The world's best thinkers on energy and climate
Highlights: Wind/solar advocates point to continued cost reductions due to technological learning. Wind/solar opponents point to continued value declines due to intermittency. It tuns out that these two effects cancel out fairly evenly. Wind and solar will thus remain as subsidy-dependent as they are today. … [Read more...]
What is meant by "externalized costs"? Externalized costs are real costs that are not quantified within the levelized cost calculations presented in the internalized cost articles. These costs are directly or indirectly paid by various sectors of the economy in forms such as pollution-related health costs, grid integration costs of intermittent renewables, and a reduction in the free services rendered by the biosphere. … [Read more...]
The first mistake in Gail Tverberg’s Ten Reasons Intermittent Renewables (Wind and Solar PV) are a Problem is using the outdated term “intermittent” for renewables. “The more accurate term is ‘variable renewables,’” explains energy consultant Nancy LaPlaca. “The word ‘intermittent’ reinforces the impression that wind and solar are unreliable. The word ‘variable’ underscores the fact that, like all energy sources, wind and … [Read more...]
Recent Comments