On Sep 25, 11:40*am, Tim Streater wrote:
In article
,

*harry wrote:
With a renewable energy source you might need oil to build it and then
nothing.

Not nothing, harry. You need backup for when it's dark or there is no
wind.

Possibly the Aussies might make solar work with their molten salt heat
storage, which powers the gennies overnight. But then they have billyuns
of sq miles of desert and *reliable* sunshine. And it still remains to
be seen how it compares to nuclear, neither am I sure how well it'd work
in winter.

--
Tim

"That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted" *-- *Bill of Rights 1689

Early days yet. We need as many different technologies as possible.
We need the smart grid.
There will be a backup, gas turbine eg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembroke_Power_Station
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connah%..._Power_Station
Can be quickly started and high turndown ratio.
Renewable energy is about saving fuel. Capital costs will be higher
but so will the cost of energy in general.
And we're all going to have to use less.