3 ms·

This is not true, the figures you and others have provided account for an additional theoretical externality cost on our well being for coal. The nominal price

by ethn 6y ago

This is not true, the figures you and others have provided account for an additional theoretical externality cost on our well being for coal. The nominal price of coal energy in the US is more than half of the cost of solar per kWh (3.2 vs 6.8 cents on average)[1]. It’s even cheaper in third-world countries (and China) due to the cost of labor. [1] https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/the-real-costs-of-u-s-energy/ https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/the-real-costs-of-u-s-ene...

Robotbeat 6y ago
Your source is from 2011. Coal has gotten more expensive and solar much cheaper. In fact, building new, unsubsidized solar power plants is cheaper than operating an existing (and paid for) coal power plant: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/10/23/its-cheaper-to-build-new-solar-than-it-is-to-operate-coal-plants/#:~:text=As%20for%20solar%2C%20new%2C%20unsubsidized,to%20%2423%2FMWh%2C%20respectively https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/10/23/its-cheaper-to-build-.... 2.9-3.8 cents per kWh for unsubsidized solar in the US. Nigeria is closer to the equator and has lower labor costs for installation, so their solar costs will be even cheaper.
- ethn 6y ago
  The Lazard study includes carbon pricing which is exactly what I said: “[All studies] provided account for an additional theoretical externality cost on our well being for coal”. Like every industry in the last decade, coal generators have also become more efficient. I’d be shocked (heh) if solar power becomes more efficient given the Shockley-Quessier limit of PV cells which have a maximum efficiency in the best theoretical case with an infinite stacking of panels of 30%. Large synchronous machines on the other hand, in practice, can have a 95% efficiency. Here’s a study without the “carbon pricing”: https://energy.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/MITEI-WP-2016-01.pdf https://energy.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/MITEI-WP-2... Again coal is much cheaper. I’m sympathetic to your agenda but it’s deceitful and unfair to presume agreement given the unique circumstances theses results affect conclusions. A place like Nigeria has to worry about what’s happening to their people in the next month rather than in the next 50 years, thus they’ll have different trade offs to make.

by ethn 6y ago

Robotbeat 6y ago

Your source is from 2011. Coal has gotten more expensive and solar much cheaper. In fact, building new, unsubsidized solar power plants is cheaper than operating an existing (and paid for) coal power plant: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/10/23/its-cheaper-to-build-new-solar-than-it-is-to-operate-coal-plants/#:~:text=As%20for%20solar%2C%20new%2C%20unsubsidized,to%20%2423%2FMWh%2C%20respectively https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/10/23/its-cheaper-to-build-.... 2.9-3.8 cents per kWh for unsubsidized solar in the US. Nigeria is closer to the equator and has lower labor costs for installation, so their solar costs will be even cheaper.

ethn 6y ago
The Lazard study includes carbon pricing which is exactly what I said: “[All studies] provided account for an additional theoretical externality cost on our well being for coal”. Like every industry in the last decade, coal generators have also become more efficient. I’d be shocked (heh) if solar power becomes more efficient given the Shockley-Quessier limit of PV cells which have a maximum efficiency in the best theoretical case with an infinite stacking of panels of 30%. Large synchronous machines on the other hand, in practice, can have a 95% efficiency. Here’s a study without the “carbon pricing”: https://energy.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/MITEI-WP-2016-01.pdf https://energy.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/MITEI-WP-2... Again coal is much cheaper. I’m sympathetic to your agenda but it’s deceitful and unfair to presume agreement given the unique circumstances theses results affect conclusions. A place like Nigeria has to worry about what’s happening to their people in the next month rather than in the next 50 years, thus they’ll have different trade offs to make.