this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2024
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How many solar panels and batteries are needed to power every electrical grid on the planet?
Where do we locate all of the panels and batteries?
Where do we get all of the materials for all of the panels and batteries?
What is the total cost to operate and maintain that global power grid?
What is the lifespan of the grid?
What happens to all of the panels and batteries at end of life, and how much does it cost?
Exactly. Solar panels and batteries can theoretically be recycled, but we generally don't bother today, and there's a lot more bulk in dealing with old panels and batteries than spent nuclear fuel rods.
So dealing with the waste of nuclear is a more constant thing, but also much lower volume than something like solar panels or batteries.
I think we need both, but ideally we use something other than batteries for base load supply, and only use it to store excess peak generation (or ideally, use something other than batteries for short-term storage, like hydrogen or hydro pumps).