3 ms·
Its not that I lean right but the real bitch is "ENERGY DENSITY" and Geographic specificity of Wind and Solar. Also a little understanding about the grid, dyna
by sremani 6y ago
Its not that I lean right but the real bitch is "ENERGY DENSITY" and Geographic specificity of Wind and Solar.
Also a little understanding about the grid, dynamic generation and duck curve convinced me that we need predictable generation. I am not for FOSSIL FUELS, its just that Nuclear and ONG are the real choices. Solar in American South West and Wind at the foot of Rockies and Southern Plains make general sense, but the usually they are far away from Cities.
Long story short - there may be lobbyists running around doing naughty stuff, the general bigger problems are Physics, Geography and "existing" technology - Battery Storage.
- WarOnPrivacy 6y agoTen to fifteen years ago, I felt we were, at best, 100 years from minimal fossil fuel use. Today, I think it's 40 years. Note: I'm specifically picking on fossil fuels because I'm still holding out hope for safer, smaller-scale nuclear tech. I can't tell how realistic that is tho. Regarding your observations: They seem to indicate (or at least allow) that there's low-hanging fruit, that we ought to be grabbing now.
- sremani 6y agoGen4 Nuclear and possible Fusion reactors will power the world. Sodium Batteries or some other breakthrough will be need Li will not do on Battery front. Solar and Wind will have limited impact. Disposing Solar panels and Wind mills after their useful life is going to be its own TOXIC Waste problem. Solar in space is an interesting idea too.
- ghouse 6y agoWind and solar are both very predictable on a day-ahead basis. Though both offer a lower capacity value than fuel-based generation and energy storage (pumped hydro and batteries). The Duck Curve convinced me of something different -- that flat-rate power prices don't send the appropriate price signal to the market. Supply and demand should be balanced through price signals like most everything else in the economy. And then let the free market figure it out.
- sremani 6y agoIs it fair assumption that Pumped hyrdo needs a mountain or high elevation in the vicinity of the city ? US has one pumped hyrdo, if I am not wrong.
- ghouse 6y agoYes, it does require a change in elevation. The US has many pumped hydro systems. Wikipedia lists ten in the US that are larger than 1,000 MW. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pumped-storage_hydroelectric_power_stations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pumped-storage_hydroel...
- ourlordcaffeine 6y agoUS has many. Even the UK has three