Solar generation is now cheaper than coal — How it happened

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Solar generation is now cheaper than coal — How it happened

Fossil fuels dominate the world's energy generation, but research shows that solar energy is now cheaper than coal.

The study found that electricity from solar generation is approximately 63% cheaper per megawatt-hour (MWh) than fossil fuels, and according to the World Energy Outlook for 2021, solar photovoltaic and wind power are the cheapest sources of new electricity generation.

The cost of electricity from coal dropped $2 (R31) per MWh between 2009 and 2019, while prices associated with the generation of solar power decreased by 89% over the same period.

 

[LazyLion]

And at nighttime?

 

[Utterly Confused]

And at nighttime?

As it said in the article, battery storage,

 

[DTBA]

And at nighttime?

I do agree at nighttime we have problems but it will help load shedding during the day?

 

[CaptainPugwash]

Someone tell Gwede Mantashe !

 

[RonSwanson]

And at nighttime?

We sleep.

 

[Utterly Confused]

World's Largest Solar Farm to Be Built in Australia

World's Largest Solar Farm to Be Built in Australia - But They Won't Get The Power

A major renewable energy project in Australia billed as the world's largest solar farm in development has had its proposed location revealed.

www.sciencealert.com

 

[Lupus]

As it said in the article, battery storage,

Which is expensive

 

[Lupus]

I do agree at nighttime we have problems but it will help load shedding during the day?

So we shed for 16 hours a day?

 

[hj2k_x]

World's Largest Solar Farm to Be Built in Australia

World's Largest Solar Farm to Be Built in Australia - But They Won't Get The Power

A major renewable energy project in Australia billed as the world's largest solar farm in development has had its proposed location revealed.

www.sciencealert.com

This looks great. We can do something similar in the Karoo. Lots of wide open spaces there.

 

[Obronie]

As it said in the article, battery storage,

This is absolute the future, except in the mind of our Energy Minister. However to apples with apples one do need to include the battery cost as well.

I just think it would make so much sense for towns to have their own solar, wind and battery farms.

 

[mister]

And at nighttime?

It's even cheaper at night than during the day

 

[Wut]

Waiting for a certain fossil fuel/conspiracy supporting member to chime in...

 

[Magnum]

Which is expensive

Still Cheaper than Pumped storage

 

[gregmcc]

Waits for the day when no one buys oil from Saudi Arabia

 

[rvZA]

But still a million times more ineffective than using coal. Unfortunately. Still not a viable option as replacement for coal.

 

[Utterly Confused]

Waits for the day when no one buys oil from Saudi Arabia

Can't wait, they are holding the world to ransom.

 

[hj2k_x]

But still a million times more ineffective than using coal. Unfortunately. Still not a viable option as replacement for coal.

Ineffective? How is it ineffective?

 

[Kawak]

But still a million times more ineffective than using coal. Unfortunately. Still not a viable option as replacement for coal.

Comparing build costs, fuel costs and availability, solar with storage, wins every time, the fact that we have so many coal plants is the only thing going for coal right now, and the ANC patronage network...

 

[Johand]

When the payback period for residential solar and storage is about 7 years, I suspect the large scale plants will also do better.

And frankly the "base load" generator argument is a bit of a strawman. The grid always has to match supply with demand - baseload just meant supply was fixed whilst demand was variable. Now both are variable - we can engineer our way out of it. From storage to time-of-day tariffs to shift demand. I think the future is bright!