/sci/ - Science & Math

>>3517865

>Do you have sources on the cost those energy storage solutions would require incur if we went all wind?

100% wind? That's ridiculous. Because you're being ridiculous and because I'm pretty sure no one's done a cost analysis using 100% wind, I won't bother finding that citation.

>but molten salt thorium reactor can easily be shut down and restarted on demand.

I didn't know that. Chalk one up for thorium.

>>2566620

>Giant batteries to store electricity

There are, of course, much smarter ways to go about that

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HVDC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_air_energy_storage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_energy_storage#Molten_salt_technology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_hybrid

However, I don't think that renewables can, with our present commercially available technology, cover all our energy needs. I disagree with OP: nuclear (along with natural gas) are the only energy sources that can rapidly replace coal-fired plants. Natural gas can be a stopgap measure until we can phase out fossil fuels entirely. We're going to need a mix of all these energy sources, and with that we can cover their weaknesses.

>>2566620

>Giant batteries to store electricity

There are, of course, much smarter ways to go about that

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HVDC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_air_energy_storage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_energy_storage#Molten_salt_technology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_hybrid

However, I don't think that renewables can, with our present commercially available technology, cover all our energy needs. I disagree with OP: nuclear (along with natural gas) are the only energy sources that can rapidly replace coal-fired plants. Natural gas can be a stopgap measure until we can phase out fossil fuels entirely. We're going to need a mix of all these energy sources, and that we can cover their weaknesses.