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re: How solar power could slay the fossil fuel empire by 2030
Posted on 6/18/15 at 7:34 am to Placebeaux
Posted on 6/18/15 at 7:34 am to Placebeaux
What will become of all the Bayou Billionaires?
0
Posted on 6/18/15 at 7:50 am to ksayetiger
The most important measure in a utility deciding what type of power plant to build is Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). A new natural gas combined-cycle plant is around $50/MWh in most markets and that is the price that must be beat; coal and nuclear are completely out of the money for new plants.
Solar (and wind) are very site-specific, but they are both being constructed for less than $50/MWh. Solar has a tax credit that expires at the end of next year, but the costs are dropping fast enough that it will get back to the same LCOE within 2-3 years. Power companies buy solar because it generates at the most important hours of the day and it has zero commodity risk.
Here are a few articles:
Power plant capacity additions 2014
Wind and Solar start to win on price
LINK
Solar (and wind) are very site-specific, but they are both being constructed for less than $50/MWh. Solar has a tax credit that expires at the end of next year, but the costs are dropping fast enough that it will get back to the same LCOE within 2-3 years. Power companies buy solar because it generates at the most important hours of the day and it has zero commodity risk.
Here are a few articles:
Power plant capacity additions 2014
Wind and Solar start to win on price
LINK
This post was edited on 6/18/15 at 7:52 am
Posted on 6/18/15 at 8:11 am to Placebeaux
Please tell me how solar power is going to replace plastics, propane, and other oil by-products, even assuming everyone gets solar powered cars/18-wheelers as soon as the technology comes out.
Posted on 6/18/15 at 8:13 am to NOTORlOUSD
Whats going to make solar possible in the commercial market and the residential is the storage tech that is coming out. New batteries can be drawn down to 0% where as current batteries can only go to 40%. New batteries can also recharge at a much faster rate and last longer.
Right now conventional energy production is "on demand" so plants are putting out more than what is being used and the excess goes to waste. You incorporate huge batteries to store the excess and the efficiency of the old power plant goes way up.
Right now conventional energy production is "on demand" so plants are putting out more than what is being used and the excess goes to waste. You incorporate huge batteries to store the excess and the efficiency of the old power plant goes way up.
Posted on 6/18/15 at 8:14 am to ksayetiger
Dude better watch is arse. Big Petro doesn't like people fricking with their business. He may be dead in less than a month.
Posted on 6/18/15 at 8:16 am to Jcorye1
I guess I could see a scenario where we are keeping the lights on and heating houses with solar. But you are never going to run the interstate highway system, moving product with trucks, and flying planes on solar.
This post was edited on 6/18/15 at 8:20 am
Posted on 6/18/15 at 8:18 am to Jcorye1
quote:
Please tell me how solar power is going to replace plastics, propane, and other oil by-products, even assuming everyone gets solar powered cars/18-wheelers as soon as the technology comes out.
You are always going to need petro byproducts to make a lot of things. Solar would only replace the energy production required to make said products.
Posted on 6/18/15 at 8:19 am to Placebeaux
Yeah, good luck with that
Posted on 6/18/15 at 8:46 am to LSUsuperfresh
quote:
South America, Asia, and Africa.
There is a big demand for solar in these areas actually.
Posted on 6/18/15 at 8:56 am to Placebeaux
Posted on 6/18/15 at 9:05 am to Farkwad
Yeah thats some cool stuff
Posted on 6/18/15 at 9:15 am to Placebeaux
Unless we have the breakthrough in both energy capacity and storage, his 15 year horizon seems more pipe dream than reality.
Posted on 6/18/15 at 9:19 am to TROLA
quote:
breakthrough in both energy capacity and storage
Liquid metal batteries
Lithium sulfur batteries
Posted on 6/18/15 at 9:22 am to Placebeaux
I don't know guys. I work with farmers up here in Iowa that are putting in solar systems to provide enrgy for their farm operations. They are running at about 93% efficient and are selling excess energy back to the grid. While it's a good deal for the energy company now since they buy that energy at $.02 and sell it to other customers at $.07 there will come a tipping point in the future where there are more people putting energy back on the grid than taking energy off of it. MidAmerican Energy here sees that and is trying to get laws changed in Congress regarding it.
15 years is a long time when it comes to technology. I can definitely see solar energy becoming the dominant form of energy production and putting coal, not out of business, but into a much smaller role. That doesn't bode well for coal companies.
Oil & gas should still be ok as oil is used for much more than just energy and I don't see anything replacing the gasoline fueled automobile for a long time. Not even solar or battery operated vehicles.
15 years is a long time when it comes to technology. I can definitely see solar energy becoming the dominant form of energy production and putting coal, not out of business, but into a much smaller role. That doesn't bode well for coal companies.
Oil & gas should still be ok as oil is used for much more than just energy and I don't see anything replacing the gasoline fueled automobile for a long time. Not even solar or battery operated vehicles.
Posted on 6/18/15 at 9:31 am to Placebeaux
They've been tinkering with liquid metal for 50+ years.. It's got great results but I just don't see it as the golden goose that's needed.
Lithium batteries are a long way off to do the job... imo..
I personally believe that small scale neighborhood mini nuclear plants has the ability to knock out fossil fuels.. It was always a pipe dream when they said it would take 5 years but it is the ultimate change that could end our reliance on fossil fuels
Lithium batteries are a long way off to do the job... imo..
I personally believe that small scale neighborhood mini nuclear plants has the ability to knock out fossil fuels.. It was always a pipe dream when they said it would take 5 years but it is the ultimate change that could end our reliance on fossil fuels
Posted on 6/18/15 at 9:50 am to TROLA
So much butt hurt in this thread. This must be how the covered wagon manufacturers reacted to news of the automobile. Thanks for the entertainment guys. 
This post was edited on 6/18/15 at 9:51 am
Posted on 6/18/15 at 9:51 am to Placebeaux
quote:
the energy infrastructure will be 100-percent solar by 2030
Posted on 6/18/15 at 9:52 am to SoDakHawk
Definitely there is a use for solar. It would be cool to have solar powered everything but it's not going to happen in 15 years.
Remember... We were supposed to have flying cars by now.
Remember... We were supposed to have flying cars by now.
Posted on 6/18/15 at 9:55 am to Placebeaux
quote:
How solar power could slay the fossil fuel empire by 2030 by Placebeaux
Try flying in a plane powered only by solar...
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