3 ms·
Nuclear reactors don't make sense as peaker plants, hence are not a battery replacement as such. You're correct that one should factor in the cost of storage i
by cygx 6y ago
Nuclear reactors don't make sense as peaker plants, hence are not a battery replacement as such.
You're correct that one should factor in the cost of storage if one wants to considers renewables as an alternative to nuclear for providing base load power.
- hntrader 6y agoThanks. Any ideas how storage impacts the total cost of using only solar+wind?
- rhodozelia 6y agoGranted, I’ve never worked on a natural gas fired turbine, but I imagine every generator given the option would prefer to run consistentently at maximum output as that is how they would get the maximum ROI. Hydro plants can adjust output but it changes river levels and flows with environmental consequences. I imagine nuclear plants could use control rods to generate less power if they had to? Or if you have the nuclear power because you need it anyway in case it isn’t sunny/windy but it is a sunny and windy day how do you decide if solar/wind or nuclear should be curtailed? Both have near zero marginal cost.