Comments on: Nuclear, wind and wave power chiefs in joint appeal on green energy

By: Martin Lack

Martin Lack — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:46:49 +0000

Thanks Lionel. That is, then, yet another incidence of the Law of Unintended Consequences…

By: Martin Lack

Martin Lack — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:42:56 +0000

Thanks Schalk. I am not sure how I missed them but will now take a look. I am sorry to hear you do not think Dr Lovins' ideas are feasible. Over at Climate Denial Crock of the Week, Peter Sinclair would clearly disagree with you - in the latest of his Renewable Energy Solution of the Month videos.

By: Lionel A

Lionel A — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:12:17 +0000

And the race for fracked gas has dangers unanticipated by most as raised in this article In Hurricane Sandy's Aftermath, Fracking Adds to Headaches to add to all the other problems with this dangerous process.

By: Schalk

Schalk — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:36:01 +0000

I also like Dr Lovins’ idea, but one has to admit that the objective chances of that happening are slim to none. A rapid reduction in fossil fuel usage (while Asia keeps on growing) will require massive reductions in energy use in the West and, well, I’m afraid that our current cultural/economic mindset makes the required large scale reductions in consumption and the widespread focus on energy efficiency downright impossible.

Cheap and abundant energy is therefore a complete prerequisite and I’m afraid that this is not going to come from solar and wind within the required timeframe – not even close. I think I posted these links on LfD some time ago, but I wrote two pages to outline the great challenges facing renewables which you might find interesting: http://oneinabillionblog.com/laws/the-second-law-of-thermodynamics/ and http://oneinabillionblog.com/laws/additional-challenges-facing-renewable-energy/. I think this information is an essential part of the objective reality required to successfully build our planet’s energy future.