U.S. Electrical Grid Faces Catastrophic Situation

[papaof2]

The U.S. electrical grid faces major reliability challenges, according to members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission who used the word 34 times in their prepared testimony at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing in early May 2023. All four commissioners who testified expressed concerns about the US electrical grid's ability to handle high demand during emergency situations.

US Electric Grid Reliability Issues “The United States is heading for a very catastrophic situation in terms of reliability,” FERC Commissioner Mark Christie said. He added that the main problem is that power plants are being retired at a faster pace than they’re being replaced. There is a “looming reliability crisis in our electricity markets,” FERC Commissioner James Danly agreed.

Acting Chairman Willie Phillips testified, “We face unprecedented challenges to the reliability of our nation’s electric system.” Growing reliability and resilience challenges from extreme weather and cyber and physical security threats require changes to the U.S. grid, according to FERC Commissioner Allison Clements.

elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20221020-3103

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[feralferret]

Funny, many of us on this board figured that stuff out quite some time ago. Watch this story get buried in the media.

[papaof2]

I saw it on an email from backwoodssolar.com - someone you might expect to be watching for justification for their solar power systems ;-)

[feralferret]

Yes, papof2, but they are right. With capacity decreasing, a growing percentage of generating capacity becoming weather dependent, increased demand which will only get worse if electric vehicles are forced upon us, and a lack of critical spares for distribution equipment it is a recipe for disaster.

[papaof2]

In the not-too-distant future, all of us might be in same fix that Texas put itself into by NOT having backup arrangements with either the East or West US grid segments. The Lone Star State's "We don't need nobody else" came back to bite them big time.

My little solar plus inverter generator backup system just might prove its usefulness - if I can keep the less capable neighbors from trying to take bits and pieces to "run their house".

[feralferret]

System on GovDeals that I wish I could afford.

QTY 220 - 330 Watt Solar Panels & QTY 3 Inverters
Panels, Inverters, Wire, Breakers, Conduit, and more included in lot. All unused/never installs - much in OEM packaging
Seller changed direct after purchasing package - material stored inside a warehouse.

Current Bid $12,710.00
Bid Increment $200.00
Minimum Bid $12,910.00

Auction Ends 5/25/23 4:00 PM ET

That's 72.6 KW of panels and three 30 KW inverters plus much more. Located in Addison, Texas .

I need to win the lottery!

[papaof2]

That's just $59/panel and the inverters, wire and hardware are free ;-)

I've seen a 250 watt panel deliver 5 watts in the "dark" of a thunderstorm, so a 330 watt panel probably delivers 5 watts in "daylight". That works out to about 1100 watts as soon as the sun is up, even if it's not directly on the panels.

With a solar array that big, I could probably power the house all day - from sunrise to sunset...

You'll need a big truck. 220 panels at about 60 lb each adds up to 13,200 lbs, plus the inverters and hardware.
You could always brag that you bought the system for "Just one dollar per pound" ;-)

Nice package for a solar dealer who could give customers a great "deal" on new 330 watt panels: "Only $120 each" ;-)