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> solar is now by far the cheapest backup power If you're prepared to deal with it's unreliability (when the sun is not shining), then it's by far the cheapest
by nicoburns 2y ago
> solar is now by far the cheapest backup power
If you're prepared to deal with it's unreliability (when the sun is not shining), then it's by far the cheapest power full stop. In countries with unreliable grids that looks a lot more attractive. Especially as in many of those countries it is reliably sunny.
- epistasis 2y agoEven the cost of battery storage is getting ridiculously cheap, too. Small off-grid installations, even in the US, can be had for $200/kWh capacity, with lifetimes > 3000 cycles. So lets say <$0.07/kWh for storing it. That's about the average cost of transmission & distribution for a kWh across the US.
- chgs 2y agoThe sun comes up every day. If it doesn’t we’ve got bigger problems.
- silvestrov 2y agoBritain and Svalbard would like a word with you.
- chgs 2y agoSure above/below 66 degrees. That’s are edge cases. I can assure you the sun comes up every day in Britain.
- nicoburns 2y agoIt comes up every day, but it also goes down every night. Of course you can solve this with storage, but then the solution is no longer the cheapest available energy source (yet).