SUMMARY:
Solar is not a
good method of
supplying electricity,
or for reducing
CO2 emissions. I
It is kept alive
with huge subsidies
and the
state mandates
that force utilities
to buy solar
( and wind ).
NUCLEAR POWER ?
Renewable energy
doesn’t use fuel
that could run out
and doesn’t emit CO2.
Well, nuclear power
doesn’t emit CO2, and
running out of fuel
is very unlikely.
Nuclear energy is reliable,
with steady delivery
of electricity.
Yet, nuclear is arbitrarily
banned in renewable
energy laws -- many ban
hydroelectric power too,
because the damn leftists
don't like dams.
SOLAR POWER DETAILS:
Solar energy provides
an erratic delivery
of electric power.
One place with poor wind ,
and good sunshine,
is Nevada.
California and Nevada
have more solar power
than other states.
Nevada has a law
that demands
half the 2030
electricity
comes from
renewable
sources.
"Green Power" activists are
trying to put the renewable
power quota into the
Nevada Constitution.
Here's the problem:
-- The delivery
of solar power
doesn't match
the electrical grid’s
need for power.
As more solar is added
to the electrical grid
a point is reached
when mid-day generation
is too high, particularly
in the spring when the
sunshine is strong,
but air conditioning
use has not yet peaked.
Solar beyond 50%
of the electricity
generated ,will
create instability
in the grid, and
complicates the
transition to
fossil fuel power
at night, when
there is no sunshine.
The solar industry says
the "solution" is to add
batteries to all
solar installations.
Batteries will store excess
power at midday, and
release the electricity
in the early evening,
when power is needed.
Batteries are
very expensive,
and wear out.
The solar industry says
the "solution" for that
is government subsidies.
Solar installations are
already heavily subsidized
by the federal government.
Solar power that costs
$70 to $80
per megawatt hour,
can sell for $25 to $30
per megawatt hour,
due to the subsidies.
A lobbying campaign
to subsidize batteries,
has the goal of profitably
selling solar energy,
with battery back-up,
for $50 per megawatt hour.
Solar is not competitive
with natural gas unless
it can be purchased
for less than $20
per megawatt hour.
Solar also does not
replace fossil fuel,
and nuclear
generating plants.
All those plants are still needed
because solar contributes nothing
in the early evening when
demand typically peaks.
Solar also contributes
much less when it's cloudy.
Solar replaces natural gas
only when
it's generating power
accepted by the grid.
Solar also stresses the
natural gas plants, that
have to balance erratic
solar generation.
Solar is an extremely
expensive way to reduce
CO2 emissions, costing
about $140 per metric ton
of CO2 emissions avoided.