David Ferguson, Sustainable, digital generalist

Written 16 Dec 2014

https://www.quora.com/What-arguments-are-used-against-renewable-energy-What-is-the-
validity-of-these-arguments

Here in Europe, the main arguments against renewables are:

1) cost
2) reliability
3) scale

Cost - valid, but manageable

Overall, renewables are more expensive than fossil fuels, but this is changing quickly
and, obviously, there are different types of renewables. Onshore wind is pretty much cost
competitive and offshore wind is heading that way but will liley remain more expensive.
Large scale solar PV is coming down in cost very quickly. All the different flavours of hydro
(marine, tidal stream, dams, run-of-river) are more expensive but some large-scale projects
(the Severn Barrage in the UK, for example) are looking pretty attractive.

If the full cost of fossil fuel generation (including climate impact) were included then I think
the costs would be comparable.

Intermittency - valid, but manageable

This is an issue, but it can be managed by thinking about the overall energy system.
Over reliance on one renewable technology could result both in massive variability in output
over short time periods and in severe risk of big gaps in generation. The way round this is
a) a dispersed portfolio of generation connected by a wide grid and
b) clean gas on standby. (Yes, backup generation ups the overall price, but it's
cheaper than having half the planet die of climate-induced starvation IMHO). In Europe
some are pushing for a continental strategy comprising solar (PV and CSP) in the
Mediterranean, biomass in Poland and Scandinavia, nuclear in France, wind in the North
Sea, tidal in the Atlantic and so on.

I love this conceptual map from the Office for Metropolitan Architecture for the European
Climate Foundation project.
Scale - valid, but manageable

This is the real killer. Renewables are so much less energy dense than conventional
generation, meaning so much more land is required. The British economist David McKay
estimated (http://www.withouthotair.com/c10...) that to meet the UK's electricity needs from
offshore wind would require 44,000 3MW turbines in a 4km wide band around the entire
3,000km coastline of the country. And if the wind stops, well...

However, many renewable technologies are very scalable. The much hyped DeserTec project
pointed to a new model for electricity generation for Europe with massive (MASSIVE) PV
arrays in North Africa. Difficult, expensive... but do-able.

All of these problems are surmountable. Doing so requires a new, far more complex, energy
system with new technologies and new policy tools. The really fun bit will come when electic
vehicles and demand-side-management become a mainstream reality. Finally, we would have
the beginnings of a sustainable energy system.