Not convinced.
I’m using utility solar for about 20% of my electricity needs, precisely to experience what’s claimed. Average cost is 50% above regular sourcing, and rising significantly.
https://twitter.com/ctdonath/status/1274157769889918978?s=21
I’m using utility solar for about 20% of my electricity needs, precisely to experience what’s claimed. Average cost is 50% above regular sourcing, and rising significantly.
https://twitter.com/ctdonath/status/1274157769889918978?s=21
Oh, and I had never done it before. Read a lot and watched videos. Technology is making it plug and play.
All-in-all, it was fun and easy.
SolarReserve bid under 5 cents/kwh in Chile in 2017 for a grid scale 24/7 CSP/molten salt storage system… we'd probably need a safer way to transport molten salt tanks from high Irradiance areas to local grids to give 5 cents/kwh for most people though.
But currently 2 PW is $17,000 with 10 year warranty. That’s $142/mo. If they work for 20 years, that’s half. Enphase is coming out with its own system.
Anyways, it already makes sense but for peak usage. I only use 15kWh max a night but my peak can be up to 20kWac for a few minutes at a time.
If battery makers can increase peak of home stationary batteries - Tesla cars peak much higher, like 400kW - and Tesla’s battery costs are under $100/kWh, the end is nigh for electric utilities. They need to start stringing fiber.
End is even closer if Tesla enables vehicle2grid soon.
I really don't see costs coming down that much in the next 10 years for electrochemical batteries.
I wonder if Tesla should buy some of these large publicly traded utilities, like APS.
It's just when they start "regulatory capture", batteries can take you out of the drama.
Rental cost is consistent.
We have a company near me that has some of the cheapest power sources from wind, but they used to market with the slogan “pay more for power.”