Quote:
Originally Posted by fielderLS3
Solar and wind are pipe dreams that will never generate more than a token few percent of what we need. Wind is too inconsistent to be any more than a supplement to conventional sources. Solar will never work, because the energy is too diffuse. On average, less than 200 W/m^2 make it to the ground, so even if we could magically triple the current efficiency of PV cells, we'd need a square meter of them for every light bulb. Space based stuff are like jet packs in the 1950s. They'll work in theory, but burning $100 bills would probably be a cheaper source of heat.
Nuclear fission is a problem, because after Japan, it will be impossible politically to build a new one for years to come. The other problem is that with the type of reactors the US uses, we will run out of uranium before we run out of oil and natural gas.
Nuclear fusion is a wild card. This more than likely will be our source of energy in the far, far, future.
Plus, living in conventional houses can be banned just a easily as cars. Everyone can be required to live in dorms like in college. Minimum 2 people per 80 square feet. No energy wasting televisions or home computers either, though a tele-screen will be required.  |
True enough, but nobody (except perhaps a few econuts) claim that 100% of electricity needs to be from wind and solar. All anyone reasonably expects is
some wind and
some solar, and mostly in places where it makes sense to do so. For example, residential solar power will continue to get cheaper and more practical. No, you won't be able to power your entire home with solar electricity any time soon, but 20% wouldn't be that difficult to achieve (while being cost effective) in a decade or two. That is a pretty substantial portion of total electric demand, perhaps they could even equal the demand that arises from EV's (which is sorta where this little discussion came from).
I'd say that the nuclear industry will recover far quicker from Fukushima than TMI or Chernobyl. It was a relatively old plant whose backup systems failed after a one-two punch from a very large earthquake and tsunami. Any new plant will feature a design that is inherently safer, with more reliable backups and hopefully built in a safer location.
Running out of nuclear fuel isn't really going to happen any time soon. So called 'spent' fuel can be reprocessed back into fuel, which also reduces nuclear waste. And nothing says that uranium is the only fuel you can usefor nuclear power. Thorium would also work and is much more abundant.