Solar and wind power plants have limitations
Electricity from renewables: space requirements and intermittency issues.
The first challenge of renewable energy is the dispersed nature of solar and wind power, which requires extensive land for the placement of numerous panels and turbines. While expansive, uninhabited areas such as sunny deserts or remote plains offer potential sites, the significant distance from urban centers necessitates costly infrastructure for power transmission.
The second challenge is the intermittent availability of solar and wind energy. Production varies due to factors like nightfall, calm weather, and seasonal changes, leading to the need for expensive backup systems to maintain a consistent energy supply.
These challenges, along with their solutions, contribute to the higher overall cost of renewable energy compared to traditional coal or natural gas power plants.
Investing in the electricity super-grid
The development of an interstate electrical super-grid is essential to deliver cost-effective renewable electricity to regions with limited wind or sunlight.
The current progress on the super-grid project for long-distance electricity transmission in the US is limited. While some efforts are underway[1], significantly more investment and expansion are required[2].
Without this super-grid, clean energy plants reliant on solar and wind power will need to secure alternative local backup systems to maintain supply during nighttime and periods of low wind.
Nuclear Generation IV power plants
Nuclear power plants have the potential to provide base-load electricity without CO2 emissions.
Phasing out nuclear power plants would necessitate a significant increase in solar and wind power plants, along with the required energy storage solutions.
However, expanding nuclear power generation faces the challenge of limited uranium reserves, which has historically hindered the large-scale deployment of nuclear facilities.[1]
There is optimism that Generation IV nuclear power plants, expected to be operational by 2030, will offer a solution by generating clean electricity with reduced uranium consumption and lower radioactive waste production.