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So, what you’re talking about here is essentially the concept of “baseload power”, which is a very common talking point in anti-renewables conversation, including by well-meaning people who have simply come to accept it because of how often it gets mentioned in the media and in online conversations.

But it turns out that we have known for over a decade that a mix of different renewable technologies do not need any base-load power stations to operate reliably.

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sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
From your article:

concentrated solar thermal with 15 hours of thermal storage 15-20%; and the small remainder supplied by existing hydro and gas turbines burning renewable gases or liquids. (Contrary to some claims, concentrated solar with thermal storage does not behave as base-load in winter; however, that doesn’t matter.)

The real challenge is to supply peaks in demand on calm winter evenings following overcast days. That’s when the peak-load power stations, that is, hydro and gas turbines, make vital contributions by filling gaps in wind and solar generation.

So basically the concentrated solar w/ thermal storage acts as a battery. I’m interested to know what the costs look like (is that the salt reactor thing I’ve heard about). And if you have lots of hydro available, then yeah, you can probably get away with it, and may even be able to pump water so the hydro station can act as a battery. However, hydro isn’t practical in many areas, and moving electricity long distances may be too lossy.

I’m interested in the development of nuclear microreactors, which can be transported where they’re needed. I think they could potentially replace hydro in areas where it’s not available. So as areas transition to more renewables, these could operate as a backup in case simulations don’t match reality.

I’d love to go 100% renewable, I just don’t think that’s feasible at the moment. But I could absolutely be wrong, I may need to read up on the latest energy storage options.

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- psud@aussie.zone ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Rubbish dump methane to electricity is cheap and effective. The Canberra mugga lane tip has had a pilot plant, not sure if it’s still running
  
  Hydro on the mainland is pretty much just Snowy Hydro. There was a project from a former government to make that pumped hydro. I don’t think it has yet been finished. I don’t know whether the project has been cancelled
  
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- SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  You can extract hydrogen from water with electricity. You can store hydrogen in tanks. Burn hydrogen to produce electricity similar to natural gas, except without any carbon in the equation.
  
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  - sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    The main problem is storage since hydrogen is so small. But yeah, it’s absolutely a great idea as a battery of sorts, I just don’t know what the costs look like.
    
    I think mobile applications make more sense though, so things like trucks and forklifts. Those really benefit from quick refuels, so they could fit into places where fossil fuels dominate today.
    
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    SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    
    The main problem is storage since hydrogen is so small.
    
    Yes that is the problem. Maybe there’s some chemistry that could help with this? I don’t know I’m not a chemical engineer.
    
    I think mobile applications make more sense though, so things like trucks and forklifts.
    
    Also airplanes. Jet engines can run on hydrogen with little to no conversion. Problem there is the low density of hydrogen means airplanes need to be redesigned to have much larger tanks, and cryogenics need to be involved. Airbus has some ideas about this, but it’s still very much in the concept phase.
    
    But for transport trucks there’s an interesting solution being tested in Germany where overhead wires are run over the highways, similar to overhead wires for trains. Trucks connect to that when on the highway. So the trucks would only need battery for making stops then they’re off the highway and would recharge again when back on the highway. Seems like a good solution to me, but it’s still being tested.
    
    But hydrogen could replace natural gas for heating and for those who refuse to give up their gas stoves. But as you say, it’s small so the gas pipes would need to be upgraded to have tighter seals for that to work.
    
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