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It's "mindless" to point out that grid scale energy storage doesn't exist in a discussion about solar + wind + storage being "a compelling alternative to nuclea

It's "mindless" to point out that grid scale energy storage doesn't exist in a discussion about solar + wind + storage being "a compelling alternative to nuclear" which "can be built faster?" GP is making a simple point that these back of the napkin calculations are exactly that; they don't take some factors into account - one being that grid scale energy storage doesn't exist. Where does GP say that "nothing can happen for the first time?" Where in that post is "tendentious and mindless reactionary conservatism?" I don't see any argument at all in GP. That comment is only saying that the calculation relies on technology that doesn't exist. Also, if GP is making an argument with that statement, why is it necessarily that one? Couldn't it be that the argument is that since the time needed to create this technology is either too long or unknown, it may be better to focus or at lest not withdraw from nuclear? If not that argument, why specifically does the argument have to be "nothing can happen for the first time?"

pfdietz 4y ago
It's mindless in that it doesn't actually point out any specific obstacle. It's just "it hasn't been done yet", as if that means that it can't be done. This is especially annoying when large numbers of people have been looking at the issue and have concluded that there is no such obstacle that would prevent it from scaling out. And no, the technologies do exist. There is nothing new that has to be invented. They need to be run down their experience curves, but aside from that maturation everything is there.
pencilguin 4y ago
Grid scale energy storage does, in fact, exist. So your whole argument scheme is bankrupt. Is there as much grid-scale storage now as there will be later? No. There will be lots more, of numerous kinds, in many, many places. They all work.

pfdietz 4y ago

It's mindless in that it doesn't actually point out any specific obstacle. It's just "it hasn't been done yet", as if that means that it can't be done. This is especially annoying when large numbers of people have been looking at the issue and have concluded that there is no such obstacle that would prevent it from scaling out. And no, the technologies do exist. There is nothing new that has to be invented. They need to be run down their experience curves, but aside from that maturation everything is there.

pencilguin 4y ago

Grid scale energy storage does, in fact, exist. So your whole argument scheme is bankrupt. Is there as much grid-scale storage now as there will be later? No. There will be lots more, of numerous kinds, in many, many places. They all work.