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Thursday, August 20, 2020

Solar and wind power cost studies often leave out many items, in comparisons with fossil fuels

Here's a list:

Capital investments for fossil fuel power plants, funded with bonds that must be paid off, even if the plant gets shut down, or is only used for renewables back up power.

Power intermittency and variability -- a windless night will require 100% power backup.

Poor timing of power generation by renewables -- less solar energy is available in the winter, when heating needs are highest.

Environmental damage and wildlife destruction resulting from new sites required for solar panels and wind turbines

Long transmission lines from remote, dispersed generators, incurring power losses and increased maintenance

Additional infrastructure needed for access roads.

Back up generation has to be wastefully running in spinning reserve in case it is needed

Electrical storage using batteries would be a huge cost for a small amount of reserve power

 Non-synchronized power generation, with lack of inherent inertia to maintain grid frequency, and to recover from a major grid outage

The “Carbon footprint” of the hardware and battery manufacturing, installation and maintenance, will use fossil fuels whose CO2 emissions may exceed the CO2 emissions "saved" during the service life of the solar panels and wind turbines.

And of course, solar panels and wind turbines do not provide cheap, consistent power to support a developed nation.
Note:
 For this article, wood was not considered to be a renewable fuel