A Clean Energy Conundrum

A recent New York Times article ("Windmill and Solar Panels, or Nuclear Reactors", NY Times, 11/14/16) highlights what could be an interesting dilemma for both developing and industrialized nations seeking to de-carbonize in tandem with the Paris Accord.

The article describes the tension between the development of concentrated solar power (CSP) and the potential use of nuclear power—both types of generation, with no carbon dioxide emissions but higher costs than conventional natural gas-fired generation and de-centralized (rooftop and standard commercial scale photovoltaics) solar resources.

Referencing the commencement of generation from Abengoa's Khi Solar One CSP facility in Upington, South Africa, the article poses the question of whether continued pursuit or renewable generation with its inherent intermittency is appropriate, or whether South Africa should pursue the development of three new nuclear-generating stations with their baseload benefits, but