No, you're right. It's not an option for everyone. Which is why I mentioned that there are many other solutions which are similar and over production which is simpler and cheaper

[–] someacnt_@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Which options, can you specify?

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world -5 points 4 months ago (2 children)

What? You don't have Google? Options I know of (other than batteries and pumped hydro) : Compressed Air Energy Storage, Thermal Energy Storage,, Fly wheels, Hydrogen, Supercapacitors, Gravitational Storage

[–] someacnt_@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago (2 children)

It's not easy to go over all options.
Many of these are largely theoretical, or for temporary storage. For instance, I don't think fluwheels can store energy for months.

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Are you proposing that the sun may not shine and the wind not blow anywhere at all for months?

[–] someacnt_@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

Yeah, it is like that in some places. Also solar flux vary a lot by seasons as well. Dunno if wind has as much of an issue, but surely not great.

[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone -2 points 4 months ago

Nobody wants energy stored for months. Whatever storage is used needs to get through temporary decreases in efficiency. In places that use solar, that means from one afternoon to the next morning. In places that use wind, it means until the wind picks up. We're talking storage on the order of tens of hours at the most.

[–] fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The fact that you descend into complete science fiction should give you pause for thought. I doubt it will, but please think about how fantastical your proposed solutions are - "a massive lake of molten salt under every city" (I actually like that one!)...

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Given you're making up things I never said I can only imagine what you're respinding to? Where did a massive lake of molten salt under every city come from?

[–] fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 months ago

Sorry this is a late reply. I can see that mentioning molten salt was a bit left-field, However, it is one of the more realistic ways to store the huge amounts of power needed to fuel an economy for a couple of weeks (which you need in northern europe/US if you want to use solar/wind). Here's a link about it:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cite.202000137

I am pro nuclear, but if we are going to descend into this renewable hell, then we need to actually think about how you store terawatt-hours of power. I really think that this kind of storage might be the nearest we have to a solution. we'll only need it once we try to turn off the gas turbines, of course. It is fascinating that so many smart people don't see that the whole jigsaw is missing vital pieces.