The simple Reality

[Hamloc]

We are constantly told that wind and solar generation is the cheapest form of new electrical generation and that other low carbon forms of generation like nuclear are too expensive. The simple reality is that wind and solar cannot on their own provide dependable electricity generation 24/7 365 days a year. Now there are those that argue with battery back up wind and solar can do the job. How many days worth of battery storage would you need to safely back up the time periods when the wind isn’t blowing or when daylight hours are short in the winter? 3 days, 4 days, a week worth of storage? The cost would be astronomical. What happens in practice is natural gas generation is built at the same scale as wind and solar to fill the gaps. Now with wind, solar, battery storage and natural gas we have 4 sources of electricity that must be monetized and be payed for!? Does this sound more affordable than one nuclear plant?

One additional point. Canada has Uranium resources to power a nuclear plant. We also have historically successfully designed and built nuclear plants in Canada. We DO Not have any domestic production of solar panels and or windmills in Canada. Hmmm, looks to me that the answer is obvious.. Enjoy your day.

[chuckChuck]

Nobody has said solar and wind alone can cover all of Canada's needs.

Its not one or the other! its all of the above including existing nuclear and maybe a bit more new.

How do we know if new SMR nuclear is competitive if they don't have a number on the cost per Kwh of unproven unlicensed new technology that doesn't exist yet?

And SMRs are very small (300 Mw) and take a long time to build and license compared to wind and solar and gas plants.

In Utah they cancelled their plans at NuScale because nobody signed up for the electricity.

NuScale Power (SMR. N) , said on Wednesday it has agreed with a power group in Utah to terminate the company's small modular reactor project, dealing a blow to U.S. ambitions for a wave of nuclear energy to fight climate change and sending NuScale's shares down 20%.Nov 9, 2023?

And we already have well over 60% renewables including hydro.

[westernvicki]

[url]https://www.statista.com/statistics/516279/electricity-costs-for-end-users-canada-by-province/[/url]
Quebec is cheapest. This benefit is not a factor in the equalization formula.

[chuckChuck]

Manitoba, Newfoundland, and BC also have lots of hydro. Manitoba and Quebec have some of the lowest cost electricity in North America which attracts investment. All renewable!

[Hamloc]

Nobody has said solar and wind alone can cover all of Canada's needs.

Its not one or the other! its all of the above including existing nuclear and maybe a bit more new.

How do we know if new SMR nuclear is competitive if they don't have a number on the cost per Kwh of unproven unlicensed new technology that doesn't exist yet?

And SMRs are very small (300 Mw) and take a long time to build and license compared to wind and solar and gas plants.

In Utah they cancelled their plans at NuScale because nobody signed up for the electricity.

NuScale Power (SMR. N) , said on Wednesday it has agreed with a power group in Utah to terminate the company's small modular reactor project, dealing a blow to U.S. ambitions for a wave of nuclear energy to fight climate change and sending NuScale's shares down 20%.Nov 9, 2023?

And we already have well over 60% renewables including hydro.

The most recently completed hydro dam in Canada is Site C in B.C. This dam was first conceived in 1971. 53 years from conception to completion. How many acres of land does it take for a hydro dam versus a Nuclear plant?

[chuckChuck]

Both are long term investments. In the past hydro has provided the lowest cost electricity.

And thinking about a dam in the future is not the begining point of engineering and construction.

So 53 years is a laugh Hamloc!

Still no permanent nuclear waste storage in Canada after how many decades of Nuclear power? 1968 - 2025. Over 50 years! In this case 50 years is the reality!

[Hamloc]

Also interesting to note the cost of the completed project was over double the initial projected cost.

[Jordy2323]

Still no permanent nuclear waste storage in Canada after how many decades of Nuclear power? 1968 - 2025. Over 50 years! In this case 50 years is the reality!

Its a good thing we have a permanent solution for obsolete windmill blades...

[Hamloc]

I am reposting the one image as it wasn’t readable.

[goalieguy847]

FINALLY

A decent argument where nobody called names!

Must be a full moon?

Renewables will only get better. Eventually they WILL make the windblades out of something like hemp and moose snot * not joking hemp fibres can be made into basically graphite*

But for CANADA currently
. . It just isnt feasible. For 6 months of the yr.. yep.
in some areas.... yep.
but to take over all generation? No. Not yet. Maybe not ever.


But it helps. Certainly.
I think ideally, within 10 yrs we get to 50% of all canada electricity will be provided by renewables. That seems both achievable and... digestible.
i would assume summer time would be higher and winter lower.... with it avg out to 50%.


Thoughts?

[shtferbrains]

The Liberals, for some unknown reason, like the present Canada as one of the worlds worst "polluters"?

From the governments energy factbook:

"In 2022, Canada produced 639 terawatt hours of electricity.

• 70% of Canada's electricity comes from renewable sources and 82% from non-greenhouse gas (non-GHG) emitting sources such as solar, hydro, wind and nuclear power.
• Canada is the world's third largest producer of hydroelectricity. 62% of Canada's electricity comes from hydroelectric sources.
• In 2022, Canada was the world's second largest producer and second largest exporter of uranium. Nuclear power plants generate about 13% of Canada's electricity."

Interesting how they put solar first on the list but hydro and nuclear produce the bulk of it.
Co-Generation from waste and waste heat is also significant.

"82% from non-greenhouse gas (non-GHG) emitting sources"
?

[TSIPP]

Its a good thing we have a permanent solution for obsolete windmill blades...

Those blades would make a great windbreaker for cows.

[checking]

Blade lift and drag would likely result in your break taking flight!

Combining energy sources is a reasonable response in a northern environment that requires a reliable fuel. cc. is not against it. I'm not against it. Most, however, would have hackles up if compelled to one source by government. If you don't comply as a good little Canadian their way, then the bastard fines you until you do. Still mad as hell over paperless GST returns.

Having surplus power, I went over to the dark side with a straight EV purchase. It has it's place with the short trips I make, and is preconditioned always in a warm shop. Out of range, I'm taking the 2008 diesel. Learn from this, government, or your clients will rebel.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Blade lift and drag would likely result in your break taking flight!

Speaking from experience, that is a real risk. Many years ago I made a bunch of steel frame wind breaks. I ran the skids perpendicular to the wood panels so that I could stack them up to carry them with the bale forks on the tractors.
On a few occasions I've had to gather them up from the nearest fence line where the wind took them. I once had to rescue a baby calf who was trapped underneath one that had moved a few feet.