Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Well, I tend to doubt the costs and the benefits ..but what's it really matter? Eisenhower promoted nuclear energy on the notion that we would be down to paying an annual maintenance charge instead of an electric bill.
Sort of agree and sort of disagree.
the nookularisation that you are talking about past tense was introducing (relatively) small increments into your growing market.
To introduce 15 to 20% renewables over the next 5 years increases the supply side markedly, and will have no option but to depress prices (which will mean no monetary ROI on the new plant, so Private Industry won't touch it).
In my state, average pool wholesale prices are running low 3c per KwHr (end user is paying 14c). Peak demand days, the spot price runs up to $1,000 per KwHr (and the end user pays 14c, unless on variable payment plans, disconnects etc.).
Every generating company makes the greatest percentage of their annual profit in a few hot/cold days...increasingly so with reduced excess capacity....they can make more money losing a unit than keeping it in some days.
Only thing is, there are 8 stations (2-4 units each) in the state. The next station is in planning stages, but when it comes in, it will represent around 8% of the market.
The modelling to date indicates that this new station will destroy prices for at least 6-8 years, and virtually eliminate the high priced days.
Introducing a new station, or a handful into the US market, and you wouldn't see a blip...10-20% increase and you would.
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
..but I see no reason to oppose increased utilization of NG in any form. What's the problem with that. It will be opening a new market ..or expanded market for the product. Now I don't think it's a panacea ..but a transitional or intermediate step toward energy independence. No one should rationally oppose that. It's stupid to pay others for that which you can do yourself.
I wouldn't use NG for stationary power applications, unless you were getting 60% thermal efficiency. Current trend for sub 30% open cycle GT peaking plants is insane (IMO)
NG is a high utility fuel, and should be used as such, heating homes, powering cars and busses, and maybe home fuel cell stuff (An Oz company is getting 50% efficiency from 1Kw sized fuel cells, with the waste heat going into home heating.
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
In reality any expansion in available energy will enable us to expand our usage of it ..expand our population with everyone enjoying present levels of consumption ..but they don't allow us to shoot unwanted invaders ..nor allow us to exercise sensible genetic hygiene ...so
As per the vids in my uninhabited thread, energy are our cheap slaves.
A new bunch of cheap slaves appear on the block, and we'll find something for them to do.
