The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) reports that Germany generated 72.2 TWh of solar in Germany in 2024, accounting for 14% of total electricity generation.
They do. But you need to reduce the generation to make sure you don’t heat up too much the water for the ecosystem that lives in. Less water means the temperature difference before and after the plant is higher. That’s the constrain.
Why don’t they work in the summer?
The rivers used for cooling are either too warm or too low
Interesting… I would have thought they would have steam generators that pull out the heat, and also have some control over the power output.
All thermal power plants use steam generators. And they need lots of water for that.
Rivers are free and renewable. Electrical energy from nuclear is already the most expensive as it is.
They do. But you need to reduce the generation to make sure you don’t heat up too much the water for the ecosystem that lives in. Less water means the temperature difference before and after the plant is higher. That’s the constrain.