Prediction: Coal has fallen. Nuclear is next then Oil.

[mspohr]

June: Fossil fuel consumption subsidies bounced back strongly in 2018

The new data for 2018 show a one-third increase in the estimated value of these subsidies, to more than $400 billion. The estimates for oil, gas and fossil-fuelled electricity have all increased significantly, reflecting the higher price for fuels (which, in the presence of an artificially low end-user price, increases the estimated value of the subsidy). The continued prevalence of these subsidies – more than double the estimated subsidies to renewables – greatly complicates the task of achieving an early peak in global emissions.

 

[S'toon]

 

[S'toon]

Things you'll never see at a wind farm or solar farm:
Massive fire and explosions rip through Philadelphia oil refinery

 

[mspohr]

Things you'll never see at a wind farm or solar farm:
Massive fire and explosions rip through Philadelphia oil refinery

Here's a great quote:
“Still, I believe that there is room for improvement, both in the operation of the refinery in light of two fires in as many weeks, and in the communication to residents," he said.

Also very remarkable:

Preliminary testing at the refinery “found no ambient carbon monoxide, hyrocarbons (combustibles), or hydrogen sulfides," according to the city Office of Emergency Management, which is awaiting results from additional air pollution testing from the Air Management Services lab.

What was burning?
A few more news stories:

Explosions rip through South Philadelphia refinery, triggering major fire and injuring 5

Penn report: City should prepare for S. Philly refinery closure

 

[mspohr]

General Electric to scrap California power plant 20 years early

NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Electric Co said on Friday it plans to demolish a large power plant it owns in California after only one-third of its useful life because the plant is no longer economically viable.

The 750-megawatt natural gas-fired plant, known as the Inland Empire Energy Center, uses two of GE's H-Class turbines, developed last decade, before the company's successor gas turbine, the flagship HA model, which uses different technology.

The closure illustrates stiff competition in the deregulated energy market as cheap wind and solar supply more electricity, squeezing out fossil fuels. Some utilities say they have no plans to build more fossil plants.

 

[Johan]

General Electric to scrap California power plant 20 years early

NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Electric Co said on Friday it plans to demolish a large power plant it owns in California after only one-third of its useful life because the plant is no longer economically viable.

The 750-megawatt natural gas-fired plant, known as the Inland Empire Energy Center, uses two of GE's H-Class turbines, developed last decade, before the company's successor gas turbine, the flagship HA model, which uses different technology.

The closure illustrates stiff competition in the deregulated energy market as cheap wind and solar supply more electricity, squeezing out fossil fuels. Some utilities say they have no plans to build more fossil plants.

Imagine the guys who made the economic models for Natural Gas "peaker" plants. They have to feel so stupid by now.

 

[mspohr]

Imagine the guys who made the economic models for Natural Gas "peaker" plants. They have to feel so stupid by now.

GE went all in on gas turbine plants (even buying Alstom). They are now reaping the reward for their stupidity.

 

[Johan]

GE went all in on gas turbine plants (even buying Alstom). They are now reaping the reward for their stupidity.

Whenever I hear of stupid s**t that GE is doing I always imagine Alec Baldwin's character from 30 Rock.

 

[nwdiver]

GE went all in on gas turbine plants (even buying Alstom). They are now reaping the reward for their stupidity.

It's hard to tell how much of this is due to market forces and how much is due to subsidization by states to save obsolete thermal generators. I was listening to 'The Energy Transition' podcast for June 12th and they brought up the fact that many 'base load' thermal plants are operated at a loss then the utility will recoup those losses in the next rate case. Peakers generally don't benefit from this kind of assistance. Every MW that a base load plant produces at a loss manipulates the wholesale market price and depresses the margins of peakers.

 

[Dutchie]

Why renewables can't save the planet

.

 

[nwdiver]

Why renewables can't save the planet

.

True... which is why Hydrogen still has a future. Renewables using H2 or CH4 as storage absolutely can

 

[S'toon]

It's hard to tell how much of this is due to market forces and how much is due to subsidization by states to save obsolete thermal generators. I was listening to 'The Energy Transition' podcast for June 12th and they brought up the fact that many 'base load' thermal plants are operated at a loss then the utility will recoup those losses in the next rate case. Peakers generally don't benefit from this kind of assistance. Every MW that a base load plant produces at a loss manipulates the wholesale market price and depresses the margins of peakers.

GE bet on fossil fuels, lost nearly $200B in misjudging renewable energy transition, study says

 

[nwdiver]

GE bet on fossil fuels, lost nearly $200B in misjudging renewable energy transition, study says

That's only part of the picture. Subsidizing thermal generators is distorting wholesale markets just as much if not more.

 

[Johan]

Why renewables can't save the planet

.

This is a joke right?

 

[Dr. J]

Why renewables can't save the planet

.

Two construction workers died in a wind farm installation. And nobody has ever died from nuclear power. Right.
List of nuclear and radiation accidents by death toll - Wikipedia

Just tell the truth is a good starting point. And I guess he hasn't heard of batteries.

 

[nwdiver]

This is a joke right?

Shill'n Berger is a joke.... but I don't think he thinks he's joking....

 

[Dr. J]

This is a joke right?

I especially liked the part where he criticizes/compares the mass of materials used in different energy types, but neglects to mention the highly radioactive nature of nuclear waste. "Easily contained."

 

[Johan]

Two construction workers died in a wind farm installation. And nobody has ever died from nuclear power. Right.
List of nuclear and radiation accidents by death toll - Wikipedia

Just tell the truth is a good starting point. And I guess he hasn't heard of batteries.

Did you see his his picture of "a room" with some containers of waste which constitutes "all the waste from the entire Swiss nuclear program"? Ah, the famous Swiss nuclear program? Jokes aside he has a kindish point - Switzerland does derive about 1/3 of its electricity from 4 nuclear plants (Nuclear power in Switzerland - Wikipedia). Still though pretty bad for TED talk. Especially the way he blasts solar.

 

[Dutchie]

Two construction workers died in a wind farm installation. And nobody has ever died from nuclear power. Right.
List of nuclear and radiation accidents by death toll - Wikipedia

Just tell the truth is a good starting point. And I guess he hasn't heard of batteries.

Did he say that nobody died from nuclear power? NO he didn't. He showed a graph that per tWh energy produced, nuclear has the least amount of deaths. The two construction workers on a wind turbine was an anecdote, Just to say that there are deaths due to wind turbines as well.

BTW batteries are not the answer. You cannot provide the grid with battery power. It is usable as an immediate peak performance in order to prevent black-outs like it is done in Australia but not for continues power to fuel the grid.

 

[Dutchie]

Did you see his his picture of "a room" with some containers of waste which constitutes "all the waste from the entire Swiss nuclear program"? Ah, the famous Swiss nuclear program? Jokes aside he has a kindish point - Switzerland does derive about 1/3 of its electricity from 4 nuclear plants (Nuclear power in Switzerland - Wikipedia). Still though pretty bad for TED talk. Especially the way he blasts solar.

Why bad, because he is critical of solar? He has some points.