Power draw from the grid fluctuates greatly throughout the day, and across the year.
Conveniently power draw tends to be at its highest in the middle of the day when the sun is out and these panels can produce power to help meet the demand. Overnight the power draw is several times lower than peak, so the other power sources Minnesota has (coal, gas, nuclear, hydro, wind) can continue to keep the grid energized while the sun is down.
When solar is just part of a broader power source pool, grid level storage isn’t needed.
Power draw from the grid fluctuates greatly throughout the day, and across the year.
Conveniently power draw tends to be at its highest in the middle of the day when the sun is out and these panels can produce power to help meet the demand. Overnight the power draw is several times lower than peak, so the other power sources Minnesota has (coal, gas, nuclear, hydro, wind) can continue to keep the grid energized while the sun is down.
When solar is just part of a broader power source pool, grid level storage isn’t needed.