Renewable Energy Brings New Variables to Already Complicated Energy Markets

There are times I think we’re right around the corner from an aggressive path towards clean energy — and other times when it seems that we’re a million miles away. In response to my piece about Abu Dhabi’s strange decision to commission nuclear power plants, AltEnergyStocks Tom Konrad writes:

CSP would be a much better match for air-conditioning driven peaks, and could be “big,” too. But maybe a tiny country like Abu Dhabi does not have enough domestic land for CSP, and aren’t willing to import electricity from a neighboring emirate.

Yes, CSP would be incredible, given the synchronicity with the load, which, as I mentioned, is a whopping 85% air conditioning.  But I’m sure you’re right about the landmass.

And what you say about their not wanting to buy power reminds me of the unique rules, idiosyncrasies, traditions, and hidden relationships that exist in each of the 180+ countries on Earth. Even within our 50 states, there is a daunting number of regional, state and local rules that were put into place to make money for the energy industry, while regulating that industry so consumers didn’t get totally fleeced.

Now enter renewables, with their own set of variables: intermittencies, grid-tie and transmission issues, environmental consequences, suitability for certain kinds of storage, etc. It’s really going to require a whole new set of thinking.  Are we intellectually capable — and honest enough to make all this happen?  It remains to be seen.