the research consultancy for energy technologies
Forecasts for future solar capacity growth have an unsatisfyingly uncertain range, varying by 3x. Hence this 15-page note discusses the future of solar. Solar capacity additions likely accelerate 3.5x by…
Solar encapsulants are 300-500μm thick films, protecting solar cells from moisture, dirt and degradation; electrically insulating them at 4 x 10^15 Ωcm resistivity; and yet allowing 90% light transmittance. The…
Sugar cane is an amazing energy crop, yielding 70 tons per hectare per year, of which 10-15% is sugar and 20-25% is bagasse. Crushing facilities create value from sugar, sugar-to-ethanol…
This data-file aggregates granular data from seven solar assets around Western Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland), to understand their volatility and inter-correlation, over a sample week in August-2021. Across the…
…to rapidly add MW, then the grid is going to fall over. This is why we care predominantly about batteries producing MW. https://thundersaidenergy.com/2022/09/01/solar-volatility-tell-me-lies-tell-me-sweet-little-lies/ https://thundersaidenergy.com/2021/06/24/power-grids-hell-is-a-hot-still-summers-day/ Grid-scale batteries will tend to minimize…
The average solar asset declines at 2.5% per year. This 14-page note reviews the causes of solar decline rates. We find humid climates moderate Potential Induced Degradation, adding a relative…
…is the solar over-built? Two-thirds of all the solar generated over the year had to be be exported to the grid. It raises the question of how much solar a…
Demand shifting is the process of flexing electrical loads in a power grid, in order to smooth out volatility. Especially short to medium-duration volatility associated with wind and solar. This…
…renewables is volatile. The volatility of solar includes around 100 volatility events per day. The volatility of wind includes around 75 volatility events per day. This is usually fine, as…
…design. The average 5-minute-by-5-minute volatility of Kogan Creek is +/-1%, while a typical large solar or wind installation is +/- 5%. For wind and solar, this is true volatility. But…