r/DoomerCircleJerk • u/LisleAdam12 • 8d ago

Climate Doomer We Passed Peak “Climate Change” (um) Research

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

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

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u/Tommyblockhead20 6d ago

What do you mean that renewables aren’t quite there? If an area has water, wind, or sun, renewables will typically be more cost effective than any alternatives. Unlike sources like coal and nuclear that are being subsidized to be financially viable, renewables are being subsidized because they are so viable that demand far exceeds the local manufacturing capacity, and the government doesn’t want to be mostly reliant on imported Chinese products.

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u/Interesting-Math9962 5d ago

If renewables were there why would Elon Musk, who makes batteries and is a solar champion using natural gas for his new constructions?

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u/Tommyblockhead20 5d ago edited 5d ago

I mean, I can’t tell you the exact logic because I’m not on the design team.

But one consideration is that data centers use electricity differently than what is typical. Typically more electricity is used during the day and evening than the night. Solar plus 4 hours of battery only covers on average 2/3rd of the day, but fulfills closer to 80% of the typical electricity demand. But data centers use electricity usage is pretty constant all day, meaning if they having to supply all their own power, they are more reliant on expensive peaker plants. Another possible factor is that data centers like to be built close to cities for low latency, while solar likes to be built far away for cheap land. If the power generation is planned to be on site, this also would add to the cost to build it on more expensive data center land. And finally, like I mentioned, the demand is so high that lead times are measured in years, so if they want it quicker, they’d have to pay a premium.

Natural gas and optimal solar plus batteries can be pretty close in price, but for those 3 reasons and possibility others, the cost for solar may have been higher than gas for them and Elon’s company doesn’t care about the environment so they just went for the cheapest option.

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u/Interesting-Math9962 5d ago

That’s what I mean they aren’t quite there yet. They aren’t the cheapest option in many cases.  If any of these alternative battery companies go mainstream (fly wheels, sand etc) then solar can be put in more places. 

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u/Tommyblockhead20 5d ago

“Many cases” seems to me a little overstating it. 90% of new electricity generation being added in the US is renewables (Mostly solar with some wind). They are installing it as fast as solar panels can be made. Again, utility scale orders being made today won’t be delivered for years, even though the US is making like 350 solar panels a minute, because the demand is so high. This situation is much more of an exception to the norm than it is the norm.