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That enormous solar price is obtained by a not very well described adjustment procedure for variance in supply. It is not the usually described levelized cost of energy (LCoE). The adjustment would depend on system design, and should be much lower than that in a cost optimized renewable system.

If I go to https://model.energy/ and ask it to solve for a cost optimized renewable + storage system for Ontario, I get a cost out of 55 Euro/MWh for providing synthetic baseload (2030 cost assumptions). That solution doesn't include using hydro to deal with variance in supply and demand; Canada has large amounts of hydro.




> That enormous solar price is obtained by a not very well described adjustment procedure for variance in supply.

Well, the price is irrelevant when solar supply (and wind supply) goes to zero:

* https://www.ieso.ca/power-data § Supply

> […] Canada has large amounts of hydro.

Some parts of Canada have large amounts of hydro. Others do not.

I'd rather use hydro to reduce/eliminate gas plants:

* https://www.ieso.ca/power-data § Supply

Looking at the variability of renewables, I do not wish for the grid in Ontario (where I live) to be more dependent on them.


The model at the site I linked uses real historical weather data, so it takes into account "supply going to zero". Renewables still win and come in much cheaper than $0.50/kWh.




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