Research into how Minnesota could reach a 2050 renewables penetration target of 70% has argued that overbuilding solar projects and accepting utility curtailment would be ‘considerably’ cheaper than adding energy storage. He pointed to solar-plus-storage facility being built by Connexus Energy, an electric cooperative based in Ramsey, Minn., that includes a 10 MW solar array and 15 MW, 30 MWh of energy storage. The study argues that the falling costs of solar would allow additional capacity to be added at less cost than co-locating batteries to make use of any surplus generation. In addition, it is possible for utilities in some states to buy back excess electricity from rooftop solar.
Research into how Minnesota could reach a 2050 renewables penetration target of 70% has argued that overbuilding solar projects and accepting utility curtailment would be ‘considerably’ cheaper than adding energy storage. The study argues that the falling costs of solar would allow additional capacity to be added at less cost than co-locating batteries to make use of any surplus generation. In addition, it is possible for utilities in some states to buy back excess electricity from rooftop solar.