this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2024
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[–] olafurp@lemmy.world 94 points 4 months ago (33 children)

There are downsides to nuclear these days. Incredibly high cost with a massive delay before they're functioning. Solar + wind + pumped hydro + district heating is where it's at in 2024.

[–] ByteJunk@lemmy.world 43 points 4 months ago (21 children)

This.

Also, tie together more countries' power grids to even out production and demand of renewables, and reduce the need for other backup sources.

For a fraction of the cost of nuclear, increase the storage capacity as well. We've had days where the price per MWh was negative in many hours, because of excess production.

The barriers to carbon free energy aren't technical, they're purely political.

[–] olafurp@lemmy.world 23 points 4 months ago (17 children)

Yeah, back in 2010 and before nuclear was the way to go but with the incredible advancements in solar and wind it's no longer the best option.

Still shame on Germany for decommissioning nuclear reactors and deciding to build Nordstream 2 and burn coal as a replacement.

[–] cqst@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 months ago (3 children)

with the incredible advancements in solar and wind it’s no longer the best option.

I haven't heard of any advancement that makes solar generate energy when the sun doesn't shine and wind generate energy when the wind isn't blowing.

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago (3 children)

The wind is always blowing somewhere and overproduction is cheaper than batteries

[–] cqst@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

You can't overproduce electricity. You have to match the load.

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I know. There are many solutions to this

[–] fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 months ago (2 children)

No, there is pumped storage. Honestly, despite the plethora of start-ups claiming to have a solution (sodium batteries, molten-salt, etc) The only really proven way to store electricity for later is pumped storage, but that relies on geography (hills) which not everyone has. Batteries are great for phones, and cars but they simply don't scale to countries.

[–] derGottesknecht@feddit.de 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

California is doing pretty good with their battery storage. And if all the electric car batteries get old we can use them as stationary grid storage.

[–] fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

That is actually very impressive. Thanks! I remain a bit skeptical as its only 1/5th of what they need and it's only one region of one (rich) country. Still, 10GW of lithium battery would be one hell of a fire ;-)

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

South Australia implemented a 100mw battery for their power system in 2016

[–] steuls@sh.itjust.works 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Overproduction is how you get blackouts from damaging the grid

[–] uis@lemm.ee 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Lol, just dump energy into resistors. Or desync two generators.

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Or convert excess to hydrogen and provide resilience, or have arrangements for industry to consume the excess. Or ramp down your generation at those times. Or shift excess to neighbouring grids.

[–] fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com -1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

This is wrong. Right now, europe is experiencing high pressure and doesn't have any wind. Check this out its map that shows you how much wind is being produced right now! Can you provide a source that says " the wind is always blowing somewhere" or is it just a platitude?

[–] PeriodicallyPedantic@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 months ago

You haven't heard of any advancements in energy storage at all?

Not that we need them, the best energy storage is old AF and excellent

[–] oo1@lemmings.world 4 points 4 months ago

it has got cheaper, but it has to get cheap enough that you can buy enough batteries with the difference. I'm not sure it has become that cheap. Maybe these sodium battery things will get developed.

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