The Climate, Environment and Energy Thread

[LP]

Was reading recently that rooftop solar feeding into the grid can now cause instability problems because of the sheer volume of it. Apparently the generation companies often have to just turn it off.

Technically they don't turn it off but they cut it off from feeding back into the grid, and the owner/user then losses feedback credit$. This is the reason why most areas limit feedback to 5kW, because the problems caused by sun and clouds means a completely unstable power grid.

It takes many minutes for the large centralised power stations to ramp up or wind down when demand for power changes, Solar PV changes performance as fast as the shadow of a cloud or plane passes over the cells.

This isn't a cartel issue, it's a technical issue, that prevents the infrastructure failing or catching fire even! I read an article by an Electrical Engineer that Solar PV can produce a pulse equivalent to a solar flare, if unregulated that is potentially enough to melt the big HV overhead distribution lines!