Re:In the US, it's cheaper to build and operate wind farms t...
by hef19898 on Sunday August 18, 2019 @01:05PM
(#20731409)
It's as much seasonal as it is spread over time. Solar is strong around noon when demand is, as of now, rather low.
Re:In the US, it's cheaper to build and operate wind farms t...
by benj111 on Sunday August 18, 2019 @05:16PM
(#20732936)
Intraday, batteries would make more sense. Higher efficiency, quicker to react, 365 cycles a year to recoup costs.
You are probably never going to get to a point where you're charging a battery now for use sometime in January. That's where some kind of bio gas would come in, because it is feasible to store it long term.
I would guess that if costs keep dropping you'd get a certain amount of overbuilding for the low energy demand season so you'd have capacity there for some kind of clean gas technology.
I wish the boffins would start crunching the numbers though. If my gas boiler breaks today, should I replace it or fit a heat pump? If I replace my kitchen should I keep a gas hob or move to electric?? These are less than once a decade purchasing decisions and theres absolutely no visibility on whether gas to the home is going to be a thing in the medium term.