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A comment on US electricity demand surged in 2025 – solar handled 61% of it. Parent comment

Re:US electricity demand surged in 2025 – solar handled 61% ... by mort96 on Saturday January 17, 2026 @08:53AM (#46658080)
Well there are real challenges here. Generators which rely on massive spinning things naturally provide the grid with inertia; they resist changes to grid frequency. Power sources which rely on inverters or otherwise dynamically adapt to grid frequency don't naturally provide the same inertia.

This is a solvable problem, but it requires a solution nonetheless.

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Re:US electricity demand surged in 2025 – solar handled 61% ... by reactordev on Saturday January 17, 2026 @09:16AM (#46658239)
Very good point!!!

The frequency (50hz or 60hz) comes from those rotational forces from the generators and until we can eliminate them, we have to play nice with them.

Luckily, we have GFMI’s. Grid-forming inverters that can emulate 60hz push pull but you’re right that it’s more than just voltage since we are dealing with high voltage alternating current.

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Re:US electricity demand surged in 2025 – solar handled 61% ... by sandworm101 on Saturday January 17, 2026 @09:00AM (#46658115)
That too can be replicated. There are a few centrifuges out there. Not batteries, but spinning masses meant to keep the frequency stable. Some are looking at using air conditioning motors, of which we have millions, as such a spinning mass.
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Re:US electricity demand surged in 2025 – solar handled 61% ... by mort96 on Saturday January 17, 2026 @09:16AM (#46658240)
Yeah, as I said it's a solvable problem. It just needs solutions to be implemented
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Re:US electricity demand surged in 2025 – solar handled 61% ... by laurencerowe on Saturday January 17, 2026 @01:51PM (#46660759)
Grid frequency can also be regulated with batteries and grid forming inverters.

https://www.energy-storage.news/batteries-are-number-one-at-...

https://arena.gov.au/blog/australias-grid-forming-battery-re...

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