Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Jesse's avatar

After going down a bit of a rabbit hole on this topic I’m of the view that now (and this was not true 1p years ago) PV has gotten to the point where is generally ok when used in a fuel saving role, but the overbuild + storage + transmission needed to use it in a dominant role is where it really struggles.

The other major factor that messes up the analysis is the primary energy conversion used, where electricity output ‘counts’ for ~3x as much as chemical inputs. This is only true when used as a fuel saver. But if PV output power isn’t to be used to make more PV, then this does not hold true anymore, and the EROI is borderline. Add the storage for continuous output and it’s below the line.

I think the nuclear low EROI results generally are using gaseous diffusion enrichment, which is obsolete and takes more than an order of magnitude more energy the centrifuge enrichment. The technical EROI on nuclear is high enough to be irrelevant, and it’s all about removing unnecessary costs.

Cost represents a form of indirect energy inputs (in the form of societies general level of energy usage). Get costs under control...

Expand full comment
1 more comment...

No posts