How much energy storage would it take
How much energy storage would be needed, per capita, to sustain status-quo "developed country"-type material conditions without fossil fuels?
Vehicles
Battery EVs
ev.battery
65.2 kWh
Energy capacity of the average electric vehicle battery
Useable battery capacity of full electric vehicles
https://ev-database.org/cheatsheet/useable-battery-capacity-electric-car
https://ev-database.org/cheatsheet/useable-battery-capacity-electric-car
usa.registered_vehicles
275.9 million
Number of registered vehicles in the USA
Top Numbers Driving America's Gasoline Demand
https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/blog/2022/05/26/top-numbers-driving-americas-gasoline-demand
https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/blog/2022/05/26/top-numbers-driving-americas-gasoline-demand
usa.population
334416477
Number of people living in the USA
United States Population (Live) - Worldometer
www.worldometers.info › world-population › us-population
Last updated April 7 2022
www.worldometers.info › world-population › us-population
Last updated April 7 2022
Simple estimate: 54 kWh [Show calculation] (calculation loading)
Hydrogen combustion
This section has not been filled in yet.
Energy sources, by scenario
energy_demand
3090.5158 watts per capita
Power needed per person (averaged over time; not peak power)
From page: How much electricity would it take. Includes a lot more than just home electricity. Includes the energy used in all industries & transportation.
li_ion.energy_by_mass
163 watt hours per kilogram
Specific energy of a lithium-ion battery
https://www.cei.washington.edu/education/science-of-solar/battery-technology/
The article provides a range of values: 100 to 265 Wh/kg
We take the geometric average: 163 Wh/kg
https://www.fluxpower.com/blog/what-is-the-energy-density-of-a-lithium-ion-battery
The article also provides a range: 50 to 260 Wh/kg
I assume that article is a bit older since the range is lower.
The article provides a range of values: 100 to 265 Wh/kg
We take the geometric average: 163 Wh/kg
https://www.fluxpower.com/blog/what-is-the-energy-density-of-a-lithium-ion-battery
The article also provides a range: 50 to 260 Wh/kg
I assume that article is a bit older since the range is lower.
hydrogen_gas.energy_by_mass
120 MJ/kg
"By contrast, hydrogen has an energy density of approximately 120 MJ/kg , almost three times more than diesel or gasoline. In electrical terms, the energy density of hydrogen is equal to 33.6 kWh of usable energy per kg, versus diesel which only holds about 12–14 kWh per kg."
Oct 2, 2019
Run on Less with Hydrogen Fuel Cells - RMI
rmi.org › Blog
Oct 2, 2019
Run on Less with Hydrogen Fuel Cells - RMI
rmi.org › Blog
All solar
Quick estimate
- 74 kWh short-term storage - equivalent to 455 kg of lithium-ion batteries
- 6773 kWh long-term storage - equivalent to 203 kg of hydrogen gas (but its container might be much heavier - several tons perhaps)
(calculation loading) (calculation loading)
(calculation loading) (calculation loading)
Estimates from real data
This section has not been filled in yet.
Mix of wind and solar
Estimates from real data
This section has not been filled in yet.
All nuclear
If nuclear plants are properly designed to adjust to the fluctuating electricity demand, then No energy storage would be needed, except in electric vehicles.
Other / more detailed analyses
If you'd like to do a similar analysis to the one on this page, you can add your link to it here.