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The Myth of Renewable Energy

Posted by timothy on from the in-the-long-run-we're-all-exhausted dept.

Harperdog writes to this "Excellent piece by Dawn Stover about what renewables can and can't do. The sun and wind may be practically inexhaustible, but 'renewable' energy isn't. Solar, wind, and geothermal power are not fundamentally different from other energy technologies that consume finite natural resources. Good reading for anyone who thinks they know how to combat climate change."

8 of 835 comments (clear)

  1. Don't worry by RStonR · · Score: 5, Interesting

    After all, why worry when you know that global warming is good for world peace?

  2. Re:Renewable or infinite? by betterunixthanunix · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Solar panels would not surprise me -- semiconductor manufacturing is not exactly eco-friendly. As for wind turbines, I cannot help but think of the kid in Africa who built them out of recycled auto parts.

    Really the question is, are these things better on the whole than fossil and nuclear fuels? I suspect that the answer is yes, although I am not an expert. Only people who live in shacks in Montana are seriously arguing that humanity can or should live without disturbing the environment at all; but we can at least try to not completely wreck the planet.

    --
    Palm trees and 8
  3. Steam by slim · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Several times, she talks of water consumed by steam turbines.

    Wouldn't any sane design condense the steam into water, and re-use it? Otherwise you're throwing away water *and* heat.

  4. Disinformation - Shame on you /. ! by bridgey655 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Do not let anyone tell you this drivel. "Solar, wind, and geothermal power are not fundamentally different from other energy technologies that consume finite natural resources" BS! BS I say! Check out www.thevenusproject.com

  5. Re:Renewable or infinite? by betterunixthanunix · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Nuclear power is not really renewable -- eventually all the uranium and thorium on Earth will be mined, and then we will need to start finding new sources of energy (or mining celestial bodies). I think nuclear power is part of the answer, but on its own it is not enough.

    I used to be a big fan of wind, but I am starting to lean in the direction of (properly managed) biomass these days, for the following reasons:
    1. Terrain that could not otherwise be farmed for food can be put to use
    2. Existing coal plants can be converted at relatively low cost to use biomass power
    3. The ashes can simply be spread on the biomass farming areas to replenish minerals in the soil (compare to coal ash, which cannot be used in this way)
    4. If properly managed, it is carbon-neutral or nearly so (on a reasonable timescale)
    --
    Palm trees and 8
  6. Like magnets can't be re-used by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Lets see. Coal. Expensive to mine from underground and a blight on the load in open mines. Nuclear material? Same issues with mining it and that love waste to get rid off. Oil? That is running out and drilling for it has proved hazardous. Mining it from tar sand is even worse then coal mining and even just transporting it ain't save.

    Funny the article doesn't mention any of that. Or for that matter that efficient generators ANYWHERE need rare earth magnets. In the end, almost all power generation needs the same kind of generator, the only difference is what makes them spin and how efficient you want them to be.

    And yes, desert water is not infinite... Greenland is a desert now? Funny. I expected them to be warmer. And less wet.

    Troll article cherry picks arguments to support its troll and ignores everything else.

    How unexpected.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  7. Re:Renewable or infinite? by BasilBrush · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What about the battery pack that needs to be replaced every 1-2 year? What about the limited mileage per charge?

    Bullshit.

    Consumer reports tested a Prius after 10 years, and compared it with a test of a similar model when it was new. In 10 years and 200,000 miles, the battery performance had hardly degraded at all.

    http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/02/200000-mile-toyota-prius-still-performs.html

  8. Re:Renewable or infinite? by chriso11 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Well, I looked into the amount of water an equivalent coal-powered generator would use. It turns out 1GW of coal power uses 13500 acre-ft of water (4.4billion gal) per year, vs the 600 acre-feet for the solar project.

    --
    No, I don't trust in god. He'll have to pay up front, like everybody else.