Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

California’s expensive solar panels to fight climate change don’t work during blackout
BPR ^ | October 12, 2019 | Samantha Chang

Posted on 10/12/2019 8:18:51 AM PDT by Hojczyk

Californians who screech about climate change were furious after discovering that the expensive solar panels they installed on their rooftops don’t work during a blackout unless they buy an equally expensive battery system.

This week, a mass power outage occurred when utility company PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Co.) shut down the electric grid in Northern California to prevent wildfires, which have been ravaging the state.

The grid shutdown in 34 counties caused more than 738,000 area customers to lose power, KCRA reported.

The irony is that California’s insistence on solar panel installation has not helped at all during the forced grid shutdown.

Moreover, beginning in January 2020, California has made it mandatory for all new homes to be built with solar panels.

“Energy experts estimate that building solar panels can add another $10,000 to $15,000 to the cost of rebuilding,” according to Action News Now.

In other words, installing solar panels to combat climate change is not only more expensive, but has proven to be ineffective in helping maintain power during a blackout. So what’s the point?

(Excerpt) Read more at bizpacreview.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: califblackouts; solar; solarpanels
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last
To: butlerweave
The Global Warming Nuts never think things out, LOL

It is a hallmark of every liberal that they are utterly incapable of foreseeing even the most obvious of consequences.

21 posted on 10/12/2019 8:31:23 AM PDT by null and void (Convicted spies are shot, traitors are hanged, saboteurs are subject to summary execution...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk
So what’s the point?


22 posted on 10/12/2019 8:33:39 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: digger48

give them time and they will expand that to retrofit homes for resale.


23 posted on 10/12/2019 8:34:14 AM PDT by Mouton (The media is the enemy of the people.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio
Yeah this doesn't make any sense. People connect generators to run various parts of their electric system as they see fit.

If the power from the solar system can be put on the grid at all it has to be converted from DC to AC, and that means you should be able to use that power as needed for your home and not connected to the grid while the sun shines.

24 posted on 10/12/2019 8:36:19 AM PDT by WhoisAlanGreenspan? (# of takeoffs = # of landings)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Balding_Eagle; null and void

Ping


25 posted on 10/12/2019 8:36:25 AM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB0ndRzaz2o)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk
That's what I love about "renewables" -- if you want power at night, on cloudy days, or on calm days, you have to buy TWO power plants where previously only ONE did the job. This is the dirty little secret of "renewables." Take your pick from one of the following...
26 posted on 10/12/2019 8:37:54 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

A rambling poorly written article. Ended it with my eyes crossed instead of the t’s.


27 posted on 10/12/2019 8:39:05 AM PDT by rockinqsranch ("Democratic" party sold out to the ICP. It is now the Communist Party USA.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Da Coyote

You can also just go to the dark side.


28 posted on 10/12/2019 8:42:15 AM PDT by fruser1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk
"So what’s the point?"

They lower the cost of electricity a little. Not enough to make up for what they originally costed, but the money spent helps green energy companies stay in business. They also help the environment expect for the resources and fossil fuels required to make them.
29 posted on 10/12/2019 8:45:42 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WhoisAlanGreenspan?
YES, but...

The inverters need to synchronize with the AC on the power lines, otherwise if they are out of phase or off frequency they fight the grid power, to the detriment of everyone involved.

No 60Hz form the grid, no ability to run.

A local 60Hz oscillator and a bunch of electronics to disconnect from the mains during an outage, with detection of reestablishment of grid power, and re-synchronizing before reconnecting would solve that problem, but would increase system complexity and cost. Worse, a failure in any house's system could charge the lines and potentially electrocute repair workers who are patching known (as far as all their switches say) un-powered lines.

30 posted on 10/12/2019 8:48:43 AM PDT by null and void (Convicted spies are shot, traitors are hanged, saboteurs are subject to summary execution...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio

In CT a solar panel system that is dis-connected from the grid does not qualify for the subsidies and/or tax credits.

That is the reason I refused to install them.

I have no clue what the rules are in CA.


31 posted on 10/12/2019 8:49:58 AM PDT by cgbg (Vote Trump or you will _be_ Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

Not when the grid is shut down it’s like the solar panels being unplugged from the grid only batteries can help$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.


32 posted on 10/12/2019 8:53:11 AM PDT by Vaduz (women and children to be impacIQ of chimpsted the most.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio
Unless batteries are illegal in California….

If they aren’t now, chances are they will be in the near future for some stupid reason...right after they mandate electric cars for everyone.

33 posted on 10/12/2019 8:54:06 AM PDT by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives - ban gun free zones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Vendome
When I installed my system, any "excess" power was a gift to PG&E.

That's why my system was as small as it was, just enough to not quite cover my usage.

It cut my bills way down and is old enough now to have paid for itself.

If I still lived there, I'd probably add enough panels to make PG&E pay me.

Here, in that state to the right of you? Our rates are low enough, it simply doesn't pencil to install solar.

34 posted on 10/12/2019 8:56:27 AM PDT by null and void (Convicted spies are shot, traitors are hanged, saboteurs are subject to summary execution...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

Solar or Wind plus a beanie with a whirlie thingee.

The nitwittery is strong with these eco-losers.


35 posted on 10/12/2019 8:58:39 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp???)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: jeffc
Well, I hope those discovering this about their solar panels are all liberals.

This conservative knew it before he bought his. Back then it was rare that a misadventure cause the lights would go out for more than an hour or so, and inconceivable that they would be turned off for days on end by the very company that makes money on every kWH used!...

36 posted on 10/12/2019 9:00:56 AM PDT by null and void (Convicted spies are shot, traitors are hanged, saboteurs are subject to summary execution...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Balding_Eagle

In Floriduh ...

We send metered power back into the grid in the daytime in the amount we are not using right then.

At night we only suck power from the grid, but we use up the excess credit we metered from the daytime.

In summer we strive to break even, all other seasons we generate more than we use in a 24 hour period.

In Florida we are allowed carryover month to month with a reset once a year where utility pays us 3c per kwh for the excess. That’s worth avoiding if you can use it.

But all year long, day in day out, we are getting retail value for everything we capture from the sun. No matter what we pay the monthly meter charge — same as if you had no solar.


37 posted on 10/12/2019 9:01:07 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Hojczyk

Nope


38 posted on 10/12/2019 9:02:47 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s........you weren't really there)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: null and void

“A local 60Hz oscillator and a bunch of electronics to disconnect from the mains during an outage, with detection of reestablishment of grid power, and re-synchronizing before reconnecting would solve that problem, but would increase system complexity and cost. “

This is the Xantrex xw6848. Got that.


39 posted on 10/12/2019 9:02:52 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: immadashell

Yeah.

The only reason FLT 93 didn’t take out congress was that the passengers knew the rules changed because of cellphone calls.

One of congress’ first acts was to ban cellphone use on commercial aircraft.


40 posted on 10/12/2019 9:06:45 AM PDT by null and void (Convicted spies are shot, traitors are hanged, saboteurs are subject to summary execution...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson