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I'll admit solar and wind are more attractive than I had thought, which makes me somewhat more optimistic. That said, I think this analysis misses two importan
by Aunche 6y ago
I'll admit solar and wind are more attractive than I had thought, which makes me somewhat more optimistic.
That said, I think this analysis misses two important factors when it comes to impoverished countries. Otherwise, you would see more solar there. Developing countries have much lower standards when it comes to building a new power plant, so don't need to pay for sulfur scrubbers. The other factor is that unskilled labor much cheaper there. Solar and wind require much higher-skill labor as there is much more maintenance that needs to be done.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- avmich 6y ago> Solar and wind require much higher-skill labor as there is much more maintenance that needs to be done. Are you sure that the steam turbine (high RPM, balancing, thermal stress to blades, steam conditioning) is easier to maintain than a electric generator or an array of photovoltaics with control circuits?
- throwaway201103 6y agoCoal/steam power generation is old, old tech. China will be happy to build a coal plant in Nigeria and train up the operators.
- Robotbeat 6y agoModern steam turbine plants are not that old, and they require a lot more maintenance. Plus, Nigeria produces hardly any coal, so you'll have to either import coal (requires import terminal and rail plus reliance on foreign coal) or mine more coal (open coal mine infrastructure, rail). Solar just produces electricity and doesn't need a bunch of infrastructure.
- rstuart4133 6y agoMore attractive might be understating it: https://www.abc.net.au/news/12990532 https://www.abc.net.au/news/12990532 > The owners of Australia's newest coal-fired power station have written down the value of the asset to zero, wiping out a $1.2 billion investment in the face of an onslaught of renewable energy. ... The decision was booked in Sumitomo's September accounts, in which the company acknowledged the facility was worthless despite being barely 10 years old.