| ID | 115661 |
| Title Proper | Where renewable electricity is concerned, how costly is "too costly"? |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Pickard, William F |
| Publication | 2012. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Present day electricity is a bargain. It frees mankind from a host of dirty, debilitating occupations-epitomized by the now endangered occupation of legger. Correctly applied, electricity would make a most excellent paramount energy carrier for a post-carbon world. It is, however, only an energy carrier and not a source of energy, the preeminent source for its generation being bargain-priced fossil carbon. But when, in less than a century, that is gone, electricity is a good bet to cost markedly more while being still a bargain. This paper once again shows that mankind's energy needs can be met by (i) renewable solar generation of electricity buffered by (ii) massive electricity storage and (iii) a robust distribution grid. The time available for making this switch from fossil carbon to solar is at best a century and possibly as little as fifty years. |
| `In' analytical Note | Energy Policy Vol. 49; Oct 2012: p.346-354 |
| Journal Source | Energy Policy Vol. 49; Oct 2012: p.346-354 |
| Key Words | Dispatchable Energy ; Massive Electricity Storage ; Renewable Energy |