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Comment by Maximus9000 | Hacker News Reader

I agree, but not with the "50%" number.

“Without technological breakthroughs in efficient, large scale energy storage, it will be difficult to rely on intermittent renewables for much more than 20-30 percent of our electricity.” Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy - 2010.

https://grist.org/article/2010-02-22-energy-secretary-steven...

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The how does Denmark manage 60%, and Germany 50%?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_renewab...

Technically, from your own numbers... Denmarks intermittent renewables (wind + solar) is 43%. Germany is 34%. Biofuel & Hydro are not intermittent.

I don't know, that's pretty impressive. Maybe they have international connectors with other countries? I think Germany buys Nuclear power from France? or maybe they have a super stable kind of wind.

Germany is a net-exporter of electricity to France. Especially in summer when nuclear reactors have to be shut down, because the water temperature in the streams they use already is too high or when the tide is too low, or in winter when the rivers freeze.

They export cheap wind-generated power to Norway when the wind is blowing, and import it back for a higher price when it isn't.

Norway has a lot of hydro which they used the revenues from North Sea oil to install. (Their geography and population density also helps.)

"This article is a list of countries and territories by electricity generation from renewable sources every year. Note that most countries import and/or export electricity, so the percentage figures do not reflect the percentage of consumption that is renewable based. "

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