Reply #5: Who says it would be monolithic. I didn't [View All]

[Statistical]

Even if generation is decentralized you still run the issue of at your decentralized location your demand > supply.

As an example. I put solar panel on my roof however at any particular second if demand > supply I can draw from the grid.
Sometimes supply > demand and I push power back to the grid "spin meter backwards".

However that system works because I can "always count on the grid" because it has other "on demand sources".

Now this isn't to say I can't use completely solar however I would need to build my system such that at the lowest peak output (Febuary) the system supplies 100% of my demand. The system would need to be twice as large as a grid tie system. I also need enough battery capacity to last 72 hours (to compensate for night and below average output days like raining or snowing). Depending on weather I might need 5-7 days of battery supply.

All that easily triples the cost making it massively more expensive than grid power.


Another way to look at it is. If I have $50,000 I could either
a) wire one home to be completely self sufficient.
b) meet power demand of 3 homes but still rely on the grid.

system b reduces greenhouse gases 3x as much for same amount of money however it requires at least some portion of the grid to either
a) be able to store massive amounts of power.
b) have an on-demand component.

Like most things it is a problem of doing the most good with limited resources.