WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS UPON GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES?
Integration of solar technology really is in the interest of utilities. For example, by installing Solar Combustion Air on residential homes, it will help conserve natural gas. While conventional wisdom would say the gas utilities are opposed to solar, in reality solar integration helps “load level management”. In effect, in the winter when natural gas pressure is low, it helps to replace some natural gas with solar. Thus, the line pressure remains high. The problem is not so much a “geologic” shortage of natural gas, as it is more of a lack of “pipe diameter” of pipe. You can only pipe so much gas through a pipeline at once. By integrating solar collectors, and other conserving technology, it helps natural gas utilities to maintain line pressure in even the coldest of winters. It also allows new land developments to build a gas utility for lower cost, since not as large of pipe diameter is required. OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT SOLAR?
