We know that in all electrical power systems the power supply must be the same as the customer demand. And a problem occurs when, for whatever reasons (floods, fires, heat waves, etc…) the system cannot supply the energy demanded by its customers. Then the supply is cut off, and that gives rise to all kinds of technical and human problems.
And furthermore, with the extensive use of renewable energy (wind and sun), it becomes more necessary to have alternative means of supplying electricity when these ecological supplies are not capable of providing it.
I have received with surprise and pleasure the information that in California they have been building huge battery systems (the size of a football stadium) for several years, capable of supplying energy to the network for a certain time, and preventing the supply from being cut off.
All over the world this past summer we have suffered strong environmental problems (heat waves, floods, etc…) that have generated cuts in the supply of electrical energy. In California they have also suffered such problems but their electricity supply has not been affected. That is, customers have not noticed, which is very important.
From what I've read, the state of California is going to continue to install more battery systems in the future, to continue to protect their power supply. And that seems very intelligent to me and a good example for all those who want to see it.
All solar installations now installed in California are of the "dispatchable" type, which means that they are partly autonomous. When there is sun, they supply the energy that is needed to the network, and the rest of the energy produced is stored in the batteries to be used in cases of need.
Today solar energy is very cheap, and it is worth having comprehensive "dispatchable" systems, since they are already cheaper than alternatives based on consuming fossil fuels.
Today solar energy is very cheap, and it is worth having comprehensive "dispatchable" systems, since they are already cheaper than alternatives based on consuming fossil fuels.
I congratulate the friends of California for their vision, and I hope that many will follow their example.
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