[yladiz]

Is it cheaper factoring in externalities?

[phil21]

Yes, because the primary externality is an unreliable power grid. That externality is being priced into the unreliable sources of production.

Any other externality is a rounding error against an unreliable electric grid.

[LorenPechtel]

While I agree that the unreliable grid dominates I don't see how that says it's been factored in. The cost is hidden, pushed off onto the existing powerplants which run less of the time and thus cost more per kwh actually produced. This "works" until you don't have enough gas when it's calm and things go badly.

Most places simply do not have a high enough percentage of renewables to hit this yet. Last I knew Hawaii had hit a different wall--while in theory a transformer works equally well in both directions real world engineering of high power transformers doesn't work that way. The substations can't push power up, thus solar connections were prohibited if they could cause the situation to occur. (You can't have panels if too many of your neighbors do.)

[7thpower]

Two can play the externalities game.

[stinkbeetle]

Externalities such as destroying your manufacturing base and eroding living standards and middle-class wealth by having 4x higher electricity costs than a country like China which emits 2x more CO2 per capita?

[7952]

Rest assured that the UK would have damaged manufacturing and living standards regardless of renewables. It is just too complicated and expensive to build things. That not only damages the things you mentioned but renewables, gas and nuclear deployment.

But yeah bet against the Chinese solar and battery industries. And bet in favour of cheap plentiful gas in northern Europe.