this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2024
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Unfortunately it is a problem that needs solving. Electricity needs to be used as it is produced and if its not, it will be a problem. Where i live, the de facto solution today is to heat the oceans. That's not a viable long term solution and why we urgently need to find a way to store energy!
Can solar panels not be turned off? I see panels that aren't plugged into anything and they don't exactly blow up. Can't they just be turned off when storage reaches a certain capacity?
Due to the other comment below, i spoke with the guys that run our panels and they answered "well, in theory..."
I'm guessing here, but it might be an issue with the controllers, or that the idea of turning them off is simply inconceivable (why would I turn mine off and let others make money), or something else. But it doesn't seem like standard practice.
If that's the issue, it seems like time-of-use rates or smart metering could be an easy solution. If the price of electricity were negative during periods of oversupply, I bet people would figure out how to disconnect their solar panels pretty quickly. This pricing model would simultaneously incentivize energy storage projects.