Any thoughts and/or comments on the issue of "net metering"

[Germinator]

Fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil, and natural gas) form from the ancient remains of plants and animals, transformed over millions of years by heat and pressure. Modern civilization, as we know it, is fundamentally dependent on these non-renewable energy sources. The remarkable advancements and conveniences we enjoy, from global communication to advanced medical technology, all require massive amounts of energy. Without it, humanity would face a significantly diminished existence, a stark contrast illustrated by the nighttime satellite imagery of the Korean Peninsula, where the stark difference between the illuminated South and the darkened North vividly demonstrates the impact of energy access.

IMHO, it's crucial that humanity recognizes the limited window of opportunity we have to transition to sustainable energy sources (which is widely accessible to the vast majority of people).





Failure to do so risks plunging us into a 'permanent dark world,' where progress stagnates and the quality of life deteriorates.

Any thoughts and/or comments???

 

[longview]

Fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil, and natural gas) form from the ancient remains of plants and animals, transformed over millions of years by heat and pressure. Modern civilization, as we know it, is fundamentally dependent on these non-renewable energy sources. The remarkable advancements and conveniences we enjoy, from global communication to advanced medical technology, all require massive amounts of energy. Without it, humanity would face a significantly diminished existence, a stark contrast illustrated by the nighttime satellite imagery of the Korean Peninsula, where the stark difference between the illuminated South and the darkened North vividly demonstrates the impact of energy access.



IMHO, it's crucial that humanity recognizes the limited window of opportunity we have to transition to sustainable energy sources (which is widely accessible to the vast majority of people).





Failure to do so risks plunging us into a 'permanent dark world,' where progress stagnates and the quality of life deteriorates.



Any thoughts and/or comments???

We first have to define the boundaries of net metering, in the traditional since where the homeowner is given a 1:1 retail value credit for each
unit of surplus generation, that is completely unsustainable.
There needs to be some incentive to attach to the grid, but it cannot be so high as to destroy the grid operators ability to be commercially
viable. California keeps reducing the credit value, but the reality is that a unit of non dispatchable electricity has slightly
less value than the wholesale price of electricity.
The penalty for not doing it right, is that the grid owners will just not participate. Here in Texas that is what some of the electricity
providers do. The have to let you attach to their private property(The Grid), but they do not have to give you ANYTHING for electricity
you put into the grid, it is called grid assist, i.e. the grid sells you electricity when your own system is not producing enough.
If your system produces surplus, they get it for free.
This path would lead to people installing minimal installations.

Where I see all this going is that the oil refineries will become the buyers of surplus electricity, with the price paid negotiated
with the contract, and the value received may be a fuel credit instead of a dollar amount.
The refineries via the Power to Liquid process, would create transport fuels from atmospheric CO2, Water, and electricity.
The carbon neutral fuels would then be sold through the existing distribution system.
The net effect is that the surplus electricity would be stored as transport fuels.
The process can also make natural gas (CH4), so that natural gas power stations can generate grid electricity
during periods of peak demand or low Solar output.
What would allow this to work is the shelve life of the fuels, hydrocarbon energy storage would allow
Spring and Fall Surpluses to be moved in time to Summer and Winter demand.
and also provide transport fuels.