If we're looking at bare minimum cost then batteries are 10x cheaper than batteries.
And being capable of seasonal storage doesn't stop you from using it for daily storage. It's less efficient than batteries, but you can overcome that.
Let's say you can make a 24 hour power source with $10M in solar panels and $20M in batteries, including the other equipment and costs. $30M total. If we need twice as much solar for thermal storage, but the storage only costs $1M, then that's $21M for an equivalent system.
What stops systems like that from being built right now? I was under the impression that batteries were most of the cost if you want them to last more than a few hours.
And being capable of seasonal storage doesn't stop you from using it for daily storage. It's less efficient than batteries, but you can overcome that.
Let's say you can make a 24 hour power source with $10M in solar panels and $20M in batteries, including the other equipment and costs. $30M total. If we need twice as much solar for thermal storage, but the storage only costs $1M, then that's $21M for an equivalent system.
What stops systems like that from being built right now? I was under the impression that batteries were most of the cost if you want them to last more than a few hours.