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I wholly agree that, where feasible, wind and other renewable energy sources can and should be employed in preference to non-renewable sources. That said, as fa
by cgranade 17y ago
I wholly agree that, where feasible, wind and other renewable energy sources can and should be employed in preference to non-renewable sources. That said, as far as I understand, there are cases where such renewable energy sources are not feasible solutions, and in those cases, I think that we should prefer nuclear power to coal, diesel or any other fossil fuel power.
- DaniFong 17y agoI can think of only four: naval craft, spacecraft, remote locations (e.g. antarctic) and when you need a neutron flux for some reason. What are the others? (This is intermittent renewables, wind+solar, with inexpensive and efficient energy storage. I agree if you don't have energy storage you're capacity limited.)
- pwhelan 17y agoWell, there are problems with only relying on renewable power sources. Weather patterns change. At a glance, it would make sense to build smart a nuclear grid, then integrate distributed renewable power and storage options as appropriate. That gives the grid excellent redundancy and starts working on the current problems immediately while providing breathing room for the renewables. The nuclear plants could then be used as backups and power government supercomputers when not needed (or something).
- cgranade 17y agoI was actually thinking of cases in which storage is limited, or in places where, for instance, that tend to get less wind. As for the energy storage issue, while storage technology has gotten much, much better, I don't think we're yet where we need to be to completely move over to pure renewable. I admit, though, that I am not an expert in energy storage, so I could be totally off on this. All else aside though, wherever there is a choice between technologies such as coal and technologies such as nuclear energy, I think that the latter needs to be very seriously considered.
- sketerpot 17y agoI'd like to point out that cheap energy storage actually improves the economics of nuclear power, by leveling the power demand, so they can productively produce power all the time, and hopefully replace natural gas for peak power.
- DaniFong 17y agoAbsolutely. However, storage helps intermittent and unpredictable variation more.
- DaniFong 17y agoEnergy storage isn't currently viable economically, but, speaking as the cofounder of a startup in energy storage, soon will be :-p