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    Reliable Solar-Wind-Water-Batteries-dominated large grid appears feasible as California runs on 100% renewables for parts of 98 days last year. Natural gas use for electricity collapsed 40% in one year.
    Futurology

    Reliable Solar-Wind-Water-Batteries-dominated large grid appears feasible as California runs on 100% renewables for parts of 98 days last year. Natural gas use for electricity collapsed 40% in one year.


    Reliable Solar-Wind-Water-Batteries-dominated large grid appears feasible as California runs on 100% renewables for parts of 98 days last year. Natural gas use for electricity collapsed 40% in one year.

    https://grist.org/energy/california-just-debunked-a-big-myth-about-renewable-energy/

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    1. IntrepidGentian on

      [The paper abstract](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960148124023309) says

      “Critics of a global transition to clean, renewable electricity argue no wind- or solar-dominated grids exist and solar and wind’s variabilities cause blackouts. This paper uses data from the world’s 5th-largest economy to show no blackouts occurred when wind-water-solar electricity supply exceeded 100% of demand on California’s main grid for a record 98 of 116 days from late winter to early summer, 2024, for an average (maximum) of 4.84 (10.1) hours/day. Compared with the same period in 2023, solar, wind, and battery outputs in 2024 increased 31% 8%, and 105%, respectively, dropping fossil gas use by an estimated 40%. Batteries, which shifted excess solar to night, supplied up to ∼12% of nighttime demand. Wind-water-solar is not the cause of high California electricity prices; to the contrary, most all states with higher shares of their demand met by wind-water-solar experience lower electricity prices. Thus, data support models: a reliable wind-water-solar-dominated large grid appears feasible.”

    2. abrandis on

      Yeah but what about the oil oligarchs 3rd beach home in Maui🌴.. that’s all that’s happening here folks the oil Barron’s are getting what they wanted..

    3. 2000TWLV on

      But our new MAGA overlord wants to knee cap progress in favor of more expensive and more polluting fossil fuels that drive the heat that dries out California, so it can burn to a crisp. Genius!

    4. reav11 on

      What a remarkably biased article. 100% of the energy for 10 hours. 98 out of 116 days.

      So we’re going to ignore that there are 24 hours in a day and 365 days a year?

      “One of the biggest myths about renewable energy is that it isn’t reliable”

      “late winter to early summer”

      So basically, as long as you don’t use your air conditioning and don’t need power at night, California is all set.

      I’m 100% for renewables, even if it’s just to have clean air and water. But this is the biggest load of BS article I’ve ever seen. Supplying energy when demand is lowest is a really low bar to say renewables provided 100% of the energy of California and show this as a case study in how well it’s working.

    5. swt5180 on

      Let me start by saying I love renewable energy (particularly solar) and expect it to be an integral part of our future energy production.

      That said, with all the stories I see about renewables being cheaper than fossil fuel derivatives / nuclear power, why is the electricity in California so damn expensive if a large percentage is being generated via renewables?

      It’s great we are getting to the point where renewables can be a major contributing factor towards our electrical grid, but if the cost is a doubling of electricity prices than that’s a no starter for the vast majority of people struggling to get by with day to day expenses. My electric cost, supplier and distribution charge, is roughly $0.15/kW in Pennsylvania, google says California’s average electric cost is $0.30/kW. That’s atrocious.