The 'duck curve' is solar energy's greatest challenge

Renewables require change in the energy supply chain.

Electricity is incredibly difficult to store, so grid operators have to generate it at the exact moment it is demanded. In order to do this, they create incredibly accurate models of the total electric loads, that is how much energy will be consumed on a given day. But as utilities started to produce more energy from renewable sources like solar, the models started to shift as well.

California researchers discovered a peculiarity in their state’s electric load curves, that started to look more and more like a duck. And that duck shaped chart highlights the greatest challenge to solar energy growth in the US.

Vox writer David Roberts has been covering the issue for a few years now. You can read some of his past explainers on the duck curve, and its solutions at the links below:

[JakeM]

In England, we have a type of electricity pricing called “economy 7” where electricity overnight is at half price.

This led to a large rise in storage heaters (radiators that heat up clay bricks during the night and release the heat during the day).

People also use timer plugs to run washing machine and dishwashers overnight to take advantage of this.

Rather than waste solar, surely it would make sense to offer a similar incentive near midday?! People will modify their electricity demands when there’s the potential to save money!

[ruthenian.wisdom]

"The sun produces most energy at midday"
Every 60 seconds in Africa a minute passes

[ZiPolishHammer]

"They found that the sun produces the most energy at midday."
Wait, really? Who would've thunk it. That's unbelievable.

[HarishBhagat]

Hopefully we'll quack the problem someday.

[craigfirman]

Didn’t they solve this in Spain? A kind of solar power plant that heats up salt to extreme degrees then uses that heat to generate electricity long into the night. But the hydro pump back idea works too, using excess electricity to pump water back up hydropower dams then sending it back down at night. Some dams already do that

[ocek]

"They found that the sun produces the most energy at midday".

"They"? Like no one else could have told "them" about it.

[Val-zggd]

lol only vox could do a video on solar energy and not ever say the word 'battery'

[Androgiron]

So we need to just cross wires all over the world and when in Australia is midday in the Americas is nighttime.
Easy? innit?

[Aedar]

I don't know if it is an option, US has a much different power from my country, but here we have two hydro plants, that are used as "batteries". Basically there are 2 large tanks, or lakes or whatever you call them, and when there's too much power in the grid, they use it to pump the water from the lower lake to the upper one, and when you need the power back, they just release the water and let gravity and water turbines do the work and generate power...

[matthewmckenna]

It has its con's, but renewable energy sources are the way forward. If we want this planet to be habitable in the future.

[tilld]

California can sell electricity to NY because California still has sun when in NY is evening

[Charles-]

“The sun produces the most energy at midday” wow.

[maxr]

Use the extra energy to purify sea water.

[gshak]

Should mention how the price of batteries used for storage fell by over 30% in just the past year.

[nandornagyilles]

He should have mentioned that we can store excess energy from midday and use it when demands are higher via hydroelectric power plants. You pump water to the reservoir when you have excess power and release it when you have high demand.thid helps smooth the curve out

[AmadeusRE]

Who put this video together? You completely failed to discuss storage options that can store the solar to reduce and eliminate the peaks... was this funded by coal plants? Seriously one of the least informative videos Vox put out....

[FastCarCentral]

Make a huge two level reservoir with massive water pumps. Pump up with water during peak solar power excess during the day. Let it run down through hydro generators during sunset. You're effectively making a battery. Would something like this work??

[marcop]

germans answer "pump speicher kraftwerk"
using midday overpower pumping water uphill.
when more electricity is needed, this water used to create new electricity

[sinfo]

nice video but it puts the needs of coal plant and contractors above anything else.
Many hydro power plants use the excess of renewable energy to pump water back into the damn and reuse it at night.

[derrickfox]

You didn't mention anyways to combat the duck curve like creating an artificial lake, pumping water into it during the excess hours, and then letting the water drain through a turbine when power is needed.