to see something useful that has a market price beyond "contact us for more details".
It seems to mostly be all test and evaluation installs on a small scale so far.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/pullman-project-te...
Massive economies of scale and automation are the future for PV. Using standard 60 and 72 cell polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon cells. It's already not uncommon to see 5 to 10 megawatt sized ground mount PV systems.
Getting the $ per STC watt lower for panels is key. Having quick to build, low cost and efficient ground mount systems is an important part of it.
Things will be very different economically when a 360W, 72 cell panel I can buy now at $0.58/W is more like $0.22/W.
Battery storage is the other important part. The technological problem of generating enough watthours in one day is SOLVED. Storing and using it consistently 24x7 is now the hard part.