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> wind isn't capable of base load supply. I'm sorry, but really: Citation required on that claim. There's plenty of counter positions[1][2][3] which say that

> wind isn't capable of base load supply. I'm sorry, but really: Citation required on that claim. There's plenty of counter positions[1][2][3] which say that if you assume 'base load' is a genuine thing, that renewables, including wind, are capable of meeting all our power generation needs - through a mix of energy sources, and also energy storage. [1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-10-12/renewable-energy-baseload-power/9033336 https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-10-12/renewable-ene... [2] https://theconversation.com/renewable-energy-can-provide-baseload-power-heres-how-2221 https://theconversation.com/renewable-energy-can-provide-bas... [3] https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/baseload-energy-generation-expose-myth/ https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/baseload-ene...

hntrader 6y ago
> and also energy storage. Precisely, that's my point. The costings of the OP ignore that part.
bryanlarsen 6y ago
Base load generation is unnecessary, the only type of power that's needed is dispatchable or peak power. If you can meet demand at peak, you can meet demand in the trough too. All other power types are added to the grid to increase affordability, reliability or green credentials. Neither wind nor nuclear are suitable to use for peak power.
- mzmoen 6y ago
  This assumes that you're power generation always matches demand through time. If you had a sudden spike at night that you don't usually have (like in Texas where people kicked on their heat unexpectedly) and you were using solar, the mismatch would exist and you wouldn't be able to meet the load.
  - bryanlarsen 6y ago
    Exactly. You need natgas peakers (that aren't frozen) or charged batteries to deal with this. Nuclear, wind and solar are all unsuitable for this situation.
    - pfdietz 6y ago
      Or turbines burning hydrogen.
    - hntrader 6y ago
      What do you think of the claims of user "corty" elsewhere in this thread, who seems to say that nuclear isn't unsuitable for this situation?
      - bryanlarsen 6y ago
        The primary problem with nuclear is the fact that it's insanely expensive. If you're not running it flat out 24/7, then the cost per MWh goes up dramatically.
        paranoidrobot 6y ago
        Of all the other energy sources, it's the only one where we have to put serious consideration into warning people not to dig up the waste, and how to keep them from doing it thousands of years from now.

hntrader 6y ago

> and also energy storage. Precisely, that's my point. The costings of the OP ignore that part.

bryanlarsen 6y ago

Base load generation is unnecessary, the only type of power that's needed is dispatchable or peak power. If you can meet demand at peak, you can meet demand in the trough too. All other power types are added to the grid to increase affordability, reliability or green credentials. Neither wind nor nuclear are suitable to use for peak power.

mzmoen 6y ago
This assumes that you're power generation always matches demand through time. If you had a sudden spike at night that you don't usually have (like in Texas where people kicked on their heat unexpectedly) and you were using solar, the mismatch would exist and you wouldn't be able to meet the load.
- bryanlarsen 6y ago
  Exactly. You need natgas peakers (that aren't frozen) or charged batteries to deal with this. Nuclear, wind and solar are all unsuitable for this situation.
  - pfdietz 6y ago
    Or turbines burning hydrogen.
  - hntrader 6y ago
    What do you think of the claims of user "corty" elsewhere in this thread, who seems to say that nuclear isn't unsuitable for this situation?
    - bryanlarsen 6y ago
      The primary problem with nuclear is the fact that it's insanely expensive. If you're not running it flat out 24/7, then the cost per MWh goes up dramatically.
      - paranoidrobot 6y ago
        Of all the other energy sources, it's the only one where we have to put serious consideration into warning people not to dig up the waste, and how to keep them from doing it thousands of years from now.