global warming, again
The heat in the earth's mantle came from kinetic coalescence of materials 4-5 billion years ago when the planets where still forming.
Only about 20 percent of Earth's geothermal energy is primordial; approximately 80 percent of it results from radioactive decay. We're living in the Stelliferous Era: energy comes from the stars.
I stand corrected. My understanding was based on older information.
that the grid still requires as manual balancing as it does today baffles me,
Centralized computer control would be better, but there must be very careful handling of the transients. It wouldn't do for a momentary glitch to trigger a sub-grid shutdown.
Even if there is computer control there should be a manual override. Think of what would happen if the grid control computer were hacked.
ruveyn
It's shame really, because the sooner the environment of this planet kills off all the humans, the better.
CO2 levels have increased by 36% over the past two centuries, and total effective anthropogenic greenhouse gases have increased by close to 40%. This is hard data, as is the temperature record for the past century. It simply isn't possible to increase atmospheric greenhouse gases by this large a margin and have no warming effect on the earth's energy budget. You'd have to defy the laws of physics.
It's shame really, because the sooner the environment of this planet kills off all the humans, the better.
CO2 levels have increased by 36% over the past two centuries, and total effective anthropogenic greenhouse gases have increased by close to 40%. This is hard data, as is the temperature record for the past century. It simply isn't possible to increase atmospheric greenhouse gases by this large a margin and have no warming effect on the earth's energy budget. You'd have to defy the laws of physics.
In the applicable time scales the way is clear. Cut back on burning hydrocarbons by whatever means are at hand. In particular generate electricity with fission reaction heat generators. Go Thorium! Save the Planet!
ruveyn
Oodain
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that the grid still requires as manual balancing as it does today baffles me,
Centralized computer control would be better, but there must be very careful handling of the transients. It wouldn't do for a momentary glitch to trigger a sub-grid shutdown.
Even if there is computer control there should be a manual override. Think of what would happen if the grid control computer were hacked.
ruveyn
some subsystems are partially automatic,
most wind farms use a request based system (dunno if others do too, omly place i have real experience)
basically the local controller requests how much power they want and a centralized computer at the wind park transformer station then commands all turbines under its control.
again as far as i gather most power systems run on some form of request system but to me its the central planning part thats required,
humans have a tendency to impart variations in anything they handle.
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the scent of the tamarillo is pungent and powerfull,
woe be to the nose who nears it.
Making the grid more efficient and making electrical devices more efficient (especially electric lights) would reduce our electricity consumption by about 25 percent (all other things being equal). That is like finding a gigantic new oil field in the middle of Kansas. And we would not need to import any extra fuel to get this bonus. So no matter what alternative energy sources we use, restructuring our electricity uses should be an integral part of it.
Waste not, want not.
ruveyn
full agreement.
Because I like to troll the greenies.
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Oodain
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Because I like to troll the greenies.
that makes you, sir, a major pillock and a knobhead.
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//through chaos comes complexity//
the scent of the tamarillo is pungent and powerfull,
woe be to the nose who nears it.
Because I like to troll the greenies.
that makes you, sir, a major pillock and a knobhead.
Welcome to the internet.
Do you actually expect people to behave as they do in real life here?
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Not all that surprised by the news, but read this morning that BP was getting out of the solar business. From what I've read, they are not the only ones that have moved away from this expensive technology. The solar industry is seeing hard times.
"Beyond Solar"
http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/ ... ond-solar/
Also read this morning about companies being upset over the suspending of the law requiring the phasing out of the old Edison incandescent light bulb. Seems crony capitalism has been at play.
"Shining A Light on Crony Capitalism"
http://news.investors.com/Article/59553 ... talism.htm
Snippet from the article:
The argument is that forcing consumers to buy more efficient — and far more expensive — bulbs will greatly reduce energy consumption, and in turn, air pollution and global warming.
Earlier this month, Republicans suspended the law until October by denying funds for its implementation as part of a massive spending bill. For Democrats, this move was another sign of how out of touch the GOP is.
But look who else is complaining. As Politico reported, "big companies like General Electric, Philips and Osram Sylvania (are) fuming." Allegedly these companies are mad because they invested lots of money getting ready for the new rules.
Fact is, they were pushing for the ban all along.
In 2007, Philips urged an incandescent ban as a way to force the market toward high-efficiency bulbs, complaining that without such laws, "purchase price and functional performance often take precedence over environmental concern."
That same year, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, which represents companies making 95% of bulbs sold in the U.S., told a Senate panel that a ban was needed "to further educate consumers on the benefits of energy-efficient products."
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You can believe if you want these companies only had Mother Earth in mind with this ban. But more likely they saw it as a chance to fatten their bottom lines. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to outlaw a low-margin, 60-cent product when you're trying to hawk a high-margin $3 alternative?
This would hardly be the first time big business teamed up with big government to enhance profits through competition-crushing regulations. Timothy Carney's book, "The Big Ripoff," detailed many cases where businesses "profit from big government policies that rip off consumers."
Thanks to the GOP, consumers now can see this seedy process at work, clear as day.
Because I like to troll the greenies.
that makes you, sir, a major pillock and a knobhead.
No, it makes him pathetic. Think about it: most trolls at least have enough of a life that they focus on forums that they're at least interested in. This guy has so little going on that he has to whine about how bored he is anywhere he happens to land.
Oodain
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Because I like to troll the greenies.
that makes you, sir, a major pillock and a knobhead.
No, it makes him pathetic. Think about it: most trolls at least have enough of a life that they focus on forums that they're at least interested in. This guy has so little going on that he has to whine about how bored he is anywhere he happens to land.
true,
on top he uses the "but everyone else does it" excuse, not something one would expect from a mature individual
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In an attempt to burnish its green credentials, the British Energy firm BP has been telling us for years its initials stand for “Beyond Petroleum.” As part of this campaign, the company has been aggressively touting the achievements of its relatively small alternative energy division. Yet a recent announcement may prompt a change to a new acronym: BS — Beyond Solar. From the FT:
BP will close the chapter on more than 40 years of history after deciding to shut down its solar business, once regarded as one of its flagship alternative energy divisions.
The group has told staff that it had made the decision after the business became unprofitable. [...]
“Over the last six months we have realised that we simply can’t make any money from solar,” a spokesman confirmed.
The cycle of solar investments followed by solar bankruptcies dates back to the 1970s, and shows little sign of letting up during these “green” years. Despite the fervent wishes of ardent greens, a half-century of R&D has failed to turn solar power into a profitable enterprise. “The energy of the future” they call it. It is, and it always will be.
There is no doubt that solar energy could be a game changer — but there is also no doubt that isn’t one yet. Without massive subsidies or large carbon taxes to make competing forms of energy uncompetitive, solar can’t fly. At a time when governments around the world are getting credit downgrades, cutting their deficits, and figuring out how to stiff retirees whose pensions cannot be paid, there won’t be a lot of money around to throw at the sun.
Posted in Energy & Environment, Quick
Solar energy is expected to be at a concurentive price from oil by 2020, basically tomorrow. A lot of progress has been made on solar energy those last years, the prices and eficiency have greatly decreased, and they will continue to with the raise of mass production. It may be another example of the short-sightness of BP direction, or maybe their technology on solar energy is too far behind.
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