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> unreliable Few appreciate the “brick wall” facing variability in green energy: if the battery depletes, power flow stops. Batteries cost the same to cover w
by ctdonath 5y ago
> unreliable
Few appreciate the “brick wall” facing variability in green energy: if the battery depletes, power flow stops.
Batteries cost the same to cover whatever multiple of standard deviation prepared for. “Hundred year calm/clouds” need be prepared for - there’s no discount on installing that battery backup, very costly for a rare event (still often enough to need coverage).
When the batteries deplete, system halts until nature decides to provide enough again. FF reserves can tide over, nuclear will glow on; green varies by hour where outages can last weeks.
I run my office on solar every summer. Battery depletion is a very real, common, and costly issue.
- cesarb 5y ago> “Hundred year calm/clouds” need be prepared for Once you're preparing for events that rare, you have to first prepare for more common events, like failures in the power transmission infrastructure (the latest widespread one in my country, for instance, was only 11 years ago). And a lot of the preparation for these more common events (for instance, backup generators) would also help with these more rare events.
- pfdietz 5y agoSimple cycle gas turbine + generator is $500/kW. A nuclear power plant is $10,000/kW. Back up the entire grid with turbines burning hydrogen or other renewable fuel and you're good, and it's still cheaper than using nuclear.