• Resonosity@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    6 days ago

    Predictability of renewables can be minimized via national grid interconnection. Even if it’s cloudy and the wind is stagnant in one location, odds are that’s not the case 500-1,000 miles / km away. The larger the grid, the more predictable renewables becomes.

    Also, most Lithium-based BESS storage can discharge power to accommodate unpredictable renewables for up to as long as 4 hours, which can be enough to bridge the gap. If storage can’t do it, the grid will.

    And let’s not forget other types of renewables + storage that don’t care about clouds or the wind: run-of-the-river hydro (not reservoir hydro), pumped storage hydro, tidal, solar thermal, even wave although I highly doubt wave power will take off, etc.

    The more diverse our power generation, both in type and location, the more predictable our grid will be. Diversity is key.

    Edit: let’s not forget about the other end of the power equation from generation: utilization. Energy efficiency and conservation through Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) are another tool to help the grid manage unpredictable renewables.