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Diesel generators are really dirty and they need to be regularly tested in order to function as backup, which in city cores, nature protected areas or protected
by belorn 2y ago
Diesel generators are really dirty and they need to be regularly tested in order to function as backup, which in city cores, nature protected areas or protected water areas is a major issue.
Batteries are better. They are a bit heavy, carries a fire risk, and can be a bit expensive, but can work depending on situation. I do know however that data centers being built in my country are not using batteries for backup. They want to use diesel generators given costs and capacity, and they also want to use places with clean fresh water for cooling. Thus they ask for environmental protection exemptions so they can use diesel generators.
- adrianN 2y agoNo environmental protection exceptions would be necessary if they just used nuclear instead /s
- belorn 2y agoSmall reactors are already used in environments where the unit is self contained with no environmental impact during operation (passive cooling). The discussion of environmental impact of those units are generally about decommissions once they are removed from the environment where they have been operating. Large generators are not self contained and usually need a lot of water for cooling, and they have waste heat. They are also very large concrete buildings, so environmental considerations are needed there.
- adrianN 2y agoWhere is a small passively cooled reactor used for a job that requires a water cooled diesel?
- locallost 2y agoBatteries carry a fire risk, so let's use a nuclear reactor instead.
- belorn 2y agoUse batteries and ban diesel generators. If places that uses diesel generators find batteries cheaper, safer and better than other alternatives then they should use that. Burning massive amount of diesel in population centers or in nature reserves should be not be an available option. Do you object to that?