What should we replace fossil fuel with in the Power Generation industry?

Question

The US Depertment of Energy says we currently have a generating capacity of about 1 trillion watts. About 70% of that is currently coming from the burning of fossil fuels, about 10% from nuclear, 7.7% hydroelectric dams, 2.4% from wind, solar, geothermal etc. See the link below for the source.

How should we try to change those numbers in the future? I'm looking for the relative proportions of each source you think we should aim for, e.g. "one third solar, one third wind, one third fossil, a little nuclear" or even exact revised persentages. Or even if you think the current numbers are OK.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat2p2.html

Answer 1

WOW that chart was an eye opener!  Doing some quick calculations, it revealed the tremendous  power output of a typical nuke plant to be 1 gigawatt!  That compares to a pitiful 14 megawatts of a so-called  "renewable" source.

To answer your question, I would replace ALL of the current fossil fuel plants by nuclear, and leave all the existing hydro, wind and solar stuff in place at least until they can pay for their construction cost.  If ever.  That would also go a substantial way to divorcing us once and for all from Arab oil.

Solar and wind power are best thought of as niche participants in the strategy since they can be erected where there is no cooling water, such as out in the vast deserts of federally owned lands out west.

Answer 2

Swap the nuclear and the fossil fuel numbers. The other fads will never amount to anything.

Answer 3

I really think it should be hydrogen. Hydrogen is environmentaly friendly and it already starts powering cars. Algae is the source of hydrogen.

Answer 4

Hot air..