I just wonder if some/all of the output will be directly grid tied and/or stored in an energy bank.
There is nothing in the story to indicate that batteries (or other storage mechanisms) are part of the project. So, it will be tied directly to either RCID's local grid or Florida's statewide grid.
I imagine Disney will then receive credit for energy produced ...with so much power I wonder what kind of offset that will be.
Disney will benefit by not buying that power from its supplier (or generating it themselves) so the amount of savings depends on the cost to produce those 50MW (ignoring the absolutely accurate proviso that
@jknezek mentions below). The solar generation is displacing the most expensive power at the instant it is produced. That's because a statewide grid dispatches generation in order of efficiency (with a few other factors thrown in) thus the more expensive to run units define the avoided cost that solar generation provides.
An old rule of thumb was 1MW could power 1000 houses. I later learned not all MWs are created equal, some apparently are harder to generate and solar falls in that category, so a MW of solar power supposedly powers between 100 and 300 houses depending on weather, percent of sunshine, and a pile of other factors.
Actually solar MW's are the same as any other MW. The difference is that you're talking name plate ratings as opposed to actual generation.
the upshot is this field could generate more than 1/3 of WDW's average demand, or it could be only about 1/12th depending on the efficiency of the solar generation.
Agree that this is a huge project and will certainly reduce Disney's cost of electricity. Of course the power generated by the solar system isn't free. There is a cost to operate and maintain the system and RCID needs to recover its cost with a reasonable return over some defined life.
I tend to agree in that it will, in some portion, provide peak shavings and help flatten the duck curve. But, I also can see them sizing the system as a larger UPS in the event of fluctuations, etc.
The system doesn't appear to provide any storage ability so its really not able to smooth power fluctuations. Without storage electricity is immediately used when it is produced.
You can find annual reports for the electric (and other utility) systems on Reedy Creek Improvement District's website - the most recent one is for 2015. Based on the figures in the 2015 annual report, peak demand per month in 2015 was averaging around 170-180MW. Hard to say whether that number is higher or lower now, but it should be in the same ballpark. If so, a 50MW solar farm could put a large dent in the amount of power needed from outside electric providers. Based on the same report, RCUC only generates about 20-30% of the electricity used in the district - with the remaining amount of electric power (70-80%) purchased through numerous lease agreements with other power companies in Florida.
RCID decides to run its own generation by comparing the cost of a produced MW to the cost of a purchased MW.
That's where an energy storage system could assist if it is designed/sized as part of this solar farm.
Of course the cost of that energy storage system would have to be included in the calculation.
No doubt, but it sounds like the day time production will be used up very quickly.
Actually, its used instantaneously.
I would love to see them utilize the roofs of their buildings for solar. I get that it's not very efficient and having to reinforce roofs and updating electrical would make this unfeasible at best,
Agree. Reinforcing roofs and making the panels strong enough to withstand hurricane force winds becomes even more important if you start siting them near guests. The proposed solar farm will be placed far away from the parks and don't need similar considerations.
I wouldn’t mind it if my car was parked in the “shade” under some solar panels.
Those solar panels do not levitate. You need to build support structures as
@jknezek correctly states below. Also, those supports are now another hard spot for the random distracted guest to run into with their car.
But they are an added expense to build. The panels themselves are moderately heavy at the scale we are talking, so they aren't just simple brace and build, especially on swamp land. Plus the higher you put them, the more vulnerable they are to hurricane winds, and the harder they can be to maintenance (yes they need maintenance. Bird droppings significantly reduce efficiency, as does just plain old dust, at a minimum they need regular cleaning to maintain efficiency).
Very good points. As noted above, solar power is not free.