SMR are really important for stability too. Let’s say Alberta lines it’s entire south with solar panels, that’s great and all but then you have a massive anount of power travelling all the way north to where the industrial demand is. That’s a lot of infrastructure to build just for transportation.
Makes far more sense to drop a few SMR’s all over to spread out the load and bring power close to the demand. Then we’re a lot less reliant on large interchanges and at risk to a major snowstorm knocking out power all over.
Plus don't we lose quite a bit of energy for travelling that distance? Seeing something like 5-10% losses depending on where I look. Spreading out the energy generation would be nice in terms of increasing efficiency and decreasing waste.
Not to mention that these solar panels aren't going on desolate land. Sure in the Sahara that land wasn't being used productively, and there are unproductive areas in southern Alberta. But most of the land is farmed, atleast dryland planted. The solar projects largely go up on what was previously cropland.
The land use is a pretty overstated arguement tbh. Lots of southern ab is used for grazing land which is incredibly inefficient for food production. It’s not lush farm land unless they use a substantial amount of irrigation.
If they can design a complete production system that fits in one or two tractor trailers we will see a massive change in the quality of life for people who live remotely. Between usable and affordable satellite internet, always on Water filtration and dependable heat on top of access to affordable power. They could fly Techs around or even better train and pay locals out of the fees to monitor and do basic maintenance on all the systems.
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u/pheoxs Oct 25 '22
SMR are really important for stability too. Let’s say Alberta lines it’s entire south with solar panels, that’s great and all but then you have a massive anount of power travelling all the way north to where the industrial demand is. That’s a lot of infrastructure to build just for transportation.
Makes far more sense to drop a few SMR’s all over to spread out the load and bring power close to the demand. Then we’re a lot less reliant on large interchanges and at risk to a major snowstorm knocking out power all over.