Renewable energy sources such and wind and solar have now achieved "lowest levelized cost" status, producing electricity more cheaply than any fossil fuel option. Their full cost of production is also lower than that of current nuclear options once capital costs are considered (the "levelized" aspect). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levelized_cost_of_electricity
A significant drawback of these sources, however, is the inevitable natural variation in output: solar only works on sunny days, the wind does not always blow. Thus, two options for complementary power "sources" are in use and development to dynamically balance loads and energy production requirements:
1. Base load electricity production from fossil fuels and nuclear (advantage: they exist today; disadvantage: higher cost, problematic externalities)
2. Grid storage systems, such as batteries, pumped hydro, gravity, sodium heat storage, compressed air, hydrogen/ammonia/methane by electrolysis (advantage: clean, potentially low cost; disadvantage: unfamiliar, potential lower efficiencies) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_energy_storage
This thread provides a venue for discussion of grid storage technology, innovation, testing, engineering issues, and specific projects under development. This may include at residential, industrial, and full grid scale.
Please refrain from commenting on the political aspects of this topic.
A significant drawback of these sources, however, is the inevitable natural variation in output: solar only works on sunny days, the wind does not always blow. Thus, two options for complementary power "sources" are in use and development to dynamically balance loads and energy production requirements:
1. Base load electricity production from fossil fuels and nuclear (advantage: they exist today; disadvantage: higher cost, problematic externalities)
2. Grid storage systems, such as batteries, pumped hydro, gravity, sodium heat storage, compressed air, hydrogen/ammonia/methane by electrolysis (advantage: clean, potentially low cost; disadvantage: unfamiliar, potential lower efficiencies) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_energy_storage
This thread provides a venue for discussion of grid storage technology, innovation, testing, engineering issues, and specific projects under development. This may include at residential, industrial, and full grid scale.
Please refrain from commenting on the political aspects of this topic.