Take a gander at this recent article from Business Insider:
The article blasts German policies that promoted solar over the last 20 years, and postulates that there is too much solar in Germany and how there is “no solution” to correct this problem.
Solar generates power from sunup to sundown, but all those kilowatts are needed at nighttime as well, and where will the energy be stored?
A simple way to solve this problem is more EV’s with better battery tech, storing more power at peak solar hours and sending power BACK to the electric grid at night. This technology already exists, it’s called bidirectional charging. Another part of the solution is stationary battery backup systems in homes, like the Tesla Powerwall Three.
I know a LOT about battery backup systems because I’ve sold over 100 battery backup systems with Tampa Bay Solar since 2017. I’ve sold backup systems manufactured by Tesla, SolArk, Enphase and Outback (not the restaurant chain).
I’ve also sold 500+ grid-tied systems that don’t use a battery at all.
The problem in Germany is not ENOUGH storage, and this is easily remedied by the next generation of solid state batteries (pioneered by Toyota manufacturing) that can hold hundreds of kilowatts, give any EV 700 miles of range (about 1,000 kilometers) and recharge in less than 15 minutes.
In other words, the storage technology (and EV tech) merely needs to catch up to all the free power currently being generated all over Germany by photovoltaics.
It’s only a matter of time before this happens.
On a smaller scale, the rooftop solar on my house charges the 18kWh battery in my Chevy Volt. I only charge my EV at home, so the energy is free off my rooftop solar array. On longer trips the Chevy also uses gasoline, but 99% of my daily usage is in full electric mode.
Charging my car with the spare kilowatts generated off my roof is much cheaper than fueling up my other car, a 2015 Acura powered by a 290hp V6 gas engine. I drove all over town today running errands in my Volt, and used zero gasoline to do so.
I drove this morning, used up the charge in my Volt, then recharged the battery early this afternoon.
If I didn’t drive an EV I would have burned 2 gallons of gasoline today.
The 30 solar panels on my roof have powered my house and my car since 2017. It’s a grid-tied system, so when I’m away for weeks and my air conditioner is turned off the excess power generated by my solar gets pushed back to the local electric company and I get a credit. If I over-generate the entire year I get back a check from the electric company.
Last year it was $120!
I show that check to potential solar clients all the time.
You see, if solar can work for me, a middle class guy who is NOT a rich guy… that means solar and EV’s can work for anyone out there.
We just have to wait for the technology to catch up, and when Toyota starts selling electric vehicles with 700, 800 or even 1,000 miles of range? Those cars will be the real game changer, the push that consumers need to finally give up on gas powered cars.
By 2030 there will also be a vastly expanded EV charging network in North America as well as Europe and Asia. In a decade EV’s will charge in 10 minutes rather than an hour, so charging an EV will be as fast as putting gas in your current vehicle.
With 100 million electric vehicles on the road acting as a dynamic storage network, as well as millions of battery back-up systems in homes? Any excessive solar production during the daytime will top off all the EV’s and home battery systems, and that power can be used later in the day after sundown.
In 1906, when Ford began selling cars all over the United States there were no gas stations in existence to buy fuel for the new “horseless carriages”. Within a few years gas stations popped up all over the map to catch up with the gasoline needs of millions of cars.
Solar, EV’s and battery storage will catch up, until all three technologies become widespread and commonplace, with all the engineering bumps smoothed out by demand and free market forces.
Have a great Memorial Day!
Ben Alexander
Tampa Bay Solar
813-391-3895
Ben Alexander writes. 