On Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:25:03 GMT, wrote in
:

Larry Dighera wrote:
On Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:15:02 GMT, wrote in
:

Larry Dighera wrote:

This is just apples and oranges arm waving.

You've got to look beyond the obvious to appreciate how solar power
can impact oil consumption. If hybrid automobiles provide higher MPG
ratings, and solar power spins electric meters backwards, I would
anticipate petroleum consumption to be reduced. Don't you agree?

Once again, electricity has little to nothing to do with oil.

Spinning electric meters backwards won't reduce oil consumption.


To the extent solar energy is used to power automobiles, I would
expect it to displace gasoline.



For about 9 months out of the year, peak electric demand occurs at
about 9PM and DST doesn't change that fact.

For about 3 months out of the year, i.e. the hot part, you get two
peaks, one at mid afternoon and another at about 9 PM.

Here's the current demand for California:

http://www.caiso.com/outlook/SystemStatus.html

Here's some historical data:

http://mail.specsol.com/~jimp/caiso.php


Many thanks for that. Indeed it seems that a very significant
proportion of the energy consumed occurs in the evening as you stated.


When the weather starts hitting around 80, the daytime hump picks
up.

When the weather starts hitting the 90's, the hump gets huge and
the blackouts occur.

This is consistant for all power producers in the first world and not
unique to either California or the United States.

So, how many solar plants can one put up before you have idle plants
for 8 to 9 months out of the year

I see no reason for idle solar generating facilities located in the
Mojave Desert during any part of the year. However, it appears that
SoCal Edison prefers solar generation occur a little closer to where
its needed:


http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/f...7005373r1.html
Southern California Edison Launches Nation's Largest Solar Panel
Installation
03.27.08, 3:02 AM ET
Southern California Edison (SCE) today launched the nation's
largest solar cell installation, a project that will place 250
megawatts of advanced photovoltaic generating technology on 65
million square feet of roofs of Southern California commercial
buildings - enough power to serve approximately 162,000 homes.

"These are the kinds of big ideas we need to meet California's
long-term energy and climate change goals," said Governor
Schwarzenegger. "I urge others to follow in their footsteps. If
commercial buildings statewide partnered with utilities to put
this solar technology on their rooftops, it would set off a huge
wave of renewable energy growth."

"This project will turn two square miles of unused commercial
rooftops into advanced solar generating stations," said John E.
Bryson, Edison International chairman and CEO. "We hope to have
the first solar rooftops in service by August. The sunlight power
will be available to meet our largest challenge - peak load
demands on the hottest days."

SCE's renewable energy project was prompted by recent advances in
solar technology that reduce the cost of installed photovoltaic
gen...

The utility plans to begin installation work immediately on
commercial roofs in Southern California's Inland Empire, San
Bernardino and Riverside counties, the nation's fastest growing
urban region.

"These new solar stations, which we will be installing at a rate
of one megawatt a week, will provide a new source of clean energy,
directly in the fast-growing regions where we need it most," said
Bryson.

SCE sees numerous customer benefits from its new solar program,
among them locating the new generation in areas of growing
customer demand. And the clusters of solar modules SCE plans to
install will be connected directly to the nearest neighborhood
circuit, eliminating the need to build new transmission lines to
bring the power to customers. Additionally, solar units produce
the most power when customer usage is at its highest.


and where do you get power at night?

Wind, geothermal, hydro, and all the conventional sources, I suppose.

And once again, electricity has little to nothing to do with oil.

To the extent it can be made to replace petroleum products, I believe
it does.