An outdated grid has created a solar power economic divide

Is the electric grid outdated?

The U.S. electric grid is horrifyingly outdated. Here’s how to modernize it To tackle the climate crisis, the grid needs to be transitioned to carbon-free wind and solar. In the summer of 1988, NASA scientist James Hansen testified to Congress that carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels was dangerously warming the planet.

Is the outdated power grid nearing a crisis point?

The outdated power grid is nearing a crisis point. Here’s how to prevent it New transmission lines take years to build, and that’s slowing down renewable energy projects. But technology can help make better use of existing infrastructure now.

Why do solar power plants need to be connected to the grid?

Because the output power of photovoltaic power station shows strong randomness, intermittence and uncontrollability, the connection of the large-scale solar energy to the power grid will affect the operational safety of the grid.

How many solar projects will not be built in 2035?

More than 10,000 proposed solar, wind, and battery projects are currently waiting in line to connect to the U.S. electric grid—more than enough to hit a target of 90% clean energy by 2035. But many of the projects won’t get built, in part because the grid doesn’t have enough capacity to handle the new power.

How old is the electric grid?

Most of the U.S. electric grid was built in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, over 70% of the U.S. electricity grid is more than 25 years old, and that aging system is vulnerable to increasingly intense storms. The electric infrastructure in the U.S. was built to bring energy from where fossil fuels are burned to where the energy will be used.

Can a substation transmit photovoltaic power to the grid?

Hence, the substation can transmit all the generated photovoltaic power to the grid. However, for the summer with high radiation level, the photovoltaic power output will be significant and the capacity of the substation will be not enough, leading to severe solar energy curtailment. Fig. 14. The power grid of an area in Xinjiang.