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There is no way any economy could be 100% solar or 100% anything else. There will always be a need for a mix of energy sources from hydroelectric through solar and wind to a nuclear fission based system with full fuel breeding and recycle. All of these will require large scale energy storage to level the load/generation differences over time. Fortunately such systems already exist and can operate efficiently over a wide range of sizes. This technology is called hydraulic pumped storage and can be build anywhere there is a small amount of water and a difference in elevation.
Only foolish purists would insist on a solar only energy system. Unfortunately there are way too many of them around.
There is no way any economy could be 100% solar or 100% anything else. There will always be a need for a mix of energy sources from hydroelectric through solar and wind to a nuclear fission based system with full fuel breeding and recycle. All of these will require large scale energy storage to level the load/generation differences over time. Fortunately such systems already exist and can operate efficiently over a wide range of sizes. This technology is called hydraulic pumped storage and can be build anywhere there is a small amount of water and a difference in elevation.
Only foolish purists would insist on a solar only energy system. Unfortunately there are way too many of them around.
There are very few site that are appropriate for pumped storage.
How much solar energy is hitting the earth is irrelevant if you can't acquire and store than energy for practical use.
Dunno if you know anyone with Grid Tied Solar? Many locales use something called Net Metering.
That allows folks that produce "surplus" Solar to sort of "store" or bank Energy on the Grid as their meter turns backwards during the day, and then they can use power for some small loads overnight -- such as maybe refrigerators, nightlights, etc.
It is really more of a Time of Use Balance. Electricity is in Higher Demand during the day (when most folks are awake, and when Solar Produces), and is Very Surplus Overnight -- when most folks are asleep and the only Generations Plants running are the Olde Skool Nukes and Coal -- neither of which tend to ramp up or down very well.
The shift to daytime demand and less overnight is even going more-so with the advent of LED and High Efficiency Small Tube Florescent.
So riddle me this? IF Electricity is valuable during the Day -- when Solar tends to make Electricity, and Cheap, Surplus (and even "Free" in some areas) during the Night . . . WHY IN THE WORLD would you want to take the production from the Day (when it is Salable and Valuable) to "store" it and use it during the Night -- when it is not only not needed, but is worthless?
Really, WHY would you do that?
Electricity really is so surplus in some areas it has a Negative worth overnight. Some Wind operations make so much Surplus overnight, they have to pay the Grid Operators to take it.
So other than losing around 20% or more of the Energy in the Storage Process, (and paying more for the Storage System than the Solar Equipment, itself) . . . . what would be the benefit of Storing it?
Yunno taking this a bit further -- It was tied things to a Very Major -- or for even Many -- a SOLE Source -- like the Internal Combustion Engine -- that brought about the "Energy Crisis" to start with.
Diversity of Sources and Methods tends to be a Good Thing.
Now it's not 100% solar and you need too purchase two systems.
Some folks do Net Metering and get 110% Solar (make more than they use) . . . .
Is this some Purity Test? Even Henry Ford used horses to build his first cars.
Real world works on "Successive Approximation."
Same way bracketing fire from Artillery works, if you are familiar?
You get close, then adjust closer, until you hit what you want.
You do not have to hit the target perfect to start with.
If it were an 80 year build out -- all the existing plants would be replaced two times over in that time span.
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And what in the World are you talking about "purchasing two systems?" The existing system -- Coal / Nuke / Natural Gas fired Grid -- that one already exists, and most of US are already on it.
You get close, then adjust closer, until you hit what you want.
How do you hit your target of peak demand in the winter long after the sun has gone down?
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