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Topic:
Jabbadabbado's Weekly Discussion on Alternative Energy and Conservation
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Mr44
Registered:
May '02
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Date Posted:
7/1 11:14am
Subject:
RE: Jabbadabbado's Weekly Discussion on Alternative Energy and Conservation
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I'm not sure. I thought the result was that the US experienced a 2% drop in overall consumption, but that also included a switch to more coal use from other sources. I don't have the specific article anymore, but it was part of the examination of how China overtook the US as energy consumer.
I'm not sure about the incentive part. I think those in the US are now just getting on board with the idea-which is only increasing. Incentives push things along, of course, but I think the trend is already moving in that direction.
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Jabbadabbado
Registered:
Mar '99
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Date Posted:
7/1 12:24pm
Subject:
RE: Jabbadabbado's Weekly Discussion on Alternative Energy and Conservation
- Date Edited:
7/1 12:32pm (2 edits total)
Edited By:
Jabbadabbado
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Auto Sales Plunge
Here's one interesting trend. Instead of buying new fuel efficient cars, Americans are not buying cars at all.
Some of this may be supply bottlenecks (e.g. the Prius) according to the article, but some consumers are substituting all the way down to scooters and motorcycles.
One predictable consequence of having all the newbie motorcyclist/scooterists on the roads:
One hundred forty-one motorcycle and scooter riders died statewide in the first four months this year, a 27 percent increase from the first four months of 2007, according to TxDOT. Accidents resulting in injuries to riders increased more than 20 percent.
I'm sure that's reflected nationally too. An unfortunate start up cost of transition.
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Jabbadabbado
Registered:
Mar '99
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Date Posted:
7/18 7:44am
Subject:
RE: Jabbadabbado's Weekly Discussion on Alternative Energy and Conservation
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Al Gore's Energy Speech
Here's the deal: there is no way in hell we can get to 100% renewable energy in decade. However, we should try to get as close as we can. $100-$150 billion a year in public/private investment toward this end is a doable goal. The economics work, especially for wind energy. The electrical grid needs to be overhauled anyway and connected up nationally. It's time to build windmills everywhere. Despite the erratic quality of wind power, the wind is always blowing somewhere. Right now, a lot of it is blowing straight out of Al Gore's ass.
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Jansons_Funny_Twin
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
7/18 5:36pm
Subject:
RE: Jabbadabbado's Weekly Discussion on Alternative Energy and Conservation
- Date Edited:
7/18 5:37pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Jansons_Funny_Twin
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Al Gore posted:
Scientists have confirmed that enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth every 40 minutes to meet 100 percent of the entire world’s energy needs for a full year.
The whole entire surface of the world. I'm betting that counts the ocean. Are we going to have off-shore solar rigs? And how do we transmit that energy back to the land? And what kind of environmental impact would the sufficiently large solar arrays have?
Is it true what he says? Yes, I'm sure it is, but it's also irrelevant, since we can't access it in the quantities he's suggesting.
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SuperWatto
Registered:
Sep '00
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Date Posted:
7/18 6:12pm
Subject:
RE: Jabbadabbado's Weekly Discussion on Alternative Energy and Conservation
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Yeah, we need a Dyson sphere around the Sun.
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VadersLaMent
Registered:
Apr '02
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Date Posted:
7/20 8:14am
Subject:
RE: Jabbadabbado's Weekly Discussion on Alternative Energy and Conservation
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Yes he probably means the entire disk of the Earth gets enough energy in 40 minutes for a year's worth of energy. So no we do not need to cover the entire Earth with solar panels, only enough to cover what we need on a dialy basis which is far smaller. You can have 24 hour solar power because we can store heat and use it as needed. Bucks. A solar power system needs investment and yes it could easily be done in less than ten years.
There has been a breakthrough too recently in printable sheets of solar panels and the structure of the sheet actually focusing solar energy in the way a magnifying glass does.
I see a struggle coming. Right now there is this push to get offshore drilling going in which we will not see the results of for 7 years. Folks like Al Gore say we can get off such stuff in around the same time frame. Oil vs alternatives.
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Neo-Paladin
Registered:
Dec '04
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Date Posted:
7/20 7:11pm
Subject:
RE: Jabbadabbado's Weekly Discussion on Alternative Energy and Conservation
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Well, for solar we need to cover our daily usage, plus night usage, plus storage, plus transmission, plus making up the inherent loss in incident solar power from at high latitude (not to mention seasonal change in hours of daylight) plus loss from cloud cover. Bottom line, you need more than twice your daily electrical consumption in capacity or it's a no go.
Think wind is better? Wind turbines typically have a 1/3 capacity factor (frequently less, and suitable sites will become scarce in many regions). Bottom line you need more than three times your daily electrical consumption in capacity or it's a no go.
Yeah, I'm a little miffed that fission power has been ignored. I had hoped for better. I had hoped engineering realities wouldn't be neglected for fantasy.
Should we increase our renewables portfolio? Absolutely, without hesitation.
Should renewables provide the entire baseload power? Not a chance.
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