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Originally Posted by redpoint5
Germany produced 6% less solar in 2016 than in 2015 despite having added more solar capacity in that timeframe. It just wasn't as sunny in 2016.
Fluctuations in renewable energy that vary by 6% or more creates technical problems that are likely to be expensive to solve. The system has to be built with much over-capacity so that when conditions aren't favorable, people still have power, but then that over-capacity is a huge added expense.
Perhaps Aluminum factories could operate more like ER doctors in that they are scrambled in to work when there is an over-production of electricity and energy is "free", and sent home when the sun isn't shining.
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Offshore wind is where the major investment is going.The average wind is of greater velocity and less sporadic than onshore.
The foreign coal operator in Germany is trying to sell off their business and turn around and invest in offshore wind.
Even Nuclear,gas,and coal have downtime scheduled each year for preventive maintenance.None of them have a 100% duty cycle.