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from the power-surges-are-not-good-though dept.
Renewable power surges as pandemic scrambles global energy outlook, new report finds:
The pandemic-induced global economic meltdown has triggered a drop in energy demand and related carbon emissions that could transform how the world gets its energy -- even after the disease wanes, according to a report released today by the International Energy Agency (IEA)[*].
The precipitous drop in energy use is unparalleled back to the Great Depression of the 1930s. But not all energy sources are suffering equally. Efforts to shift toward renewable energy could be hastened, as fossil fuels, particularly coal and oil, have borne the brunt of the decline. Use of renewable energy, meanwhile has risen, thanks to new projects coming online, and the low cost of turning wind turbines or harvesting sunlight.
[*] Link to the IEA report.
Prices for fossil fuel have plunged, while the costs of maintaining those supply chains (eg. storage) remain constant.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 01 2020, @05:06PM
repeat after me: you have no access to energy!
this is a fact for (oh guessing here) 99% of every nose on the planet.
ofc this is not true because you buy it from someone else -or- in other words you are dependant on someone to provide it and bring it to you.
curiously enough, it is countries least developed who have to deal with acquring energy for personal use on a daily basis and are the "most proficient" at it (fuel for cooking).
if the world energy distribution machinary brakes down ... well ain't you glad the new normal of local feudal lord on horses with spears and swords has decided for you to go gather firewood instead of ... oh well nevermind.
in any case, stop trying to make solar energy into a central energy spewing monstrosity like a gas or coal or atom burner. it is not a monster but rather a fridge or tv or fan you gazillion people need to plug into your wall sockets (note: how long is it going to take to get "payback" from moving/buying fluoresence bulb to led bulb).
we need world wide COP legislation with the military might akin to us military to FORCE all electrical grid operators world wide to ACCEPT that grid-tied solar is same like any other appliance.
and yes there will be "problems" just like there were always problems during the history of public grid development ...