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Ember lab stock6/17/2023 ![]() But electricity grids were set up around massive generators that could work in tandem with grid operators to keep networks balanced. All it takes is an incentive for homeowners or property companies to turn roofs into mini energy parks. In contrast to wind, hydro or geothermal power, solar has a key advantage of being quick to install. In May, production rose 10% compared to the previous year to reach a record 27 terawatt hours. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, installations of solar panels in the EU have accelerated. By 2031, producers would only benefit from power they actually consume and not get compensated for any excess.Īcross Europe, people are following the Dutch example. ![]() ![]() Under new rules, households that send power back to the grid would be able to deduct a declining amount from their annual bill. The government in the Netherlands plans to change the system starting in 2025. “If I do my laundry or charge my car at moments when there isn’t sun, it doesn’t matter for me because I get paid by my energy company.” “The Dutch government did this to stimulate solar panels, but it’s a little too successful,” said Jorrit de Jong, spokesman at Dutch electric grid operator TenneT, who has seven roof-top solar panels that produce at least 80% of his annual household electricity consumption. The program rewards households for installing solar panels, with every watt of electricity offsetting energy bills, regardless of whether usage matches up with the sunniest parts of the day. The Netherlands’ claim to the densest solar network on Earth is thanks largely to long-running government support. There are over 100 megawatts of solar panels for every 100,000 Dutch residents, double the deployment of sunny Spain and more than triple the rate in China - by far the global leader in total solar capacity. Nowhere is the solar boom - and the adjustment risks - clearer than in the Netherlands. Read More: Europe’s Unused Coal Heads to New Shores in Post-Crisis Glut Systems to store that energy in batteries or by creating green hydrogen aren’t advanced enough to allow summer sun to keep lights on at night or help heat homes in the winter. “The biggest message will be: we’re not ready.”Īlthough solar was a fast and easy solution to respond to last year’s energy crisis triggered by Russia’s moves to squeeze natural gas supplies, the downside is the technology is best in sunny months when demand is typically lower. “This summer will be something we’ll have to look at like it’s a postcard from the future,” said Kesavarthiniy Savarimuthu, analyst at BloombergNEF. Power prices turned negative during some of May’s sunniest days as grid operators struggled to handle the surge. While the furious expansion of solar generation bodes well for efforts to replace fossil fuels, the breakthrough also exposed flaws in the energy system.
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