Electrical Energy: Sound Scientific Solutions
by John Droz
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Industrial wind power is examined from a different perspective: how it fits into our 125± year historical pattern for selecting sources for electrical power. This has considerable pertinence since ...
Industrial wind power is examined from a different perspective: how it fits into our 125± year historical pattern for selecting sources for electrical power. This has considerable pertinence since the power source requirements developed during this long period have not only resulted in the most successful electrical grid system in the world, but have also immeasurably contributed to the economic success of the US. From my perspective as a physicist and long time environmental activist, it is apparent that we depart from this proven path at our extreme peril
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One small area of Mid Wales......less than 1000 square miles of some of the finest, unspoilt rolling green hill scenery in the world......is being threatened with anywhere between 400 and 800 wind turbines, each one between 400 ft and 450 ft in height !!It is crazy !! Even 800 wind turbines 400 ft high will only generate 25 per cent of their 2 megawatt installed capacity , or 0.5MW each. That gives a total of 800 x 0.5MW , or 400MW. But that is not a replacement,because the back-up power station must KEEP RUNNING ! Do you realise what 800 x 400 feet wind turbines looks like?? Do you know how many SQUARE MILES they would cover?......AND...FOR WHAT ?????
For NOTHING !! They DUPLICATE electricity from fossil fuels.How can they replace it when the fossil fuel power stations keep running due to the sporadic ,unpredictable ,inadequate wind??? 1 year ago
Say you mandate 99% efficient motors. The 99% motors cost 1.2X a 90% motor. If the motor is only needed a few hours a year (sump pump say) it makes no economic sense to mandate the 99% motor for all applications. Besides politicians have no sense about any of this. (this is an example - the figures are for illustration only).
Best leave it to the engineers. It is their job. BTW I wouldn't even allow most physicists to make the choice. Trade offs are not their regular day job.
Have you heard of Polywell Fusion? 1 year ago
I have as much concern about other countries 'becoming the dominant leaders in this technology' as I do about them becoming dominant with buggy whips. Who cares? This is high cost/low benefit stuff. Just because some technology is new, doesn't make it good. We should be focusing on solutions that have been subjected to the scientific method, that PROVES that they have merit. Wind energy has never been burdened with this scientific requirement.
As far as nuclear goes, mini-nuclear has all the signs of being the real technology of the future. This is where we need to have superiority over China and competing countries. 2 years ago
< of anticipating nuclear power as a part of the future energy plan for the U.S. given the current political environment. If anything, your answer reflects a low probability of a nuclear based future. First, the political climate needs to change (how long will that take, if ever); then the planning, financing, building and implementation of nuclear plants needs to be initiated; only then can we benefit from increased nuclear power in the energy mix. Sounds like decades, not years to me.
Regarding wind energy, are costs coming down at a rate that it could be an economically viable source in the next few years? Development in the U.S. is down dramatically this year (70%, I think) but it is growing dramatically in China, India, Korea and other parts of the world. Is there a downside to the Asian countries becoming the dominant leaders in this technology perhaps even driving the U.S. manufacturers out of business? 2 years ago
What needs to be changed is the political climate. Our energy choices should be dictated by what science says, not politicians or lobbyists. That's one of the main points of the presentation. 2 years ago