Solar vs Fossil

[Randy]

Could solar energy eventually replace the use of fossil fuels?

 

[DrLeftover]

Could solar energy eventually replace the use of fossil fuels?

Yes, sure, of course.

Until you have rain for three days straight.

 

[+paradox]

Could solar energy eventually replace the use of fossil fuels?

Yes, sure, of course.

Until you have rain for three days straight.

but would solar power be generating constantly, have stored energy like they do for any power plant...

 

[DrLeftover]

Could solar energy eventually replace the use of fossil fuels?

Yes, sure, of course.

Until you have rain for three days straight.

but would solar power be generating constantly, have stored energy like they do for any power plant...

That's why I said, "three days".

How much can be stored?

It would have to have a reliable backup, and, no, wind is NOT a reliable backup.

 

[Evil Eye]

How much can be stored?

Quite a lot, I imagine. Some places are really sunny.

One way to store a lot of energy using little space would be to use excess energy to electrolyse water and liquefy the result.

 

[DrLeftover]

How much can be stored?

Quite a lot, I imagine. Some places are really sunny.

One way to store a lot of energy using little space would be to use excess energy to electrolyse water and liquefy the result.

So then, right now, the sunny places would have to supplement the entire Midwest, which has well below freezing, and overcast, for almost a week.

Which, I would imagine would put one hell of a strain on the generating systems in the sunny area, and probably draining the batteries, not to mention what it is doing to the long line transmission systems from there to here, and then, if the clouds don't break and the reserves get low, everybody gets to share in those infamous 'rolling brownouts' that California had a few years ago.

And if the clouds roll into New Mexico tomorrow, all bets are off.

Sorry. But I think a backup system is still needed that doesn't risk Mother Nature having PMS.

 

[+paradox]

it's possible @drleftover!

there's many ways and systems you can use...

there's ways of storing energy for millions of homes for years in advanced...

the big corporations don't want that though...

and mother nature's pms is caused by climate change and messing with the atmosphere...

 

[Evil Eye]

Sorry. But I think a backup system is still needed that doesn't risk Mother Nature having PMS.

Oh obviously, gotta hedge your bets.