No real alternatives to fossil fuels ..

Though the energy storage solution looks interesting, what'll scupper this plan is the (unavoidable) inefficiency of the Rankine cycle.

...I've been thinking about this solution over the day. I stand by my original observation that using the Rankine cycle and a turbine to generate power from stored heat is poor utilisation. However, it would have two very useful benefits:

a) Making otherwise un-dispatchable power (wind turbines, solar) be able to perform MVar control (only performed by large rotating machines)
b) Making the same un-dispatchable power also perform grid frequency control. (Only performed by specialist hydro, coal, oil, gas, or perhaps nuclear {not currently in the UK} )

Both of the above are vital for a stable grid, and neither can be performed by solar or wind. It's why a nationwide grid can never be solely powered by either.

Nozzle
 
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b) Making the same un-dispatchable power also perform grid frequency control. (Only performed by specialist hydro, coal, oil, gas, or perhaps nuclear {not currently in the UK} )
You might think that, but happily you'd be wrong.

Synthetic inertia is available from.modern wind turbines.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/can-synthetic-inertia-stabilize-power-grids
And batteries can do it too (probably, it's being tested):
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/10...est-with-big-battery-registered-in-australia/
I think all hydro electric features inertia too, it's a function of the spinning mass of the turbines after all.
 
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