Archive:000/Scale up wind power

Can wind power be scaled up enough to decarbonize energy production?

Yes, with limitations:

Limitations

Wind power is highly intermittent, so much so that batteries wouldn't be enough. Surplusi.e. during any moments when the generated electricity exceeds the local immediate demand wind power would mostly be stored by producing hydrogen gas, which would later be used for thermal energy (combustion) mostly: ^{[see why]}Non-combustion uses of hydrogen gas energy are less scalable; i.e. hydrogen fuel cell vehicles would need far too many platinum-group metals (PGMs). It's true that hydrogen production also needs PGMs, but nowhere near as much of them.

• used for heating homes
• used for cooking food (gas stoves)
• used in vehicles
• used in place of coal & gas combustion in most manufacturing industries

Solar and/or nuclear would still be needed for electricity whenever the wind isn't blowing.