When I look at the solutions proposed for alternative energy, one thing that stands out is how few options are being seriously considered, and how many are being relatively ignored. And in some cases at least, the ones that are getting the least attention are technologically the easiest to implement.
In the long run, I don't doubt the importance of algal fuel, photovoltaics, or other wild ideas such as VIVACE and thermo-electric cells. But what doesn't make sense is the lack of attention to multiple and highly effective solutions that can be implemented either immediately or in the short run, that are getting very little attention.
For example biomass gasification is very little different from coal gasification in terms of the technology involved, and coal gasification largely supplied Nazi Germany during WWI and South Africa during the Apartheid era. Yet most of the attention is going to technologies such as algal fuels and carbon recycling. And this is not meant to doubt the long term benefits of algal fuels and carbon recycling. But rather to suggest that maybe, we should implement now (not to mention in the 70's) what is and was backed by experience.
The same thing applies to the issue of solar electricity. Of course, I'm very happy that the photovoltaic "solar revolution" finally seems to be coming around. However, it's been mentioned on this blog that commercial scale solar thermal power plants existed in the first few years of the 20th century. Why with so much knowledge of fossil fuel issues, and so much anticipation for solar electric technologies, is there not a much wider utilization of solar thermal energy. And of course, in addition to hybrid cars, there is such a thing as a hybrid power plant: It uses solar thermal energy and combustion (coal, oil, biomass gasification, etc) either at different times and/or the same time to produce electricity. Not to mention solar water heating, commercial level solar steam production and other industrial uses for solar thermal energy, solar air cooling and refrigeration, and more. Perhaps an even more interesting possibility involves solar chemical power, in which many energy intensive chemical production applications are done with solar energy rather than combustion of fossil fuels, and/or massive amounts of electrical heating. PV are a great technology, but why such a narrow conception of solar energy? How about solar lighting during the daytime, where various innovations are used so that a wide variety of buildings can get most of their light from the sun even in during relatively cloudy whether or when the sun has only partially risen or has at least partially set. Many of these don't rely on windows, but use various "light pipes" with mirrors and lenses.
On the other hand, if we want to explore wild ideas, why not some of the wild ideas involving wind energy. Since wind energy is already somewhat successful at the level of basic tried and true stodgy old turbines shouldn't that be the type of energy in which we can put our eyes on the skies, both literally and figuratively? How about kite energy? Or solar-wind tower generators? Or high flying wind turbines? Why have both the micro wind and micro solar thermal industries gotten so little attention compared to rooftop photovoltaics.
And if photovoltaic (and perhaps soon solar thermal) cells are coming out as frustratingly slowly as the swine flu vaccine, put all the emphasis on rooftops rather than on putting them in arrangements that will maximize their exposure to sunlight?
Also it's no secret that much of the issue with renewable energy and a very high energy efficiency world is not so much the energy available or even the technology available to produce it, but also the issue of energy storage. And contrary to popular belief this isn't just a problem for renewable electricity, but also for combustion and nuclear efficiency. Basically it's very hard to run a nuclear reaction so that it produces "just enough" electricity to meet the current demand. And with coal or gas plants trying to find tune the combustion level for current needs can lower the overall energy efficiency of the plant and defeat the purpose. As a result a high percentage of electricity in the grid is wasted. And too often the popular solution has been to look for the "perfect battery" or hydrogen fuel. But little attention is paid to other options. Why not time the most energy intensive tasks including the powering of electric or plug-in hybrid cars so it occurs primarily at peak production? Or improve the amount of air pressure or flywheel based energy storage? And why have options such as nitrogen energy storage, or the concepts of zinc, lithium, or aluminium economies?
Why hang everything on hydrogen as the great big carbon free hope?
Ultimately the biggest lesson of today's problems is not to put all your eggs in one basket. Hopefully humanity won't make that mistake with renewables.
Say Goodnight readers!
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