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Load Management Group
In partnership with PLMA, this group is for practitioners from energy utilities, solution providers, and trade allies to share load management expertise and explore innovative approaches to program delivery, pricing constructs, and technology adoption.
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What Cheap Solar Means for Load Management
A new report from Wood Mackenzie predicts the price of solar energy will fall 15-25 percent over the next decade. It’s possible, according to the study, that solar will be the cheapest energy source by 2030. While the technology continues to get cheaper, it’s adoption will also likely be aided by stimulus plans around the world that seek to remedy the economic destruction left by the pandemic while simultaneously working towards carbon cutting goals.
However, even if solar proves very cheap to generate, there still remains the scalability issue. Battery technology and adoption must keep pace with solar adoption if utilities expect to meet demand when the sun isn’t shining. The good news is that storage is set to getting better and will become much cheaper. According to recent statements coming out of the Electric Power Research Institute, it’s possible that costs for battery packs will drop from about $120-200/kWh to $80kWh by 2030.
Scalability will prove even more important in an electrified future. Electric vehicles, both in the private and public sectors, are expected to take a significant chunk of market share this decade. At the same time, home appliances and buildings are becoming more electric as well. If behavior patterns remain the same, this move towards electric will logically increase electric power demand. It will be interesting to see if the demand can be met, at least in large part, with solar.
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