An ugly face of ecology

[az]

What we need: First and foremost cut our consumption. Then, have modern nuke plants as the basis. Use Wind, Solar, Water, Biogas etc. power on top of that. Couple the power grid to our electric cars and use them as buffers.

BTW, if you go through german by train (ICE, the german equivalent to the TGV you so love, Brian.) you will come across lots of wind farms onshore (on fields, mostly). I think when going from Bielefeld to Berlin I see more than 200 windmills.

AZ

[az]

Addendum: At the end of 2004, we had 16543 windmills installed, with a power rating of 16692 MW.

AZ

[Jammrock]

Well. In Denmark we cheat.

We are coupled with the rest of the european powergrid, so we can easily offhand any surplus power.

We are soo lucky that we can depend on the waterpower from Sweeden and Norway. Generally theres either a surplus of water in the reservoirs OR plenty of wind around.

That aside, we do generate a lot of power in our modern heat/energy powerplants (efficency ~97%). They use biofuel, ie fuel that is generated by our farmers.

Several of our islands have allready been converted to selfsufficiency, using biofuel, windmills and solar heating (I think we have a couple of the worlds largest solarpowerplants??).

~~DukeP~~

I helped out a farmer a few times while I was in northern Jyland (jutland). He and four other farmers shared a single windmill, which was sufficient to power all five farms all the time (Northern Jyland is very windy). Windmill power was very common up there, as the payment split up between 5 farmers was cheaper than running lines to each farm and then paying Denmark for their power. Scandinavia has always been one of the leaders in eco-friendly power though, because the climate and terran allows for it. Iceland is what, 97% geothermal power?

Anyway, the main problem with putting up tidal power generation, according to many, is that we don't know what effect tidal generation will have on currents. If currents start changing because tidal generation is stealing too much energy from the oceans, then weather patterns start changing and all sorts of problems can happen. Though a lot of people are split as to whether we could really steal enough power from the ocean to affect currents.

The 'ideal' solution would be a highly efficient solar power solution. Current commercially available solar panels are only about 10%-15% efficient at harnessing the sun's rays. A Canadian scientist claims to have found a method to increase that to ~30%. Once the efficiency reaches +50%, then solar power stations will start being a highly viable option to replace fossil fuel plants, even in areas where it's overcast a lot. At 75%, we will be sitting pretty.

Jammrock

[az]

Solar hot water generation is viable now; my parents have those panels on their roof. Nice solution until photovoltaic becomes viable - though it already is to many farmers with lots of roof area, thanks to subsidy from the state.

AZ

[markowerner]

Energy change

For this topic I only can say look at Andalusia.
They will start to built a solar-powerplant Andasol 1 which has 50MW.
Thats just the start of using solar-energy.
A lot of this plants will follow.
Therefore the world economic has to change to environmentaly friendly energy the next decades.

[lowlifecat]

that was definitely a level 9 resurrection spell!

...on your first post as well.

[Kruzin]

Holy dead thread Batman!

[Dr Mordrid]

Level 9 spell or not there are a few new things on the wind power scene. Here in the midwest (Chicago specifically) there is a lot of interest in the helical "urban turbines" built by Aerotecture International; vertical and horizontal cylindrical units.

Requirements: 10 mph (no problem in the midwest ) and an elevation of 40' (above obstacles). Just about any flat rooftop will do, so they could be placed all over a city. Just a couple of KW per 10' x 5' unit (horizontals have 2 units/cage) but in large numbers....

Advantages;

• Noise and vibration-free
• Safe for birds
• Able to utilize multi-directional and gusting winds
• Self-regulating (no overspeed protection required)
• Low maintenance
• Made from low-cost and readily available materials

And lest you think they're just PowerPoint projects;

[Kooldino]

They are talking about putting them out off the Coast of where I live at...not sure were its going, but I dont think it would be an eyesore...be pretty cool looking.

We have them a few miles from where I live...you can see them on the way into Atlantic City via Route 30.

[Kooldino]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_sphere

/thead.

[Jammrock]

Yeah, let me just bust out my checkbook and take over an alien society and I'll get right on building a Dyson sphere.

[ND66]

Here in the midwest (Chicago specifically) ......

They don't call it Windy City for nothing..... .


Welcome to the Murc, markowerner.


.