Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
[SNIP observations about wind farms]
You're right, though; you cannot use wind and solar power for base load power generation (although you can use geothermal power in some part of the world - eg Iceland generates most of its power that way). Nuclear stations really are the only "green" alternative to coal.
|
HarryT -- I think you are speaking a general truth. But the statement appears to be a bit
too general. Might it not be more accurate to say something like:
Wind and solar power aren't a good match for base load power generation on their own, because they do not provide constant power 24/7. With the addition of some form of energy storage they could, in theory, be used for base load power generation. In practice, adding the energy storage component (usually) increases costs so much that it makes wind and solar prohibitively expensive for base load usage. Nuclear stations really are the only "green" alternative to coal. All statements made considering current and near-future technologies.
...or something like that. Right?
Or have I misunderstood again?
I'll add, from my own understanding, that current energy storage techniques decrease energy efficiency as well as adding financial cost. This, too, makes wind and solar less attractive for base load generation. Not fun to realize that you're losing 50% or more of the generated power to the storage setup!
Xenophon