Intermittency of solar energy

What is intermittency of solar energy?

It is well recognized internationally that the intermittency of solar energy is a fundamental technical/economic barrier which limits the penetration level of solar power in the energy supply.

Does aggregation affect the intermittency of solar power generation?

The aim of this article is to address the fundamental scientific question on how the intermittency of solar power generation is affected by aggregation, which is of great interest in the wider power and energy community and would have profound impacts on the solar energy integration into the energy supply and Net-Zero Implementation.

Why does solar power show an intermittency in timescale?

Solar power will therefore show an intermittency in timescale of hours up to months due to these diurnal and seasonal cycles, adversely affecting the stability and reliability of power grids 7.

Do solar facilities produce electricity intermittently?

Solar facilities produce electricity intermittently, with by far the highest production levels during clear, sunny periods. The intermittency from solar energy increases the variance of the energy supply.

What defines the intermittency of renewables?

While these peak production periods provide a large share of energy, the sometimes unpredictable lulls are what define the intermittency of renewables. This intermittency is contrasted by the constant power output that can be generated by fossil fuel-based power plants using coal or natural gas, this has often been referred to as base-load energy.

Why do utilities worry about solar intermittency?

literature.31 This may be in part because other studies have not fully endogenized policies in response to renewable energy mandates. Relatedly, utilities often express concern over the high cost of intermittency with large-scale solar.