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This is suppose to be a tech forum. With enough solar panels, wind turbines and batteries it's completely possible to run an countries grid off renewables. Ri
by ReflectedImage 12d ago
This is suppose to be a tech forum.
With enough solar panels, wind turbines and batteries it's completely possible to run an countries grid off renewables.
Right now the costs for doing so are around the same as the costs of running an oil / gas / coal power grid.
For the average country, not slowly switching over is basically madness.
- unrented7977 12d agoThere aren't enough batteries and wind turbines, though, and it will take many years for them to be built
- garte 12d agoit takes at least 20 years to build a nuclear power plant and it takes another 20 to build it back. it costs a multitude of resources and money to build, maintain and tear down compared to renewables. nuclear has its role currently but it's not the future.
- epistasis 11d agoYes, switching energy sources takes a while, but the energy system is being completely rebuilt anyway as equipment ages out, so you need to be continually doing this anyway. None of the actions that countries are taking to decouple from the US happen over night. The US has destroyed its privileged position among nations, but the effects won't be visible for a couple more years.
- econ 11d agoLong long ago people planted trees where a windmill was to be build. Construction would start 20-30 years later and also took quite a bit of time. If it took (I dunno) say a year to build one you could pick a new location and plant trees each year. Seems almost an alien concept but I guess it is a bit like a construction company has to wait for the new powerplant to expire before they get to build a new one.