3 ms·
Not really accurate. $30/barrel is $0.017/kWh in terms of THERMAL energy, but that’s high entropy whereas wind energy is low entropy (electricity). To get that
by Robotbeat 5y ago
Not really accurate. $30/barrel is $0.017/kWh in terms of THERMAL energy, but that’s high entropy whereas wind energy is low entropy (electricity). To get that oil’s thermal energy into low entropy energy, you need to burn it and run some sort of heat engine, which throws about half to two-thirds of the energy away, so in low-entropy equivalent (ie electrical or mechanical energy), that oil costs $0.034-0.051/kWh.
Not only that, but some solar farms have costs as low as $0.016-$0.018/kWh before subsidies: https://www.pv-tech.org/bids-of-us0-0162-kwh-emerge-as-saudi-arabia-shortlists-firms-for-1-47gw-sol/ https://www.pv-tech.org/bids-of-us0-0162-kwh-emerge-as-saudi...
- tinco 5y agoAlright, so under some conditions the worst price for oil is competitive with the best price for solar. I know it's important to correct me, and obviously I should've expanded on the fact that it's thermal energy to make it more fair, but nit picking on my argument doesn't change the story. Apparently Saudi Arabia can get oil at $5/barrel, so that's a factor 6 we're still off by. I fully agree, if it can be done in Saudi Arabia, it can probably also be done in Death Valley or some other nice sunny area reasonably close to a large population, and it will help a lot. I just fear that regardless of what we or anyone wants to pay, Saudi Arabia is still going to be wanting to sell it as long as it's over $5/barrel.
- Robotbeat 5y agoThe regime that makes $5/barrel costs feasible is not politically stable at $5/barrel. The real social minimum acceptable price for oil in Saudi Arabia is MUCH higher than $5/barrel.