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> So you just ask a supercomputer to find the lowest cost solution for 99.99% electrical coverage without using any carbon sources. Sure... but my expectation
by timmg 1y ago
> So you just ask a supercomputer to find the lowest cost solution for 99.99% electrical coverage without using any carbon sources.
Sure... but my expectation is that that 90% solution would include an unreasonable amount of storage (assuming you want most/all renewables). I guess was my point.
> It's quite possible -- over the previous 30 years we've never had an hour where there was no wind & sun anywhere in Europe.
But "some" wind or sun is not enough to support the whole grid.
- bryanlarsen 1y agoI wouldn't assume all or even most renewables. I would assume you'd continue to use existing hydro and nuclear. The nuclear would help a little, but the hydro helps a lot. It's capacity can be saved for times when wind and solar are low. In that scenario 90% is very easy to hit. A couple of hours worth of storage, maybe. > But "some" wind or sun is not enough to support the whole grid. The less there is, the more you have to over build to compensate. Doesn't make it impossible.