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Plan to Zero (#17) You got to know when to hold them…
- Plan to Zero
- Plan to Zero - Stop! Don't Do That!
- Plan to Zero - Nega-Watts!
- Plan to Zero - Baseload
- Plan to Zero - Made in the USA
- Plan to Zero - Do No Harm
- Plan to Zero - The electric super speed way
- Plan to Zero - Load Growth
- Plan to Zero - Get out of the Way
- Plan to Zero - Power to the People
- Plan to Zero - This means you!
- Plan to Zero - Measure it Right
- Plan to Zero - Figure it Out
- Plan to Zero - Now Hiring
- Plan to Zero - Another Link in the Value Chain
Kenny Rogers was right; you do have to know when to hold electrons. But sometimes you also have to know when to convert them to something else, closer to the way the customer will use the energy. Batteries are expensive compared to hot water tanks, and if the goal is to use energy in the next 24 hours as heat or hot water, it may be far more economic to make hot water.
In the summer many would prefer to make ice out of water, to cool buildings when it gets to the hot part of the day, shifting the time of use for energy, but a lot of research is needed to develop high quality products (and ideally ones that can make hot water in the winter and ice in the summer). Thermal storage is one of the most cost-effective storage options available.
Making high pressure air at a factory that uses air tools, makes sense too. There are many energy products that make sense to create (yes, that means the electricity can’t be returned as electricity like from a battery).
Electric vehicles (EV) are being touted as the answer to all storage, except they are not always home, and the primary purpose of the vehicle is to go places and move people or stuff. Counting on EVs to provide for all storage needs, means that the primary purpose becomes energy storage, not transportation. Likely not a trade off many people can afford.
Society, based on current needs in California, now talks mostly about 4 hour storage, but the reality is that in a few years, with a majority system of solar photo voltaic (PV), that in the winter, PV will only provide enough energy to cover demand for 3-6 hours a day, meaning that storage will have to grow to 18-21 hours a day, with a much higher capacity to take charging than for discharging. Few are discussing these issues today, assuming they can import power from elsewhere.
There needs to be a focused conversation on storage durations. Frequency support only?
Evening grid support?
Day night shifting?
Winter night energy supply?
Polar Vortex energy?
Seasonal shifting?
Something else?
What is society willing to pay for, to allow more variable resources like solar and wind?
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