3 ms·
Well put. Parent is correct that it "all counts," but that doesn't mean it all resolves to the same thing over the long term. For example, one of solar's key
by dalbasal 5y ago
Well put.
Parent is correct that it "all counts," but that doesn't mean it all resolves to the same thing over the long term.
For example, one of solar's key strength is the improvement curve that its on. Carbon, energy and dollar costs are improving. So in a sense, every Kw produced now reduces the costs of Kw produced in the future. Its valid an important to think of lifecycle costs currently, it's also not a full picture.
- ZeroGravitas 5y agoI believe most decent life cycle analyses these days will include a prediction of carbon intensity of electricity used in the future as one more thing to help compare costs/benefits now vs the future. As an example burning trash for power gets relatively worse as other energy sources become carbon free, while recycling gets relatively better as the energy required becomes lower carbon and/or cost.
- dalbasal 5y agoPossibly, though there isn't really a standard way of doing so. I doubt that any such analysis accounts (nor should it) for technological curves yielded by investing in one technology or another. There are limits to any one calculation.