Renewable energy

[john70t]

Germany is 25% renewable energy:
German renewables output hits record high in H1 | Reuters
"Germany aims to derive 35 percent of its total energy needs from renewable sources by 2035."

Iceland almost there:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Iceland
"About 81 percent of total primary energy supply in Iceland is derived from domestically produced renewable energy sources. In 2007, geothermal energy provided about 66 percent of primary energy, the share of hydropower was 15 percent, and fossil fuels (mainly oil) 19 percent."

Recharging stations and swap-able battery packs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Place
"Israel is the first nation in the world that partnered with Better Place to have an electric car infrastructure. Shai Agassi claims that in Israel by 2016, plus or minus a year, more than 50% of cars sold will be electric"

(The only issue I have with that is privacy/tracking)

[RWebb]

didn't you read the thread where parfers prove (by shouting) that the Euro-peons are killing themselves?

[kach22i]

Progress will be made with, or without us.

Do we want to be the leaders, or left behind?

[hardflex]

they are the nattering nabobs of negativism' they used to complain about !

[scottbombedout]

I haven't got any answers to what we do regarding renewable energy.

But I am right in the middle of fighting a biomass power plant that will receive £1.15 Billion in subsidies over the course of its 25 year life span so I know a little about what is going on.

Do you know how much this insanity is costing us over here? It is killing business, hurting the poorest in society because the subsidies are a levy on electricity bills and ruining peoples lives because these crazy schemes circumvent all local planning laws.

It is actually criminal and it is all in pursuit of the Government meeting European renewable energy targets.

Madness.

[BeyGon]

Iceland, less than 300,000 people live off thermal energy, it's a good start, but then we are a different climate and different people.

[RWebb]

girls iceland - Google Search

[Moses]

Originally Posted by john70t

Germany is 25% renewable energy:
German renewables output hits record high in H1 | Reuters
"Germany aims to derive 35 percent of its total energy needs from renewable sources by 2035."

Germany's energy policy is a disaster.

Germany

Revolution Threatens to Falter: Is Germany's Green Energy Plan Failing? - SPIEGEL ONLINE

They are shutting down their nuclear reactors and importing nuclear generated electricity from France... BRILLIANT!

[Moses]

Solar electricity is at least four times as expensive as traditional fossil fuel driven power plants. An incredibly stupid move to make in the US with a collapsing industrial economy.

[john70t]

I'm not trying to convince anybody..., ok, maybe I am....but it's akin to driving through the desert and some occupants of the car refuse to carry a couple bikes and a 5gal jug of water with the explaination "we don't need it".
Well, we do need it.
Hubert's Peak-Oil has been a reality for a few decades now.
The easy pickings are long gone, and what's left will continue to be more expensive and a larger percentage of our GDP.

Canada is digging through sand, and the Louisiana gulf only has pockets buried deep under the ocean floor and difficult to reach (as this latest disaster has shown).
1). What damage does fracking chemicals in water cost the health care industry?
2). What damage do major spills cost the fishing industry?

[dipso]

We're Conservatives! We don't conserve!!

[john70t]

I've seen a few good films on the subject:

GasHole - The Official Movie Website
Excellent film. No liberal bias. No Micheal Moore sensationalism. Just explores the subject.
Most of the interviewee's are Texas oil people talking about the reality and industrial difficulty.

THE END OF SUBURBIA
Another great documentary.

The Fuel Film
A bit "liberal feel-good" movie, and limited, but light watching and a positive tone.

A Crude Awakening / The Oil Crash
A bit more depressing, but thourough.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by scottbombedout

I haven't got any answers to what we do regarding renewable energy.

But I am right in the middle of fighting a biomass power plant that will receive £1.15 Billion in subsidies over the course of its 25 year life span so I know a little about what is going on.

Do you know how much this insanity is costing us over here? It is killing business, hurting the poorest in society because the subsidies are a levy on electricity bills and ruining peoples lives because these crazy schemes circumvent all local planning laws.

It is actually criminal and it is all in pursuit of the Government meeting European renewable energy targets.

Madness.

Scott is correct. The governments have bought these things and spent money they didn't have on them. The debt exists. For the same money, a lot of other good things could have been done. Or the people could have kept it and spent it on what THEY wanted.

[john70t]

Red-beard and Scott, you break my heart. Seriously. It shrivels and turns into a rock.

You give an example of $1 Billion of "waste".
$1 Billion to create a renewable system of energy, which will last virtually forever with maintenance.

The US military budget is 1,000x that for this year, alone.
The Federal Reserve has given away $26 Trillion in the last five years.

I feel you don't really want to solve the problems of humanity.

[red-beard]

Spell out what you get with $1B in "alternative" Energy. How much power is produced and what is the long term cost. Put the facts down John.

If I suggested we build a highway, but it will cost 10 times what we usually spend total life cycle, what would you think?

[red-beard]

BTW John, if you haven't followed me much, I am in the solar business! For general power production, it isn't cost effective, yet. Soon. There is even a good case that the subsidies are keeping the costs higher than they should be!

[john70t]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Spell out what you get with $1B in "alternative" Energy. How much power is produced and what is the long term cost. Put the facts down John.

For the cost of 1 single year of our same military budget, you get much more than 2,000 Solyndras each and every year.

Not some pork-infested golden palace located on prime California real estate.
Real solar production and putting real Americans to work.
Michigan, Louisiana, Texas, wherever.

At an extreme minimum:
There are 2.5 million Americans currently in prison working at $.13 cents per hour.
The government spending is available.
The competitive labor cost is available.

Big Oil needs an exist plan which benefits this country.
The southwest is nothing but unwanted heat, sunshine, and wind.
Perfect.

Make it happen. Someone.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by john70t

For the cost of 1 single year of our same military budget, you get much more than 2,000 Solyndras each and every year.

Not some pork-infested golden palace located on prime California real estate.
Real solar production and putting real Americans to work.
Michigan, Louisiana, Texas, wherever.

At an extreme minimum:
There are 2.5 million Americans currently in prison working at $.13 cents per hour.
The government spending is available.
The competitive labor cost is available.

Big Oil needs an exist plan which benefits this country.
The southwest is nothing but unwanted heat, sunshine, and wind.
Perfect.

Make it happen. Someone.

I don't know if it's going to play out like this. I will remove all but a few of my panels if I couple it to a new Clearedge V and get as much power as I need, and as much heat as I can use as well. These systems can run my three AC systems no trouble at all, and at night depending on demand they use natural gas, or propane.

Most of theses systems are made in Asia, just like the solar cells. Best we can hope for is some jobs installing the systems.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by red-beard

If I suggested we build a highway, but it will cost 10 times what we usually spend total life cycle, what would you think?

is the original road subject to control by AQ and similar fun people?

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by RWebb

didn't you read the thread where parfers prove (by shouting) that the Euro-peons are killing themselves?

No, I skipped all that.