[kach22i]

Originally Posted by RustyLugNut

No matter the improvements in solar collectors, you must still store that energy after collection and transport it. Luckily, electricity is relatively easy to transport. The storage part, not so much.

I enjoyed reading your post, lots of depth.

Below is the overall topic or at least a sidebar of it, yes?

Grid energy storage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_energy_storage

Grid energy storage (also called large-scale energy storage) is a collection of methods used to store electrical energy on a large scale within an electrical power grid. Electrical energy is stored during times when production (especially from intermittent power plants such as renewable electricity sources such as wind power, tidal power, solar power) exceeds consumption, and returned to the grid when production falls below consumption.

As of 2017, the largest form of grid energy storage is dammed hydroelectricity, with both conventional hydroelectric generation as well as pumped storage. Alternatives include rail energy storage, where rail cars carrying 300 ton weights are moved up or down a 8-mile section of inclined rail track, storing or releasing energy as a result; or disused oil-well potential energy storage, where 100 ton weights are raised or lowered in a 12,000 ft deep decommissioned oil well.

Developments in battery storage have enabled commercially viable projects to store energy during peak production and release during peak demand.

An alternative to grid storage is the use of peaking power plants to fill in demand gaps.

One area of storage I don't see mentioned in that Wikipedia entry is using the batteries in electric cars as storage and to provide power at peak times.

This concept was introduced to me in about 2011 when the Volt first came out. I went to a local electric car meeting, a grad student was going to write a paper on it and the topic was an item of group discussion.

My point being, we are not there today (renewables), may never be there 100% but are on our way.

As I mentioned before developing countries with little infrastructure (ie Africa) are candidates for renewables.

https://www.statista.com/chart/13491...energy-sector/


As a country we need to decide if we invest into the future or into the past.

EDIT:
I have to update this, found where Wiki mentions using elec cars.

Electric vehicles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_energy_storage

Companies are researching the possible use of electric vehicles to meet peak demand. A parked and plugged-in electric vehicle could sell the electricity from the battery during peak loads and charge either during night (at home) or during off-peak.[42]