

Spain has found a controversial way to boost solar adoption











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RE: Today
By Keeir on 5/14/2009 11:18:45 AM , Rating: 2
In 2008 Spain exported 11.221 GWh witch is quite an accomplishment taking into consideration that in 2008 three nuclear power plants where closed down.

Although I do not know, nor could find a source for your number of 11.221 GWh, keep in mind this number is very very small. Traditionally speaking, Spain imports 5000 GWh a year in balance. 11.221 GWh translates into around 1.3 MW (24 hours a day and 356 days a year) or roughly what 2 2.5MW wind towers would produce.

Average monthly prices (€/Mwh)

So are these Wholesale? Consumer? Average the Distrub. Companies needs to be paid? Given the unit, I am going to go with Wholesale prices. In comparison I offer you
Wholesale prices for Electricity in the United States
Palo Verde is a transition point dominated by the Palo Verde Nuclear Plant, its price per MWh is 34,34 Euros.

In reality, if those are Wholesale prices, the do not reflect the cost of Spanish "Clean" power. According to this article, which unfortunately since I do not speak Spanish I must run with... Spanish power distributors MUST by law purchase all "green" power produced by Spanish power companies which is priced at less than 10 x the rate for coal. Coal is in the United States typically produced and sold for a rate around 30,00 Euros per MWh. In Spain, it probably a bit higher, but even so, Only green power priced at more than 300,00 Euros per MWh will make its way to the Wholesale market in Spain. Spainish Wholesale prices will be governed by the cost to produce the other mixture of powers, IE Coal (since as you point out Nuclear Plants are shutting down).

It seems that clean energy in Spain is cheaper than France's nuclear energy. Maybe the reason is that with nuclear energy you have to spend a huge amount of money on dealing properly with the nuclear waste.

Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong. Speaking in terms of -COST- to produce power, since prices can reflect many situations especially in semi-socialist societys such as Spain and France, Nuclear power cost estimates run 0,02 Euros per kWh to 0,08 Euros per kWh depending on the Study. Wind and Solar are 0,07 to 0,35 Euros per kWh depending on the Study and Location. (Wind can be very cheap, but there is usually a limit on the amount that can be installed in the best wind locations. This varies by country). At its very very very best, Wind power can be produced at the same rate as some of the worst Nuclear Power. Given that Wind Power has high variability, in the long run its costs to transmit and use are unarguably higher than Nuclear.

RE: Today

RE: Today

RE: Today





