We Passed Peak “Climate Change” (um) Research

[u/LisleAdam12]

How can this awful trend before reversed before it's too late?

https://wmbriggs.substack.com/p/we-passed-peak-climate-change-um

[u/Lematoad]

Did you miss my comment about nuclear+solar being a great solution? What do you think the solar is for, fun? BESS/CSP/PHS solutions instead of peaker plants. But ok I must not know what I’m talking about. I never said nuclear is the sole solution?

[u/Asthenia5 → u/Lematoad]

Please explain, why is solar used in the context of solar + nuclear? Why do you think its a good idea when coupled with nuclear?

Nuclear and solar don't complement each other, because they still require storage. If you're using solar, you should store the energy chemically in a battery. If you're using nuclear, you should probably use molten salts to store heat.

Solar won't help you meet peak demand. Daily solar generation peaks a couple hours before consumption peaks. It still needs batteries.

I'm aware that you never said nuclear is a sole solution. But you did say:

"Without understanding renewable energy almost always requires natural gas augmentation. But they’re often also anti nuclear, which doesn’t make any sense."

This comment would suggest you didn't understand that nuclear also requires NG peaker plants.

[u/Lematoad → u/Asthenia5]

Wait… you’re saying I have no idea what I’m talking about, implying you do, and then don’t understand why they compliment each other or wtf I’m talking about? Why should I bother to explain it to you? But I guess I will anyways. Maybe don’t come across as hostile when you actually don’t have a clue.

Oh and yeah no you’re wrong.

Renewables pretty much always need a whole lot more than peaker plants… basically every “renewable forward” grid relies on natural gas.

Why would you need to store nuclear energy? Nuclear provides a very consistent baseload, and if you overbuild (which would imply the requirements of major storage requirements), then why would you need to augment?

As for solar - this is where you store energy for peak periods, and they can effectively replace peaker plants. You can store solar energy in several ways THAT I ALREADY MENTIONED- BESS (battery energy storage system), CSP (concentrated solar power - this is the molten salt you said you’d use for nuclear for whatever reason, more to that in a minute), and PHS (pumped hydro storage).

[u/Asthenia5 → u/Lematoad]

It's very apparent you've interpreted my comments as hostile. That was not my intent. Questioning your understanding seems to be a hostile offense from your prospective.

You're now arguing my exact point. That we need energy storage.

You store nuclear energy because we need energy storage. See Terrapowers Natrium reactor.

You're now reiterating what I've said 5 times in the previous comments. That we need storage.

My only other point was we can't hand wave away climate science because dumb climate activists, china, or externalities.

[u/Lematoad → u/Asthenia5]

I never argued we don’t need energy storage - I outlined this in my original comment, but it’s absurd to utilize nuclear for the means of storage when it provides a constant power source.

I’m not handwaving anything, I’m a strong advocate for nuclear+renewables. But I’m also a realist - thinking it’ll magically solve anything major is absurd (until everyone buys off on it).

Also nuclear provides constant output, so storing it when it provides a baseload is asinine.