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I am trying to figure when solar panels will have a lower LCOE than just a steam turbine alone. At that point even absolutely free fusion would have a hard time
by megaman821 3y ago
I am trying to figure when solar panels will have a lower LCOE than just a steam turbine alone. At that point even absolutely free fusion would have a hard time competing with solar for half the day.
- rgmerk 3y agoI think we’re pretty close to that point already.
- abeppu 3y agoI mean, all the land that will eventually be used for solar has some cost.
- irrational 3y agoThis past spring break we drove through a lot of the back country of Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. There is an unbelievable amount of flat desert land that would be perfect for solar. We drove at highway speeds for hours without seeing anyone or anything else.
- onlyrealcuzzo 3y ago~1% of Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico could power all of the Americas. There's definitely 1% of land there that's almost desolate and lifeless.
- hackeraccount 3y agoIs that the case? I've seen maps of a largely solar powered America and the amount of land used seemed much higher.
- killingtime74 3y agoMany countries have otherwise uninhabitable land. You can always float them as well. Farmers are also able to dual use land for generation and growing
- foota 3y agoPlus batteries plus transmission?
- megaman821 3y agoI was just musing about the economics. Ultra-cheap solar drives steam turbine based competitors to have only about 50% utilization. I am not sure what that will do to the overall market.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- earthling8118 3y agoI don't see this being an issue. The reason I consider fusion important is so that we can have a total production that is several orders of magnitude greater than the current needs. Also for space when too far away from the sun.