There is a popular debate now in the area of renewable energy and particularly with wind energy and solar energy around the storage issue and how when demand on the grid is high, stored wind or solar energy should still supply the demand even if it occurs on a calm day late at night.
If renewable energy in California is to become the mandated one-third of the state's electricity supply by 2020, a feasible answer to this question needs to be found.
California has been the pioneer if you like for renewable energy sources but it is not just the problem of California, in previous blogs I've talked about some of the ground breaking work taking place in Germany, this still continues, but many look towards the USA for the breakthroughs and lead in this hotly debated arena.
As with many new technologies manufacturers in the field of wind and solar renewables are suffering with costs of components and the general cost of manufacture. This has seen many small companies fold even before they have managed to gain a foot-hold, this in turn sends negative waves through an industry already struggling to gain acceptance and build public awareness.
The California Energy Commission is aware of these problems and is currently looking to award innovation with sizable grants to ensure the field develops and finds answers to some of the problems hindering the general acceptance and feasibility of a renewable energy portfolio on our grid systems.
What happens between now and 2020 you may ask, one thing, I am sure we are guaranteed a few surprises, but I think we are passed the point of no return and whatever does appear over the horizon in terms of energy storage will become an integral part of our relationship with energy sources and in general our overall power needs.