On Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:12:22 +0000, Mike Tomlinson wrote:


.... according to a study by the Uni of Delaware.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/12...ewables_study/

99.9% = 8.766 hours per year without power.

Also look at the graph it still needed 20 to 30GW of fossil back up.

What is the enviromental cost of producing all those windmills, solar
panels, batteries. I see no mention of how many windmills are needed or
the required area of solar panels.

They also make the assumption that the sun always shines or the wind
always blows, somewhere.

They also include the costs of health problems supposedly caused by
pollution from the current fossil energy sources. How on earth do you
quantify that, except to massage the figures?

--
Cheers
Dave.