Green Energy Revolution Megathread

[jimmy olsen]

Tesla model 3 was the 7th most sold car in the US last month. It will be between the 5th and 6th most sold car this month.

7th most sales in July

5th-6th most sales in August

Tesla total August sales may be higher than BMW's total August sales

[Valmy]

Yeah things are changing very rapidly. And all in the right direction. I am very optimistic, ten years ago I never would have thought things would be moving in this direction at this rate. By mid-century we will barely recognize the energy sector.

[Tonitrus]

Will nuclear fusion still just be a few years away by mid-century? 

[Eddie Teach]

Isn't it cheating a bit to include natural gas gains in this thread?

[Valmy]

Isn't it cheating a bit to include natural gas gains in this thread?

If you are going to have a system with huge power plants, combined cycle natural gas is both efficient and low emission. It is so great it DOES sort of feel like cheating.

[Valmy]

Will nuclear fusion still just be a few years away by mid-century? 

Always

[Eddie Teach]

Isn't it cheating a bit to include natural gas gains in this thread?

If you are going to have a system with huge power plants, combined cycle natural gas is both efficient and low emission. It is so great it DOES sort of feel like cheating.

Yeah but the main reason for ditching coal is it will eventually run out.

[The Larch]

Isn't it cheating a bit to include natural gas gains in this thread?

If you are going to have a system with huge power plants, combined cycle natural gas is both efficient and low emission. It is so great it DOES sort of feel like cheating.

Yeah but the main reason for ditching coal is it will eventually run out.

Not at all. The main reason why coal is being ditched is because it's being replaced by cleaner, cheaper and more efficient alternatives.

[The Brain]

Isn't it cheating a bit to include natural gas gains in this thread?

If you are going to have a system with huge power plants, combined cycle natural gas is both efficient and low emission. It is so great it DOES sort of feel like cheating.

Yeah but the main reason for ditching coal is it will eventually run out.

[Valmy]

You know what I am really tired of? Commentators thinking they are dropping some sort of bomb shell by pointing out that Wind and Solar do not produce at full capacity all the time. Um...yes everybody is aware of that. That is how those resources work. But we can predict how much we can expect them to produce during a certain period. And the idea is that eventually energy storage will play a role in using the energy they do produce in periods it is most needed.

Next you will shock everybody by pointing out that bridges do not bear their capacity all the time, so why are we paying for all that steel?

[Malthus]

You know what I am really tired of? Commentators thinking they are dropping some sort of bomb shell by pointing out that Wind and Solar do not produce at full capacity all the time. Um...yes everybody is aware of that. That is how those resources work. But we can predict how much we can expect them to produce during a certain period. And the idea is that eventually energy storage will play a role in using the energy they do produce in periods it is most needed.

Next you will shock everybody by pointing out that bridges do not bear their capacity all the time, so why are we paying for all that steel?

There are already ways of dealing with this. Not perfect, but allegedly around 70-80% efficient.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity

[Tonitrus]

You know what I am really tired of? Commentators thinking they are dropping some sort of bomb shell by pointing out that Wind and Solar do not produce at full capacity all the time. Um...yes everybody is aware of that. That is how those resources work. But we can predict how much we can expect them to produce during a certain period. And the idea is that eventually energy storage will play a role in using the energy they do produce in periods it is most needed.

Next you will shock everybody by pointing out that bridges do not bear their capacity all the time, so why are we paying for all that steel?

Yep, it just means we need to get better at batteries/storage, and set up that infrastructure as well (which we hadn't really needed as much as before).  But people in the know already know that.

[The Brain]

You know what I am really tired of? Commentators thinking they are dropping some sort of bomb shell by pointing out that Wind and Solar do not produce at full capacity all the time. Um...yes everybody is aware of that. That is how those resources work. But we can predict how much we can expect them to produce during a certain period. And the idea is that eventually energy storage will play a role in using the energy they do produce in periods it is most needed.

Next you will shock everybody by pointing out that bridges do not bear their capacity all the time, so why are we paying for all that steel?

Most bridges bear their capacity whenever we need them to. Day, night, rain, shine...

[11B4V]

You know what I am really tired of? Commentators thinking they are dropping some sort of bomb shell by pointing out that Wind and Solar do not produce at full capacity all the time. Um...yes everybody is aware of that. That is how those resources work. But we can predict how much we can expect them to produce during a certain period. And the idea is that eventually energy storage will play a role in using the energy they do produce in periods it is most needed.

Next you will shock everybody by pointing out that bridges do not bear their capacity all the time, so why are we paying for all that steel?

Eh, just put a giant fan in front of the windmill.

[Valmy]

Most bridges bear their capacity whenever we need them to. Day, night, rain, shine...

And wind farms and solar farms are expected to produce what they are capable of and expected to deliver. Nobody is installing them expecting them to produce their maximum capacity all the time, that is not how they work.