Electric Cars Aid Solar Power Stability in Tropical Cities During Thunderstorms
In tropical cities, afternoon thunderstorms can disrupt solar energy generation, leading to brief power outages. Markus Schläpfer, a civil engineer at Columbia Engineering, has proposed a solution to this challenge by utilizing electric vehicles (EVs) as temporary energy sources. When thunderstorms reduce solar power output, parked EVs can discharge stored battery power to stabilize the grid. This approach minimizes the need for costly infrastructure upgrades, such as new transmission lines, which are particularly expensive in dense urban areas like Singapore. Schläpfer's research, published in Nature Communications, highlights the potential of EVs to support solar energy systems, even in cities with low car ownership. By managing EV charging and discharging at the neighborhood level, cities can reduce grid stress and improve power reliability during solar shortfalls. 
