Germany had so much renewable energy on Sunday that it had to pay people to use electricity

[KILL KILL]

One thing Germany is doing right is their growing reliance on "green" renewable energy.

On Sunday, May 8, Germany hit a new high in renewable energy generation. Thanks to a sunny and windy day, at one point around 1pm the country’s solar, wind, hydro and biomass plants were supplying about 55 GW of the 63 GW being consumed, or 87%.

Power prices actually went negative for several hours, meaning commercial customers were being paid to consume electricity.

Last year the average renewable mix was 33%, reports Agora Energiewende, a German clean energy think tank. New wind power coming online should push that even higher.

“We have a greater share of renewable energy every year,” said Christoph Podewils of Agora. “The power system adapted to this quite nicely. This day shows again that a system with large amounts of renewable energy works fine.”

The biggest issue with solar and wind energy is that it's not always consistent.

Critics have argued that because of the daily peaks and troughs of renewable energy—as the sun goes in and out and winds rise and fall—it will always have only a niche role in supplying power to major economies. But that’s looking less and less likely. Germany plans to hit 100% renewable energy by 2050, and Denmark’s wind turbines already at some points generate more electricity than the country consumes, exporting the surplus to Germany, Norway and Sweden.

Germany’s power surplus on Sunday wasn’t all good news. The system is still too rigid for power suppliers and consumers to respond quickly to price signals. Though gas power plants were taken offline, nuclear and coal plants can’t be quickly shut down, so they went on running and had to pay to sell power into the grid for several hours, while industrial customers such as refineries and foundries earned money by consuming electricity.

http://qz.com/680661/germany-had-so...that-it-had-to-pay-people-to-use-electricity/

Has anyone ever heard of a surplus of energy like this before?

 

[pinger]

But but socialism !

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

But but socialism !

Even North Korea does some things right.

Down with capitalism! Long live the Dear Leader!

 

[thebluerider]

i'm on 100% wind power. your move, merkel

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

You can upgrade your home to include sustainable solar power. Then you get paid for all the extra power you put back into the grid.

 

[Bald1]

Has anyone ever heard of a surplus of energy like this before?

Not to this extent, no. And I can't quite wrap my head around it to be honest with you.

What they're doing with solar around these parts is getting rid of batteries. As in, if you produce more electricity than you consume, instead of storing it, it turns the meter backwards, reducing your bill. I think we're on the verge of making solar power cost effective. Pretty amazing stuff.

 

[KILL KILL]

You can upgrade your home to include sustainable solar power. Then you get paid for all the extra power you put back into the grid.

That's fascinating. Solar has been blowing up lately. I know a few guys that sell solar for a provider and are making 6 figures in NJ. I'm sure in some Southern states, it would sell even better. In Georgia, days will go by without a single cloud.

 

[KILL KILL]

Not to this extent, no. And I can't quite wrap my head around it to be honest with you.

What they're doing with solar around these parts is getting rid of batteries. As in, if you produce more electricity than you consume, instead of storing it, it turns the meter backwards, reducing your bill. I think we're on the verge of making solar power cost effective. Pretty amazing stuff.

I made another thread on here a while back about how some scientists in China figured out how solar panels can derive energy from the raindrops that hit it as well.

 

[Bald1]

I made another thread on here a while back about how some scientists in China figured out how solar panels can derive energy from the raindrops that hit it as well.

Yeah, I remember reading that. I believe the idea of solar panel "impregnated" (for lack of a better term) roads was brought up in that thread as well. Magic, I say! Lol

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

That's fascinating. Solar has been blowing up lately. I know a few guys that sell solar for a provider and are making 6 figures in NJ. I'm sure in some Southern states, it would sell even better. In Georgia, days will go by without a single cloud.

Its a higher upfront cost to modify your home towards solar usage to a point where you can fully power your home AND put energy back into the grid (which you get paid for). Right now, a lot of people cant afford the cost, however, like any other technology, as it becomes more common the cost will go down.

Either way, it is one of those investments that pays for itself and eventually nets you income.

We also need a bigger push for battery storage technology - luckily we have some big and bright companies really putting in the effort to make that happen.

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/why-battery-storage-is-just-about-ready-to-take-off/407096/

 

[scurdhomey]

Its a higher upfront cost to modify your home towards solar usage to a point where you can fully power your home AND put energy back into the grid (which you get paid for). Right now, a lot of people cant afford the cost, however, like any other technology, as it becomes more common the cost will go down.

Either way, it is one of those investments that pays for itself and eventually nets you income.

We also need a bigger push for battery storage technology - luckily we have some big and bright companies really putting in the effort to make that happen.

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/why-battery-storage-is-just-about-ready-to-take-off/407096/

I thought that you just get credit for putting energy back in. So in 30 years you'll have a negative balance of -$30,000 or something like that.

They don't actually send you a check do they?

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

I thought that you just get credit for putting energy back in. So in 30 years you'll have a negative balance of -$30,000 or something like that.

They don't actually send you a check do they?

In canada they do - not sure about the states.

Edit - a lot of states will pay you at the end of a 12 month cycle - so you get credit each month you put energy back into the grid. If the next month you use more hyrdo than you put in, it will be taken off your credit: however, if by the end of the 12 month cycle, if you put more energy in - you can cash out that credit for actual money.

 

[Rod1]

No wonder oil prices keep plummeting.

 

[wandiswar]

Even North Korea does some things right.

Down with capitalism! Long live the Dear Leader!

I'm still shocked you guys fell for Clinton's plant candidate.

 

[scurdhomey]

No wonder oil prices keep plummeting.

US is the largest consumer of oil.

Major part of dropping oil prices is rise in fracking.

It is the first step in getting rid of dependence on oil altogether.

 

[IDL]

Pretty cool problem to have

 

[7437]

I thought that you just get credit for putting energy back in. So in 30 years you'll have a negative balance of -$30,000 or something like that.

They don't actually send you a check do they?

If you live in a state that does net metering they do.

 

[Fawlty]

Awesome. The world is going to change in incredible ways very soon as renewables become cheaper than fossils.

 

[2DUM2TAP]

Here in Ontario we practically give our electricity away to the US when we have surplus and then change users an arm and a leg here for it.

 

[nostradumbass]

In canada they do - not sure about the states.

Don't know, but I really doubt it. We seem to only subsidize poor choices here.