I mentioned in my last blog that one of fhe important concerns with renewables such as wind and solar is that in most parts of the world the existing electric power grid was designed for conventional energy sources. Power is consumed immediately when it is generated. Frequency regulation is what keeps demand and generation in sync. Conventional energy sources such as coal and oil fired plants generate power on demand, whereas wind and solar sources generate power when the sun shines and the wind blows, not necessarily when consumers require them. These types of power sources require a different type of power grid, typically with storage capability and a significant build out of transmission capacity.
There’s a fascinating article that outlines how batteries in electric vehicles could become a buffer between supply and demand. Google is testing an algorithm for smart charging car batteries for frequency regulation on a fleet of eight converted plug-in hybrid Priuses. Also apparently the Chevy Volt will have smart charging built into it when it is released next year.
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