3 ms·
If you only look at LCOE and ignore backup, transmission, recycling at scale, etc then sure!
by acidburnNSA 4y ago
If you only look at LCOE and ignore backup, transmission, recycling at scale, etc then sure!
- Retric 4y agoLCOE is vastly lower for battery backed solar, that’s why it’s so cheap. You also don’t need backup with batteries that’s the entire point. Individual nuclear power plants are single points of failure and go offline randomly. Nuclear needs redundancy to ensure a stable grid which further increases its costs. Transmission is again worse for nuclear because it’s so centralized. With solar you can locate it much closer to end users which cuts down on annual transmission losses.
- acidburnNSA 4y agoI live in Seattle and promise you that solar plus batteries is not cheaper. The single point of failure argunent doesn't make any sense when you're attached to a regional electricity grid with hundreds of generators on it.
- Retric 4y agoSeattle is an extremely unusual location being both far north and very rainy. But that much rain provides plenty of hydropower which completely changes the equation.