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The problem is that wind and solar are only a supplementary to nuclear power at the moment. It won't be able to replace nuclear until we find a better way to st
by barkbro 10y ago
The problem is that wind and solar are only a supplementary to nuclear power at the moment. It won't be able to replace nuclear until we find a better way to store energy.
- davidf18 10y agoBattery technology is improving significantly.
- s_q_b 10y agoYou're right about that. Molten salt storage will even bring it down below the price of natural gas turbines used now. However, even with all the projected improvements and price declines in recent years, solar still will not be enough to serve global energy needs in time to stave off disaster.
- melling 10y agoCan you quantify "significantly"? That's one of those words people throw around to make a point without making a real point. Are we talking 20%, 100%, 300%. And whatever the number, is it sufficient? Also, what's the timeline? A decade?
- davidf18 10y agohttps://evannex.com/blogs/news/18110144-battery-costs-falling-part-1-electric-vehicles https://evannex.com/blogs/news/18110144-battery-costs-fallin... https://evannex.com/blogs/news/34327493-battery-costs-falling-part-2-tesla-motors https://evannex.com/blogs/news/34327493-battery-costs-fallin... "Most recently, Tesla landed a 500MWh grid storage deal with Advanced Microgrid Solutions. And, outside the U.S., others have taken notice. Italy's Enel Green Power SpA announced it will partner with Tesla for 1.5-3MWh battery storage, and, Ireland's Gaelectric Group entered into an agreement with Tesla Motors to build a 1 MW demonstration utility-scale project." [there are hyperlinks in the original paragraph]
- melling 10y agoThat article is over a year old. It sounds like slow progress, which is nice. However, given the timeline, I don't expect electric vehicles to be significant for at least another decade.
- dredmorbius 10y agoWe've got a really good storage medium for energy. Liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons. They can be synthesised, in a carbon-neutral fashion. Other storage methods, including batteries, molten salt (thermal), and CAES are likely to also be used. But there are some things for which bulk liquid fuel still wins. There's over 50 years of research into it. https://www.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/28nqoz/electrical_fuel_synthesis_from_seawater_older/?ref=search_posts https://www.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/28nqoz/electri...
- tomp 10y agoAnd no production prototype?
- dredmorbius 10y agoSmall scale, USNRL, though the lack of anything more does concern me.