4 ms·
Imagine you run an aluminium plant (where you can't have the plant lose power or the metal solidifies and costs you millions). Would you rather be powered by c
by jamez1 9y ago
Imagine you run an aluminium plant (where you can't have the plant lose power or the metal solidifies and costs you millions).
Would you rather be powered by coal or wind?
I should also point out that power prices vary wildly depending on where and when the energy is delivered, the time of day is hugely important.
Electricity isn't stored - it must be consumed as soon as it is created. If you are delivering it at times when nobody uses it, then the only people who can pay you will give you much lower prices. Do you see how little relevance these lower prices are? It doesn't mean that coal is much more expensive, it just means coal commands a higher price because it sells when it has no competition.
- raesene6 9y agoI think the variability of a lot of renewables is why grid-scale energy storage projects are taking off (e.g. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/tesla-south-australia-renewable-energy-worlds-largest-grid-scale-battery-a7828171.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/tesla-south-...). With a decent quantity of storage and good interconnects to shift power from areas of high generation to other areas, it seems possible to balance out some of the issues you're referring to.
- sobani 9y agore aluminum plant: https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/german-firm-turns-aluminum-smelter-into-huge-battery https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/german-firm-tur...