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And what does Germany use when there is no wind? Wind can not provide the base load in absence of large-scale storage which Germany does not have. The answer to

And what does Germany use when there is no wind? Wind can not provide the base load in absence of large-scale storage which Germany does not have. The answer to my question is in the one you replied to: nuclear, natural gas and coal plus some hydro limited by transfer capacity.

pfdietz 4y ago
Right now, they back it up with gas. They could at this point profitably add even more renewables, to cut down on gas consumption, as they are burning more gas than needed for that backup. Ultimately, they add batteries (or other short term storage) as well as hydrogen for ultimate backup. With recent natural gas prices there, green hydrogen would be cheaper to burn.
- the_third_wave 4y ago
  We are talking about what is happening at this moment, not about a possible future direction. Germany needs power now, this winter. Batteries can be used as peak buffers, their capacity is measured in hours. So-called "green" hydrogen has not really made it off the drawing boards yet so it remains to be seen whether this can be a real solution. Most natural gas infrastructure - storage as well as transport - is not directly useable for hydrogen but parts of it can be adapted. As of now this is mostly a pipe dream so Germany has to rely on the mentioned sources for their base load: coal, natural gas and nuclear - imported as well as generated locally.
  - pfdietz 4y ago
    Really? We're talking about right now? Then why were you talking about nuclear? This short term argument has nothing to do with building new nuclear power plants.
    - the_third_wave 4y ago
      > This short term argument has nothing to do with building new nuclear power plants. Yes, really. It will be winter in a few months so, really. Start by re-opening the ones closed by the "green" politicos, where possible. Some of them will be too far gone but others can be re-opened.

pfdietz 4y ago

Right now, they back it up with gas. They could at this point profitably add even more renewables, to cut down on gas consumption, as they are burning more gas than needed for that backup. Ultimately, they add batteries (or other short term storage) as well as hydrogen for ultimate backup. With recent natural gas prices there, green hydrogen would be cheaper to burn.

the_third_wave 4y ago
We are talking about what is happening at this moment, not about a possible future direction. Germany needs power now, this winter. Batteries can be used as peak buffers, their capacity is measured in hours. So-called "green" hydrogen has not really made it off the drawing boards yet so it remains to be seen whether this can be a real solution. Most natural gas infrastructure - storage as well as transport - is not directly useable for hydrogen but parts of it can be adapted. As of now this is mostly a pipe dream so Germany has to rely on the mentioned sources for their base load: coal, natural gas and nuclear - imported as well as generated locally.
- pfdietz 4y ago
  Really? We're talking about right now? Then why were you talking about nuclear? This short term argument has nothing to do with building new nuclear power plants.
  - the_third_wave 4y ago
    > This short term argument has nothing to do with building new nuclear power plants. Yes, really. It will be winter in a few months so, really. Start by re-opening the ones closed by the "green" politicos, where possible. Some of them will be too far gone but others can be re-opened.