Calm Skies Plunge UK Wind Power to Record Low

[SiSePuede419]

20 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

They only idea they have is with huge battery farms.

Not true.

There's several alternatives including nuclear all about the same cost, different efficiencies, different environmental effects.

I'm sure you'd prefer a nuclear plant in your backyard 😺 

 

The least expensive way to store energy for an electrical grid depends on the available resources, geographic conditions, and the scale of the system. However, some of the most cost-effective methods include:

 

1. Pumped Hydro Storage

 

How it works: Water is pumped from a lower reservoir to a higher one during periods of low electricity demand and released to generate electricity during high demand.

 

Cost: Typically $50–$100 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for installation.

 

Advantages: Long lifespan (50–100 years), high efficiency (~70–85%), and low operating costs.

 

Limitations: Requires suitable geography with elevation differences and access to water.

 

 

2. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)

 

How it works: Air is compressed and stored in underground caverns or tanks during low-demand periods. When needed, the air is released to drive turbines and generate electricity.

 

Cost: Around $50–$150 per kWh.

 

Advantages: Large-scale storage, long lifespan, and relatively low upfront costs.

 

Limitations: Limited by geology and moderate efficiency (~40–70%).

 

 

3. Battery Storage (Lithium-Ion)

 

How it works: Lithium-ion batteries store energy chemically and release it when needed.

 

Cost: Prices have fallen to about $100–$200 per kWh, with ongoing reductions expected.

 

Advantages: Flexible installation, scalable, and widely deployable.

 

Limitations: Limited lifespan (~10–15 years), environmental concerns with materials, and less economical for long-duration storage.

 

 

4. Gravity-Based Storage

 

How it works: Lifts heavy objects (e.g., blocks or railcars) to store energy as potential energy, which is later released to generate electricity.

 

Cost: Estimated $50–$100 per kWh.

 

Advantages: Simple mechanics, long lifespan, and no specific geological requirements.

 

Limitations: Still emerging, with fewer large-scale deployments.

 

 

5. Thermal Energy Storage

 

How it works: Excess electricity is used to heat materials like molten salt or water, which can later be converted back into electricity.

 

Cost: Can be as low as $30–$60 per kWh.

 

Advantages: Simple, inexpensive, and good for pairing with solar power.

 

Limitations: Lower efficiency (~40–60%) and specific applications.

 

 

6. Flywheels

 

How it works: Rotational energy is stored in a spinning rotor and converted back into electricity when needed.

 

Cost: Typically $500–$1,000 per kWh (higher upfront costs but low lifecycle costs).

 

Advantages: Extremely fast response times and high cycle life.

 

Limitations: Better suited for short-term energy storage.

 

 

Key Considerations:

 

Economies of Scale: Larger installations often reduce per-unit costs.

 

Duration of Storage Needs: Batteries are better for short-term storage, while pumped hydro or CAES is better for long-term storage.

 

Geographic Feasibility: Technologies like pumped hydro and CAES depend on suitable locations.

 

 

Pumped hydro remains the cheapest and most widely deployed large-scale storage solution where geography permits. However, advancements in battery technology are rapidly closing the gap.

 

 

The cost of electricity from a brand-new nuclear power plant is typically expressed as the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), which includes construction, operation, maintenance, fuel, and decommissioning over the plant's lifetime.

LCOE for Nuclear Power

For new nuclear power plants, the LCOE is estimated to range between $50 and $110 per megawatt-hour (MWh), or 5 to 11 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Cost Breakdown

1. Construction Costs:

The biggest contributor, often accounting for 60–80% of the total cost.

New nuclear plants typically cost between $6,000 and $10,000 per kilowatt (kW) of installed capacity. For a 1,000 MW plant, this equates to $6–10 billion.

2. Fuel Costs:

Relatively low, about 0.7 to 1 cent per kWh.

Uranium is cost-effective due to its high energy density.

3. Operation and Maintenance:

Includes labor, regulatory compliance, and routine maintenance.

Typically adds 1 to 2 cents per kWh.

4. Decommissioning Costs:

Accounts for safely dismantling the plant at the end of its life (40–60 years).

Spread over the plant’s lifetime, it contributes a small fraction of the cost (less than 0.5 cents per kWh).

5. Financing Costs:

Interest rates and the duration of construction impact costs significantly, as nuclear plants often take 5–10 years to build.

Higher financing costs can increase the LCOE by several cents per kWh.

Comparison with Other Energy Sources (Approximate LCOE):

Natural Gas: $40–$80/MWh (4–8 cents/kWh)

Solar PV: $30–$60/MWh (3–6 cents/kWh)

Wind: $20–$50/MWh (2–5 cents/kWh)

Coal: $50–$120/MWh (5–12 cents/kWh)

Key Factors Impacting Nuclear Costs:

1. Regulatory Delays: Lengthy permitting and safety requirements can increase costs.

2. Economies of Scale: Larger plants or multiple builds reduce costs per unit.

3. Geography: Labor and construction costs vary by region.

4. Technology: Advanced reactor designs (e.g., Small Modular Reactors) may lower costs in the future.

In summary, nuclear power has higher upfront costs but provides stable, reliable, and low-carbon electricity, making it competitive in the long run despite a relatively high LCOE compared to some renewables.

 

[Purdey]

Someone once said that these windmills cause cancer.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

46 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Sure, obviously you don't?

You don't expect others to do your homework!

[cjinchiangrai]

The same nonsense as the snowball argument. Big oil propaganda.

[Thingamabob]

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Again: fake news, Desinformation. 

Watch your language. Are you questioning my honesty ?

[newbee2022]

3 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Watch your language. Are you questioning my honesty ?

You wouldn't be the first in believing Desinformation. Nothing to do with honesty.

[Thingamabob]

Just now, newbee2022 said:

You wouldn't be the first in believing Desinformation. Nothing to do with honesty.

 

Just now, newbee2022 said:

You wouldn't be the first in believing Desinformation. Nothing to do with honesty.

I am referring to my own experience of visiting a wind farm in California and witnessing the dead, dying and maimed birds. 

[newbee2022]

2 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

 

I am referring to my own experience of visiting a wind farm in California and witnessing the dead, dying and maimed birds. 

Own experience? Wow! That says it all.👍

[Thingamabob]

8 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Own experience? Wow! That says it all.👍

It does indeed. Entirely factual and nothing  to do with 'disinformation'.

[newbee2022]

1 minute ago, Thingamabob said:

It does indeed. Entirely factual and nothing  to do with 'disinformation'.

🧑‍🎄🧑‍🎄🧑‍🎄