Okay, so you have no issue with Wind/Solar power per se, just that it's hyped up too much, is that an accurate reflection of your feelings?
It is not hyped up too much, It is downright based on lies and blatant deception about its manufacturing, installation, maintenance and ability to generate meaningful cheap reliable energy.
If we could create a basket of renewables combining Wind, Solar and Hyrdo that could successfully accommodate and cover for night time and when the wind doesn't blow, would you be okay with excluding coal generation from that?
If only ----- the road to hell is paved with "If only" statements, claims and pie-in-the-sky claims.
Wind has a small place, a very small place and is absolutely useless at the generation of baseload. Hence it is NOT a suitable energy source for large scale power generation.
Solar is really only a solution for top-of-the-roof power source generated at the consumption end. Again NOT at the other end of a long complicated grid.
Hydro opportunities are NOT suitable for baseload power because hydro potential is extremely limited in most countries. However, it is ideal as a source of peaking power and short-term emergency power in most countries. There are exceptions, of course, which is why it is lauded as such a wonderful solution for baseload.
So, what we need is reliable, continuous power sources that are scaleable according to demand and easy to wind up and down as the load fluctuates. The ONLY options available are coal, gas, oil, and nuclear. The most logical replacement for fossil fuels is the nuclear option, but the World spent 50 years in hiatus and did not develop this energy source to replace fossil fuels. That is where we need to get back to.
Leave Hydro to work where it is available and for peaking power and storage for short-term backup. Let Solar and Wind fulfil small niche requirements where the economic fit is right.
I don't think any country has successfully weaned of coal completely. Currently Australia has the following energy mix...
- Coal: Black coal accounts for 35% of Australia's electricity, and brown coal accounts for 11.5%
- Natural gas: Natural gas accounts for 17.8% of Australia's electricity
- Solar: Solar power accounts for 15.3% of Australia's electricity
- Wind: Wind power accounts for 11.4% of Australia's electricity
- Hydro: Hydro power accounts for 6.1% of Australia's electricity
- Bio energy: Bio energy accounts for 1.1% of Australia's electricity
Do you have any major issues with the above?
I cannot comment on the above numbers without knowing how the percentages have been calculated. For example, if the numbers are all based on nameplate figures, then they are all meaningless BS.
The right mix will always be a better answer than an all eggs in one basket strategy. But then it must be accepted that each and every country will have its own mix suited to its economy and development.