Wind and solar power paired with storage could power grid 99.9 percent of the time

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RSSfeed Registered Users Posts: 3,810 ✭✭
Renewable energy could fully power a large electric grid 99.9 percent of the time by 2030 at costs comparable to today's electricity expenses, according to new research. A well-designed combination of wind power, solar power and storage in batteries and fuel cells would nearly always exceed electricity demands while keeping costs low, scientists found.vD8eoyKIxb0

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  • inetdog
    inetdog Solar Expert Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: Wind and solar power paired with storage could power grid 99.9 percent of the time
    RSSfeed wrote: »
    Renewable energy could fully power a large electric grid 99.9 percent of the time by 2030 at costs comparable to today's electricity expenses, according to new research. A well-designed combination of wind power, solar power and storage in batteries and fuel cells would nearly always exceed electricity demands while keeping costs low, scientists found.vD8eoyKIxb0

    More...

    The "well-designed" qualifier assumes certain breakthroughs in the battery and fuel cell technology that are likely but by no means guaranteed.

    "If well-designed pigs had well-designed wings, they could fly." :-)
    SMA SB 3000, old BP panels.
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    Re: Wind and solar power paired with storage could power grid 99.9 percent of the time

    Yes indeed. :roll:

    That "paired with storage" will get you every time.
    Curiously, the major problem the existing grid electrical generation system faces is storage; the ability to mediate between demand and production.
  • ggunn
    ggunn Solar Expert Posts: 1,973 ✭✭✭
    Re: Wind and solar power paired with storage could power grid 99.9 percent of the time
    Yes indeed. :roll:

    That "paired with storage" will get you every time.
    Yeah. What comes immediately to my mind is the old Steve Martin bit about How To Have A Million Dollars And Never Pay Taxes. First, you get a million dollars... :D
  • inetdog
    inetdog Solar Expert Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: Wind and solar power paired with storage could power grid 99.9 percent of the time
    ggunn wrote: »
    Yeah. What comes immediately to my mind is the old Steve Martin bit about How To Have A Million Dollars And Never Pay Taxes. First, you get a million dollars... :D

    Or even: "In our current economy, the best way to become the CEO a $1M corporation is to start with a $10M corporation."
    SMA SB 3000, old BP panels.
  • ggunn
    ggunn Solar Expert Posts: 1,973 ✭✭✭
    Re: Wind and solar power paired with storage could power grid 99.9 percent of the time
    inetdog wrote: »
    Or even: "In our current economy, the best way to become the CEO a $1M corporation is to start with a $10M corporation."
    I will go you one better. In our economy, the best way to become obscenely rich is to become CEO of a $10M corporation, gut it like a fish to turn it into a $1M corporation, retire with a golden parachute, and move on to the next $10M corporation to do it all over again.