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Solar Is Cheapest Electricity in History, U.S. DOE Aims to Cut Costs 60% by 2030

(cleantechnica.com)
131 points mg | 1 comments | 26 Mar 21 20:07 UTC | HN request time: 0.208s | source
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rich_sasha ◴[26 Mar 21 22:13 UTC] No.26597628[source]▶
If solar were free, but we still needed to pay for battery storage, how would it then compare in cost to fuel-based alternatives (fossil fuel, nuclear etc)?
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andechs ◴[26 Mar 21 22:27 UTC] No.26597763[source]▶
Not all battery storage needs to be electrochemical - hydroelectric dams work amazingly as pumped storage batteries (although site specific).
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amelius ◴[26 Mar 21 22:32 UTC] No.26597811[source]▶
What is the typical efficiency of a charge-discharge cycle?
replies(1): >>26597861 #
vkou ◴[26 Mar 21 22:38 UTC] No.26597861[source]▶
It's relatively high, the problem is that building new dams is an environmental disaster, and existing dams are two orders of magnitude below needed capacity.

Also, hydro dams kill a lot of people when they have accidents.

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1. pfdietz ◴[27 Mar 21 00:31 UTC] No.26598623[source]▶
Building new dams is problematic only if they are built on rivers. But pumped hydro doesn't have to be on rivers.