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Nuclear too slow to replace coal, and baseload “simply can’t compete” with wind and solar, AEMO boss says (reneweconomy.com.au)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The head of the Australian energy market operator AEMO, Daniel Westerman, has rejected nuclear power as a way to replace Australia's ageing coal-fired power stations, arguing that it is too slow and too expensive. In addition, baseload power sources are not competitive in a grid dominated by wind and solar energy anyway.

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[–] JohnDClay 10 points 4 months ago (3 children)

The alternative for base load is batteries, not wind and solar renewables, since they are intermittent. We don't have a good idea yet of just how expensive massive grid storage is yet, but the lead time would definitely be shorter.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago

We do though. The cost is really land and rust. Iron oxide batteries are cheap and long lasting but low power density. Perfect for grid storage in a lot of places.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The alternative to base load is load shifting, just move most loads to when enough power is available. Or in other words, base load is a thing because big power plants like nuclear and coal are slow and someone's gotta use that power at all times.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Load shifting is the destruction of economic value, because it means people are making choices that aren’t optimal for their own lives.

Time is often written off in economic considerations, but that’s unwise because time is the most limited resource people have.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Most work is done when the sun is shining. Appliances can be remote controlled or automated. Studies have show that only 10% of energy consumption has to be „smart“ to cut off 90% of the duck curve. The rest can be done with batteries and other storage.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

Drill a hole and a deper hole and pump/turbine water between them.

[–] JohnDClay 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

That's really really expensive unless you already have natural upper and lower reservoirs.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

It is? More than batteries?

Im surprised.

[–] JohnDClay 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Based on some numbers I looked up a couple of years ago:

LiPo 15¢/Wh

Flywheel 15¢/Wh

Compressed air 12¢/Wh

Pumped hydro 11¢/Wh

I'll try to dig up the sources when I get home, but the cost advantage isn't too large, so digging your own reservoirs would put it as more expensive.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Thanks! I guess the hydro is with natural reservoirs?

[–] JohnDClay 2 points 4 months ago

Yeah I think so

[–] Sethayy 1 points 4 months ago

Just cause lithium ion is pretty subsidied and quite energy dense

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

No way. Far too expensive.