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Europe is locking itself in to US LNG

(davekeating.substack.com)
151 points hunglee2 | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.279s | source
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jsnider3 ◴[] No.45262472[source]
Renewables solves this.
replies(5): >>45262574 #>>45262801 #>>45262945 #>>45263362 #>>45265626 #
probablypower ◴[] No.45262574[source]
This is confidently incorrect.

Gas power generation is a necessary evil to balance out the variability of intermittent energy generation (i.e. wind and solar).

Hydropower isn't a feasible alternative because the easy resources have been developed.

The only alternative source of flexibility available today is demand side response.

Edit: I appreciate the down votes, as I've not explained in detail. It is a complex issue. My opinions are based on having a phd in the topic, 10+ years in control rooms, years of market operations and design, and years contributing to europe-wide risk assessment methodologies.

I emplore anyone who is actually interested in how energy mix actually impacts grid stability/reliability to look into the Eirgrid DS3 programme (https://www.eirgrid.ie/ds3-programme-delivering-secure-susta...).

replies(6): >>45262600 #>>45262621 #>>45262624 #>>45262845 #>>45265133 #>>45268364 #
PunchTornado ◴[] No.45262600[source]
Green energy like nuclear
replies(2): >>45262633 #>>45263401 #
euLh7SM5HDFY ◴[] No.45263401[source]
Nuclear is as dead as a great technology can be. A few more incremental improvements in solar and battery industry and nuclear won't be profitable even in theory, to say nothing of construction cost overruns.

Reactors are only good at providing baseload but that isn't how grids operate anymore. Renewables are too cheap, if a power plant can't drop output fast enough it is punished.

replies(1): >>45265968 #
trcarney ◴[] No.45265968[source]
nuclear plants can cut power as quickly as any other power plant, you are just controlling steam. divert the steam from the turbine and you aren't generating power anymore.
replies(1): >>45273571 #
ViewTrick1002 ◴[] No.45273571[source]
The problem is that a nuclear plant is extremely high CAPEX and acceptable OPEX.

Halving the output essentially means doubling the price.

For Vogtle halving the expected capacity factor means the generated electricity now costs a completely stupid 40 cents per kWh or $400 per MWh.

replies(1): >>45279168 #
1. trcarney ◴[] No.45279168[source]
I agree with that, I have just seen on here before that people think you can't regulate the electrical output of a nuclear plant like with more traditional ones.