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Green energy has overtaken total Nuclear energy productionFollow

#1 Aug 27 2011 at 12:43 PM Rating: Excellent
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ABC wrote:
worldwide installed capacity of renewable energy has now surpassed that of nuclear power. In fact, global investment in clean energy, driven by enlightened, forward-looking national policies, grew to a record US$243 billion in 2010, up 30 per cent from the previous year.

Indeed, in less than a decade, clean energy has grown from a niche industry to a significant source of trade, investment, manufacturing, and job creation. Since 2004, annual investment in the sector has increased by an impressive 630 per cent. We need to ensure that this encouraging trend continues.


LINKY.

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By the end of this year, solar modules are expected to cost half as much as they did four years ago. ...Europe continues to lead the world in such investment, attracting US$94.4 billion in 2010, a 25 per cent gain over 2009. Investment in Germany more than doubled, to US$41.2 billion, surpassing the United States to take second place globally.


Edited, Aug 27th 2011 2:54pm by Aripyanfar
#2 Aug 27 2011 at 12:54 PM Rating: Excellent
Natural gas and coal are still the best bet. At least that's what the ads paid for by the natural gas and coal associations tell me.
#3 Aug 27 2011 at 1:00 PM Rating: Good
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Natural gas is actually a really good transition energy source. And it is BRILLIANT when used in CHPs. But it needs to be sourced from deposits other than coal seams, because extracting N.Gas from coal seams totally ***** people, their houses, and farms over when the waste flows back into the water table and aquifers. Deadly Poison, Dude. Flaming tap-water.
#4 Aug 27 2011 at 1:57 PM Rating: Excellent
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I was inforned frackking was totally safe. Why would the CEO of a gas company lie to me?
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#5 Aug 27 2011 at 2:11 PM Rating: Excellent
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So he can frackk you good and hard?
#6 Aug 28 2011 at 8:22 AM Rating: Excellent
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Aripyanfar wrote:
So he can frackk you good and hard?

I could use a good frackking
#7 Aug 29 2011 at 9:31 AM Rating: Good
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Frack you later, Frankenpuss.
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#8 Aug 29 2011 at 12:09 PM Rating: Excellent
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Fracking news.
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#9 Aug 30 2011 at 10:32 PM Rating: Good
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I'm really disappointed. Where are the people crying that forcing a changeover to sustainable power will cost jobs? Where are the people crying that sustainable power will never provide baseload energy? And before you say it doesn't, bay I direct your enquiries to tidal power, several designs of which have taken off, which go all day every day, except at two perfectly predictable times at slacktide?
#10 Aug 31 2011 at 6:33 AM Rating: Good
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Wind farms are beautiful.
#11 Aug 31 2011 at 9:07 AM Rating: Good
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It's good that we're moving away from fossil fuels, but neglecting Nuclear power during the transition is a mistake.
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#12 Aug 31 2011 at 10:10 AM Rating: Excellent
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Aripyanfar wrote:
Quote:
By the end of this year, solar modules are expected to cost half as much as they did four years ago. ...Europe continues to lead the world in such investment, attracting US$94.4 billion in 2010, a 25 per cent gain over 2009. Investment in Germany more than doubled, to US$41.2 billion, surpassing the United States to take second place globally.

If Europe were really so great, they would have stated the values in Euros.

Suck it, Europe.
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#13 Aug 31 2011 at 3:11 PM Rating: Decent
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Aripyanfar wrote:
I'm really disappointed. Where are the people crying that forcing a changeover to sustainable power will cost jobs? Where are the people crying that sustainable power will never provide baseload energy? And before you say it doesn't, bay I direct your enquiries to tidal power, several designs of which have taken off, which go all day every day, except at two perfectly predictable times at slacktide?


Because that's never been the argument? The argument has been that these alternative forms of energy are less efficient at producing energy than the forms they're replacing. An article praising the massive amounts of money spent on those alternatives doesn't exactly change that, does it? It just shows how broadly the exact wrong measures of success are used in our media.

Try comparing the total cost per unit of energy for these alternatives. That's where the real story is. But articles like this don't want to tell that side of it. It's all spin.
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#14 Aug 31 2011 at 3:43 PM Rating: Good
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Because that's never been the argument? The argument has been that these alternative forms of energy are less efficient at producing energy than the forms they're replacing. An article praising the massive amounts of money spent on those alternatives doesn't exactly change that, does it? It just shows how broadly the exact wrong measures of success are used in our media.
Slavery is the most efficient source of labor. What is your point?
#15 Aug 31 2011 at 3:44 PM Rating: Excellent
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Because that's never been the argument? The argument has been that these alternative forms of energy are less efficient at producing energy than the forms they're replacing. An article praising the massive amounts of money spent on those alternatives doesn't exactly change that, does it? It just shows how broadly the exact wrong measures of success are used in our media.
Slavery is the most efficient source of labor. What is your point?


The point is that we need slaves to run on large hamster wheels to produce energy.

SOLVED.
#16 Aug 31 2011 at 3:44 PM Rating: Excellent
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Egyptians had the right idea.
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#17 Aug 31 2011 at 3:47 PM Rating: Good
What if we put the slaves in slutty clothing, is it 'less bad' to rape them?
#18 Aug 31 2011 at 4:13 PM Rating: Good
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Admiral Lubriderm wrote:
What if we put the slaves in slutty clothing, is it 'less bad' to rape them?


As you know first hand, it's not rape to have sex with your own property.
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#19 Aug 31 2011 at 5:14 PM Rating: Excellent
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I think one of the big points of "new" energy is the de-centralization of energy production. Transporting electricity over hundreds of miles with high-voltage lines is, I seem to recall, horribly inefficient and destroys large swathes of the environment, among other problems. Lining homes and other buildings with solar cells, mini wind turbines, etc. requires zero transportation. Large cities, industrial complexes and other constructs of that nature will of course require much more power demands but not nearly as much as also servicing all of the supporting suburbs, outlying towns, smaller cities and the odd hick villages out in the middle of nowhere.
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#20 Aug 31 2011 at 8:07 PM Rating: Decent
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Debalic wrote:
I think one of the big points of "new" energy is the de-centralization of energy production.


There are trade-offs in both directions though. One of the pluses of centralization is that the pollution generation portion of the power generation is all in one place where it can be contained as well as possible (and not put right in someone's backyard). We don't know yet what environmental effects having solar panels on every roof and wind turbines in every backyard will have. And we also don't know what'll happen 10-20 years out when all the stuff we're putting on people's roofs and in their backyards break down and end out in a landfill. Centralized systems can be monitored and regulated far better than decentralized ones can.

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Transporting electricity over hundreds of miles with high-voltage lines is, I seem to recall, horribly inefficient and destroys large swathes of the environment, among other problems.


Actually electricity lines are arguably the most efficient means of transporting power. But the bigger issue is that even with all the solar panels and wind turbines, nearly every house that's hooked to the grid today will be hooked to the grind 10 years from now. Certainly, unless every house in a neighborhood disconnects fully (which isn't really feasible since it's not sunny and/or windy all the time), the parts of our electric grid with the largest impact will remain in place. Most of that stuff is underground anyway. Again, you're replacing wires under the ground in most cases, with solar panels and wind turbines which are above ground. I'm not sure that's an improvement.

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Lining homes and other buildings with solar cells, mini wind turbines, etc. requires zero transportation.


Except getting them to the homes, installing them, and then removing them when they eventually fail or are replaced. And as I pointed out above, you're still going to have wires hooked to your home. The grid will still be in place. You may be drawing less off it, and I absolutely think that's a good direction to go. But it's not a magic bullet either.


Quote:
Large cities, industrial complexes and other constructs of that nature will of course require much more power demands but not nearly as much as also servicing all of the supporting suburbs, outlying towns, smaller cities and the odd hick villages out in the middle of nowhere.



I think a better sell is to look at the cost per unit of energy. That tells us if something is more or less efficient. Solar cells are rapidly getting there. The one unknown is the environmental impact from making and then disposing of the cells themselves. The solar power is renewable but the materials used in the cells are not. Wind isn't even remotely close to cost effective and it's hard to see if there's a path that will ever make it so.


I think that there are lots of good reasons to pursue alternative energy. I just also happen to think that most of the reasons people are sold for using them *aren't*. This causes us to incorrectly evaluate the true value or cost of what we're doing. I'd prefer we chart a course based on good solid science and planning rather than based on the equivalent of ideological advertising.
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#21 Sep 01 2011 at 8:30 AM Rating: Excellent
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Yes, we all know how you value solid science

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I think a better sell is to look at the cost per unit of energy. That tells us if something is more or less efficient. Solar cells are rapidly getting there. The one unknown is the environmental impact from making and then disposing of the cells themselves. The solar power is renewable but the materials used in the cells are not. Wind isn't even remotely close to cost effective and it's hard to see if there's a path that will ever make it so.
I don't disagree with this sentiment generally, but I'm not sure I can really take your statement about wind not having a path to become more cost effective seriously. Solar was certainly terribly non cost effective, but by continuing to persue it it became better. You can't evaluate future energy possibilities by how they perform now.

Edited, Sep 1st 2011 9:33am by Xsarus
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#22 Sep 01 2011 at 8:35 AM Rating: Decent
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gbaji wrote:



I think that there are lots of good reasons to pursue alternative energy. I just also happen to think that most of the reasons people are sold for using them *aren't*. This causes us to incorrectly evaluate the true value or cost of what we're doing. I'd prefer we chart a course based on good solid science and planning rather than based on the equivalent of ideological advertising.

You make assumptions you have no right to make, and then make judgement calls and accusations based on those assumptions.

I would like to see us diversify our energy sources for many reasons

1. A diverse market is a healthy competitive market.

2. Regional considerations to efficiency. Solar may be the best choice for those in the desert while wind for those on the coast, etc etc.

3. Cleanliness and healthyness to the over-all environment/ecology.

4. Accessibility and sustainability.

5. Cradle to grave considerations. ie, Currently solar panels produce good clean energy though unreliable. However, the solar panel, once unusable has some disposal issues (platinum). These can be worked out, emissions can be scrubbed, metals can be retained, solventy stuffs can be broke down to inert substances - lets see how willing the industries are to take responsibility. This is where nuclear really takes a hit as we still have no good disposal options for spent fuel.

6. Newer and better stuff can continue to be R&D's IF there is not a monopoly on one energy source as they will tend to stifle anything that might be viable competition.

Edited, Sep 1st 2011 4:45pm by Elinda
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#23 Sep 01 2011 at 8:50 AM Rating: Excellent
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You also have falling water hydro, tidal and geothermal which I suspect make up a good portion of that "renewables are bigger than nuclear" number. If you're waving the eco-flag, you may want to consider the fate of China's rivers (and those of the American West) before cheering too loudly.

Wind power can be effective but you need the right areas for it and those areas aren't in wide supply. Regionally though it can be of use. My personal dream is a mixture of nuclear and natural gas augmented by solar with traditional coal & oil plants filling the holes. Sprinkle with wind and hydro-types as regionally effective.
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#24 Sep 01 2011 at 8:53 AM Rating: Good
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You also have falling water hydro, tidal and geothermal which I suspect make up a good portion of that "renewables are bigger than nuclear" number. If you're waving the eco-flag, you may want to consider the fate of China's rivers (and those of the American West) before cheering too loudly.

Wind power can be effective but you need the right areas for it and those areas aren't in wide supply. Regionally though it can be of use. My personal dream is a mixture of nuclear and natural gas augmented by solar with traditional coal & oil plants filling the holes. Sprinkle with wind and hydro-types as regionally effective.

The Salad Bowl energy approach.
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#25 Sep 01 2011 at 9:02 AM Rating: Excellent
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When you're thinking about renewables you kind of have to go that way, don't you? A solar panel in Phoenix is worth more than one in Seattle. Our geothermal resources are out west. Many wind-heavy places aren't near anything and not every river or coast is suitable for hydroelectric applications.

I think a realistic approach also requires admitting that even with our best tech in the best places, there's a lot of the US not suitable for a pure renewables approach. So we should look at the best "traditional" sources for energy generation which, in my opinion, are nuclear and natural gas. When clean coal gets more advanced, you can add that as well. From a domestic policy standpoint, almost all of this means US provided energy; get electric or NG cars on the road and we could be well into the black in the energy account book.
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#26 Sep 01 2011 at 11:22 AM Rating: Decent
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This was what I was trying to get at - thank you both for elaborating on my idea. Not that we can replace all big power plants with small-scale green energy, but localized alternative sources in appropriate areas can definitely make an impact and lessen the burden on major power plants, not eliminate them.
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