Well, I may be cynical, but I’m asking two questions:
I see a huge interest in not letting incumbent infrastructure fail. That’s what electrification is up against
Due to the other comment below, i spoke with the guys that run our panels and they answered “well, in theory…”
I’m guessing here, but it might be an issue with the controllers, or that the idea of turning them off is simply inconceivable (why would I turn mine off and let others make money), or something else. But it doesn’t seem like standard practice.
Interesting! Is the idea to use excess electricity to heat the sand and then reproduce power via Steam turbine? Any idea how the heat is extracted ?
I’ve heard of a similar plant, but that used mirrors to heat up the sand directly, rather than using it as a way to use excess electricity.
Same idea, different material is thermal storage in sand.
Please expand! Why is this not an issue with solar?
Unfortunately it is a problem that needs solving. Electricity needs to be used as it is produced and if its not, it will be a problem. Where i live, the de facto solution today is to heat the oceans. That’s not a viable long term solution and why we urgently need to find a way to store energy!
Long haulers usually prefer to gas up at their own private facilities to keep costs down, as I’ve understood it, using gas stations more as an emergency refilling. I’m not sure if that market is big enough to carry the entire infrastructure itself.
Construction is another big sector for diesel, but in both transport and construction there is a lot of work being put into moving the sector to electrification. Which is well, because given how fast the automotive market has turned change might be fairly quick.
There are other uses as well, but will they be able to carry the market? Driving the need for supertankers and trillions worth of investment in oil infrastructure with fuel cans at the chemistry shops? With rising production costs for big oil? I don’t know if I’m more relieved or more anxious about the idea…