Re:How cheap does solar power need to get before it takes ov...
by Someone on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @11:33AM
(#11527674)
"Being able to use oceans as a lower baisin might address this"
There also are ideas to use the ocean as the higher basin. See https://trustyetverify.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/energy-from-..., https://www.technologyreview.com/s/510806/a-manmade-island-t...
Re:How cheap does solar power need to get before it takes ov...
by dredmorbius on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @11:51AM
(#11527806)
Interesting. Japan's done a lower baisin trial.
Re:How cheap does solar power need to get before it takes ov...
by jasonwatkinspdx on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @11:22AM
(#11527593)
> Carbon source from seawater appears somewhat promising, though my concern is that there's been 50 years of research without a large-scale demonstration project, making me suspect deeper issues.
I haven't seen anything about it recently, but the Navy was/is funding a demonstration plant in Hawaii. I really hope it works out as I'm skeptical that the developing world will shift to electric vehicles anytime soon.
Re:How cheap does solar power need to get before it takes ov...
by dredmorbius on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @11:59AM
(#11527852)
History & paper to 1964: https://www.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/28nqoz/electri...
A couple of additions and caveats.
Friend of mine at ORNL has been talking up compressed air energy storage (CAES). I'm somewhat dubious due to the Boyles law heating/cooling problem (gasses heat when compressed, cool when expanded, and the resulting heat flows affect both efficiency and equipment function -- gas turbines don't spin well when iced solid).
Pumped-hydro is the most efficient storage solution bar none, but is painfully restricted by siting opportunities. Being able to use oceans as a lower baisin might address this, though salt-water engineering is a significant concern (corrosion and other issues).
Interesting to see molten salt as at large scale that pencils out a viable for even, say, a two week total energy replacement solution for the US. You'd need tankage (insulated) roughly corresponding to current Oaklahoma oil transshipment storage facilities.
Electricity-to-fuel is another option, with Sabatier and Fischer-Tropsch cycles both proven. Carbon source from seawater appears somewhat promising, though my concern is that there's been 50 years of research without a large-scale demonstration project, making me suspect deeper issues.
I actually am a fan of load-shedding, and suspect that the concept of dispatchable load as opposed to supply may be part of the future way of thinking.
Coal => gas is a no-brainer, though also not a total solution, by a long shot.
Geothermal is highly underrated, especially if currently protected areas are opened for consideration. The Yellowstone caldera could possibly supply up to 15% of total US electrical demand.