You are the energy industry guru not me but first my PV system has nearly zero projected maintenance for its life. Likely will replace 1 inverter. Next, with distributed wind and solar throughout the grid they would sort of provide their own backup, but I don't see how that problem is any different than today with traditional power. There will always be ups and downs and our grid structure allows power to get to customers even when the closest plant is offline. Next, given the delta between peak and off peak demand today isn't there already the issue describe of plants sitting idle at times. I contend solar would only help that by reducing the delta. I've said it several times now and you haven't told me why I'm wrong. But really all that is only an issue when renewables reach a much larger percentage of the supply, like Hawaii apparently. We are no were near that in CONUS. As such I can't understand your strict adversity to residential solar.
What is green man?
Hawaii generation is turbo diesel and gas turbine. Both units have much lower initial cost and lower operating efficiency than a typical steam boiler fossil generator station. The diesel and gas turbine are fast and simple to ramp up and down in power vs a steam boiler. Along with wholesale grid rates of 25+ cents per Kw/hr. The diesel and turbine can make enough power and $$$ to pay for themselves with 2-4 hours in the morning and 4-6hr in the evening 5 days a week.
A conventional base load fossil plant can generate for 4-6 cents per Kw/hr if operated 24/7.
Hence Hawaii can make a case for solar to trim the 6-8hr mid day demand and actually save $$$.
On the mainland with a full distribution grid with baseload power. Wind and solar can not exist without being subsidized against 4-6 cent Kw/hr power. . And by taking operating revenue away from base load plants when they used to pay the bills with power generated from morning to a couple hours after sunset 5 to 7 days a week, Now base load generation revenue is cut to a few hours in the early AM and late PM five days a week. Running the baseload generation into the ground now is going to cause higher power prices in the future. In particular when NG prices rebound in a few years.
it costs money to keep conventional generation online and revenue is reduced when backing up subsidized wind and solar.
In addition to several pages of electrical, fire alarm and instrument qualifications. I was on the ERT for 10 years, four years as a Captain. High angle rescue, haz mat, advanced 1st aid, fire fighting all four classes. Most industry doesn't have burning metal. In addition the Green badge radiation qualifications. The quals allow measuring of fixed and loose surface and airborne contamination. Detection of Alpha, Beta, Tritium,Gamma and Neutron radiation with over a dozen different meters. Choice of and doning of radiation protection clothing for myself and up to 20 additional works. Writing rad protection plans , adding workers to the plan and supervising these workers. Decontamination, writing reports after taking surveys etc.
I work with electricity, fire and radiation and what is dangerous and what is hysteria from the media on a slow news day or bogus reports from Lobby groups looking to scare up more $$$ donations.
