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submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world to c/microblogmemes@lemmy.world
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[-] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 9 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

How, exactly, does that solve anything? It's not like we can add some kind of magic automatic residential cutoff system (that would just make it worse) and residential distribution is already the problem! Residential solar is awesome (tho home batteries are largely elon propaganda...) but they only contribute to the above issue, not solve it. There are ways of addressing it, but they're complicated and unglamorous.

[-] Resonosity@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

It's not like we can add some kind of magic automatic residential cutoff system

Of course we can. They're called Microgrid Interconnection Devices (MIDs).

that would just make it worse

Microgrids that can disconnect from the utility at appropriate times may in fact make it better. If homeowners responded to utility alerts of high demand and opted to disconnect from the grid during those times while still having power, that would just make grid operators and home owners happier.

residential distribution is already the problem!

Microgrids are the solution!

tho home batteries are largely elon propaganda...

While residential BESSs are largely Tesla based, they are absolutely key in the energy transition from fossil- to renewables-based power sources.

they only contribute to the above issue, not solve it.

How?

There are ways of addressing it, but they're complicated and unglamorous.

Which ways?

[-] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Which ways?

MIDs are in fact one of the bigger ones! That said, all the ones I have worked with are promising but are as-yet still unreliable enough that municipal adoption has been mired in safety concerns and the usual nonsense. To be honest that's been ever since they were first added to the NEC (admittedly most of this initially was based on speculative concerns), because of course. There are still warranted concerns with the implementation of microgrids, including things that are obviously bullshit like a lack of confidence in the reactivity of stations to the potential for the excessive peaking large residential adoption of home batteries might cause, but also much less bullshit things like the complicating risks of having very large lithium-based batteries present in a residential fire.

They are not insurmountable concerns, but they are ones that need answering and are not a small part of why I say that currently, home battery storage solutions just aren't there yet. Local-grid facilities (what one of your sources calls a Mini-grid) are currently the best solution, which is why so many utilities are installing them. I've no doubt that the issues will be worked out, and although it will be some time before the technology matures to where the economies of scale present at the municipal level are no longer a driving consideration, it'll probably get there.

very minor stuff

While residential BESSs are largely Tesla based, they are absolutely key in the energy transition from fossil- to renewables-based power sources.

Is this what you'd intended to link here, because while you're factually accurate in their necessity and I'm not disputing your claims, as far as I can tell the source here is only discussing local-municipal ('mini grid') installs, not microgrid installs, nor does it touch on the value of home-scale BESS

(edit: fixed some typos)

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 months ago

How, exactly, does that solve anything?

After installation, a home owner has free electricity? I'm not trying to solve the issues for the power grid people, they have teams of people for that.

Spain and Portugal had almost complete blackouts today. You know who wouldn't have had blackouts? The people with their own solar panels and windmills.

[-] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I acknowledge that there's no real way to communicate sincerity online, but I'm gonna go ahead and promise I'm not trying to be a dick here when saying this:

a home owner has free electricity

I think you're bonking up on the Dunning Kruger limit here, because that's absolutely not how it works. Not only are the vast majority of homes not candidates for useful solar installs (you can pay someone to do it, but holy cow nearly every residential solar installer is a scam looking at you, Lumio International (how's that RICO case going?)), but solar for home-use power generation is very much not the norm for a whole host of reasons (dead linemen one of the biggest ones) and the safety considerations for implementing it generally make it an onerous enough task to manage that it's appeal is restricted largely to special interest users (homesteaders, preppers, S&R, power system enthusiasts, van life, etc ). There are ways this could be mitigated, but it would require a massive grid overhaul and additional constant upkeep beyond what any current grid already requires.

[-] veroxii@aussie.zone 7 points 5 months ago

Here in Australia 37% of households have rooftop solar. Hardly "only special interest groups".

[-] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Not only are the vast majority of homes not candidates for useful solar installs

Australia is an edge case for everything solar and I'll quite happily admit that! Yay Australia, well done. That said I'd be very willing to bet that the majority of those are not-above-50%-ideal installs (don't take that bet, I'm cheating)

Hardly “only special interest groups”

Sorry, you've misunderstood, I was talking about direct home power generation being special interest, not residential solar in general. Aussies don't have a higher rate for direct power generation than anywhere else because grids are, by and large, all suffering from the same fundamental design issues. I'm not at all attempting to argue that solar installs in general are special interest, and especially with the incredibly well thought out incentives the aus gvmt has been offering for both new construction and residential conversion/installation. 100% best handling of it in the world right now.

this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2025
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