For the past 10 days, we've had this odd weather pattern in the Rhine Valley region (Frankfuurt-Wiesbaden)....with almost no wind, and complete cloud cover or fog. So if you were on some solar power collection routine or getting power via wind-generators.....you were screwed (royally).
Today, Focus brought up a article....talking about the lack of power generation in Germany, and having to buy power from Norway/Sweden (at a HEFTY cost).
Yesterday morning (Friday)....in a one-hour period....the nation consumed 65 gigawatt hours of power, while only generating on its own....49 gigawatts of power.
Accusations of power companies cutting production from natural gas/coal-powered plants? Well....there are some accusations.....suggesting they intend to inflate lacking power. Most companies deny the accusation.
All of this chatter leading to public frustration over the cost of power in Germany (the most expensive in Europe)? Yes, and it's right at the election period....where new discussions have started up over bringing back nuke-power (a CDU-CSU agenda item). Five years ago....I would have said nuke-power would never come back....now? I'd wager some type of permission will be given.
3 comments:
Funny you should mention this. I installed a 7.7 kw solar power system with storage battery and (officially) went on the grid in April. During the summer months, I was producing lots of power and was 99% self sufficient. As of today that has dropped to 87% for the year. That really isn't bad. I calculated we will pay nothing this year for electricity and make a small profit. (about 300 Euro). 2 days ago we received a notice from our electrical supplier the tariff will increase from 25 cent to 60 cent per kilowatt hour. More than double. So there goes any profit. Hopefully, we can maintain our current level of solar energy production.
Before Covid, I did a long study over E-cars (demo-drive) and the solar panel business (went to a show, and reviewed pluses/minuses). No issue with the cars but if you went this route....you absolutely had to do the panels (to make financial sense).
So the weather stuff came up. From my region (April to Oct)....the pure sun days were a plus....rest of the year was crap (this is the Rhine Valley). I looked at adding a small wind-generator in the back-yard (we are on a hill in the valley). Wind numbers are crap for about four months out of the year. Presently with cost and taxation....none of this makes long-term sense. Don't know who to really blame.
Wife also brings up....consumption levels....looking back at 1990s power usage...she actually keeps yearly bills. We probably use about 65-percent of the power we did in 1999. Every bulb in the house is LED. New washer/dryer with low consumption. None of this makes financial sense. I almost get the idea that the gov't wants an end to refrigerators/freezers, and 4-hour black-out per day....to force people to some new reality (live like a North Korean).
I did a ton of calculations on our solar system and came up with, at current prices, the system would pay for its self in 7 years. However, I installed everything my self and hired an electrician to come and check my work and connect to the grid. Fortunately, my garage roof happens to be in a perfect spot for power generation. I love it when a plan comes together.
Post a Comment