The Climate, Environment and Energy Thread

[ElwoodBlues1]

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 Elelctrical 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!

The bolded text is very true and this is exactly what happens, you have the added complication of a hybrid carrier system where a lot of old transmission gear joins with new equipment causing failure when these spikes occur. Ausnet in particular have this as a major issue for their engineering staff.