1 upvotes, 2 direct replies (showing 2)
View submission: Ask Anything Wednesday - Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science
For solar panels connected to the grid, there are significant issues with overproduction making the grid unstable when it's a large proportion of the power, why is this not an issue for the Lunar / Martian rovers, etc.?
Comment by tejoka at 25/07/2024 at 16:39 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
overproduction making the grid unstable
What does this mean?
I think if you try to answer that question, you'll eventually be lead to terms like "grid following" versus "grid forming". And searching for a good explanation of those terms will probably be your answer: the Mars rover can't have issues maintaining an exact 60 Hz alternating current, if it doesn't even use alternating current.
Comment by Even-Rhubarb6168 at 25/07/2024 at 11:54 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Those rovers don't run directly from their solar panels. They run on batteries that get recharged by the solar panels. A similar setup will have to be produced at grid scale to continue scaling up solar, although the grid's scale and diversity of power sources provide some more flexible options.
This problem is generally referred to as "the duck curve", should you be interested in reading more about it.