Article about potentially too much green energy in Spain

[Countrypaul]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czkkgnp1d2xo

[Mart]

Couldn't quite decide if the article was slightly tongue-in-cheek, seeming to hint that the excess RE was actually a good thing.

Looking at California (as they have similar PV capacity factors ~20%), they've now managed to roll out enough battery storage power (and energy I think) to cover the daytime solar excess, and shift it to the evening and following morning peaks. So as BESS (battery energy storage system) costs continue to fall (almost tumble), then Spain looks to be on for a winner.

Perhaps the big solar wins for Spain (and Cali) is the far better consistency. Where we get about 4x as much gen in June from a south facing system as Dec, they get about 1.5x, so far smoother. And simple single axis tracking is economically viable too.

Things look very good for Spain going forward.

[dan_b]

Interesting aritcle for sure - the bits at the end about how they can increase the amount of electrification- but also of phasing out nuclear so that the grid can respond more quickly to the changes in supply/demand... I guess with France across the border being hugely nuclear they don't have many other countries to export to? I imagine Portugal has a similar renewable generation profile to Spain?

[resybaby]

Enjoyed the read of that article as well, have often wondered why (in the Canaries at least where i visit most years) i see a lot of solar thermal for HW generation dotted about, but have to say ive not noticed much in the way of PV. More deffo good though, but, personally, i dont see as much around as the article would indicate.

Another observation i have for RE turbines over there is that they seem to use multiples of smaller units, rather than the rush towards bigger and taller turbines that we seem to see in the UK. No idea why, but can see a few advatages and disadvantages both ways.

Going the right way though it seems.

[Joeboy]

I often think of the Steisdal hotrocks thermal stores yet on a massive scale to generate power through the night. Better surely than curtailment. Hot rocks into steam turbine into Air con and hot water.

[AE-NMidlands]

I often think of the Steisdal hotrocks thermal stores yet on a massive scale to generate power through the night. Better surely than curtailment. Hot rocks into steam turbine into Air con and hot water.

I would think quite a few of the Canary Islands could use hot rock as a primary energy source! No need to worry about storage, just ramp it up when wind or sun dwindle.

[Joeboy]

This wee piece says 20% global.power supplied by PV on Solstice.

https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/06/ ... oars-to-20

Much more detail here.

https://ember-climate.org/