Something unexpected happened in England last weekend. For the first time ever, National Grid, the countries primary utility company, reported that the demanded for electricity for homes and businesses was lower last Saturday afternoon than it was that night. That was because the power available from solar panels was so high, thanks to a beautifully sunny Spring day. Let’s be clear. National Grid isn’t saying the citizens of the British Isles used less electricity that day. What they are saying it that supply from solar was so high that there was less need for electricity from fossil fuel or nuclear power plants. It sees the solar power generated on the distribution networks — the parts of the grid that benefit from the input of localized solar power — as reduced electricity demand. National Grid called what happened a “huge milestone”. The sunshine meant that solar power produced six times more electricity than the country’s coal fired power stations on Saturday.
Renew Economy 11th April 2017 read more »