Hacker News Reader

Oh, it's peak demand that is the problem now? Well, those battery users can top off their batteries on off-peak times. Time for you to change the goal posts again.

View on HN

My argument is that the grid has to be designed to handle the load from cloudy weather that lasts over a week. Nobody can afford a battery system that can last that long. So the rooftop-solar enthusiasts either need to install and maintain a backup gas generator on their property (and disconnect from the grid), or pay their fair portion to maintain the grid so it can provide power to them during such weather.

Goal posts moved as predicted. It’s no longer peak demand. It’s now week long cloudy weather.

I thought it was obvious, but in a world where most people have solar battery setups, peak demand occurs after 2-3 days of cloudy weather, and stays consistently high 24 hours a day until the sun comes out. The rest of the year the grid is pretty much idle.

I don't believe I'm moving any goalposts. From the first paragraph of my original comment:

> Imagine a world where everyone in the state has an overbuilt solar battery system installed, but still relies on the grid those few times a year with extended cloud cover.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com