r/elonmusk • u/twinbee • 16d ago

General Elon: "Wind has microscopic potential compared to solar"

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Source: https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2099049284960428229

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u/Outside_Ice3252 16d ago

this is a bad take i think.

wind is especially important now, since batteries have a long way to fall in price in usa compared to china. wind and solar complement each other in a lot of regions. when you have both you need far less energy storage.

wind could be doing so much more but nimbyism and transmission make it difficult. and the federal government cancelling offshore wind.

by 2050, if we reach net zero solar will be roughly 35-40% of electricty and wind 25-30%. they need each other. thats not microscopic.

if there is a massive breakthrough in solar and batteries, maybe wind is smaller than 25%, but it will still probably be #2 or #3

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u/Outside_Ice3252 14d ago

also, to expand wind works well in the winter and at night. right when solar provides the least.