This is a great article that uses real data to see how our grid world perform with greater wind, solar and storage. It shows that we can easily achieve a 95% renewable grid with a modest level of storage.
What i really like about this, is it has been running for 2 years now, and it is pragmatic about its aims (ie, not 100%), it aims for reality (this is real data that is collected weekly), and it looks at the cost (in $$ and CO2-e).
He sets some targets (60% Wind, 45% Solar + storage), then works off of the actual data to scale the wind & solar generation, to see how it would meet demand. excess is accumulated in storage (theoretical battery storage and actual hydro), and shortfalls is taken from storage.
The really nice part shows where “other” is required, in Australia’s case, existing fossil fueled peaker plants.
I often use his 1st year report to have the discussion with “non-believers” to show what is possible, and where the gaps are to achieveing a renewable grid.
Have a read and let me know what you think.
schroedingershat@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Fun fact! At the current rate of about 8000 vehicles a month there will be that much battery driving around in 2038. Sales are doubling annually though.
Presumably EV sales will level off somewhere below 1 million/yr, if that happens there will be roughly this much battery imported every two years.
palitu@aussie.zone 1 year ago
This ignores EVs, but does have some commentary about it.
How we choreograph charging/manage demand will be interesting.
schroedingershat@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Canberra is running a v2g trial last I heard.
Even just putting a 240V 2kW charger on an off peak meter (like hot water cylinders use) and only using it for load shedding would probably cover most of the storage needed. 16kWh/day is overkill for most driving profiles, then the only issue is convincing whoever owns the carpark to install/rent an outlet.