3 ms·
We are approaching the prices where storage is almost as cheap as nuclear power. More importantly, we don't need to worry about storage now. Gas peaker plants
by ianburrell 4y ago
We are approaching the prices where storage is almost as cheap as nuclear power.
More importantly, we don't need to worry about storage now. Gas peaker plants will work until we get rid of all the other fossil fuel power plants. Then, storage should be cheaper since will know how to scale it. There is difference between short-term and long-term storage.
Finally, one solution to storage problem is build more supply. Three times will cover nearly every situation, and we will need extra power for doing hydrogen, carbon removal, and fuel generation. It is possible we won't need long-term storage and can use hydrogen or fuel.
- rayiner 4y agoOkay but what’s the amortized cost of building triple the supply? The chart you linked to only talks about marginal cost.
- ianburrell 4y agoI don’t think amortized cost matters. The research and development has been done or is included in the unit cost. Renewables have better unit economics than nuclear since fixed costs are spread over many, many more units. It sounds like better reactors need lots of research. More important is time, it takes ten years to build reactor while can order solar panels now. Probably can build a new solar panel plant and multiple solar installations in decade. There does need to be economic incentive to over build. Someone, probably the government, will need to pay for carbon capture. May need to encourage hard-to-electrify industries to switch. But we have a while until that happens.