Talks to Watch

The 'duck curve' is solar energy's greatest challenge

2.7M views · May 9, 2018 · 3:58 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2018–2019

A short Vox explainer on the duck curve, the shape electricity demand takes in California as solar output grows. It explains why grid operators struggle to balance supply and demand with lots of solar.

Why Hacker News points people here: Cited as a quick explainer in threads about rooftop solar, renewables, and grid load.

What Hacker News said 3

Cites itEndamaMay 2018

Explainer on the duck curve from renewables.

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VOX just released a video on the "Duck Curve" phenomenon that arises as a result of renewables[1]. Does anyone here have any insight on what the state is trying to do to mitigate negative downstream affects of the duck curve? [1] this video

in “California Votes to Require Rooftop Solar Power on New Homes” · view on HN
Cites itcasefieldsJun 2018
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That's because solar usage has created a "duck curve" I would imagine it would be even more unfair to make normal energy users pay for that: this video

in “California approves $768M for electric vehicles” · view on HN
Cites itskwbMay 2019
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It's not so much that they can wind down the energy they make, it's the fact that they cannot store energy for when there's increased demand. this video

in “Prevented mortality from historical and projected nuclear power (2013)” · view on HN