Viability of sustainable power production

STYRBJORN · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2010, 07:27 PM

Those of you who have been following the recent thread on windpower may have realised that we have a consensus that while wind power has a role to play on power generation, it can be at most a "top-up" supply, with no value in base-load generation. I have been considering the roles of other sustainable methods.

Geo-thermal power. In principal wonderful! The Sun will go red giant before we run out of internal heat. Sadly, we can't reach it. It's a racing cert for Iceland but for the rest of us, forget it.

Hydro-electric. In many ways I love the concept. It's such an elegant example of life borrowing entropy from non-life. Norway uses hydro-electric power to supply its base-load. It's clean, non-polluting, set it up and it keeps on going. But have you seen what it does to the environment? The up-stream plants on the Danube have caused massive damage down-stream, to the extent that water wars in Eastern Europe are a real possibility. What China is doing to the Yangtze doesn't bear thinking about.

Yet this is trivial. Hydro-electric power relies on water flow. That flow comes from glacial melt-water. If global temperatures rise by even the lowest estimates, the glaciers won't be there anymore. Norway may well find that it has this wonderful infrastructure that is neither use nor ornament, because the water on which it depends has all boogied off into the Atlantic.

Solar power. There are two main modes here. Solar-voltaic power generation is all very well in areas with high insolation. Australia is laughing on this one. On the other hand, I have read of plans to build huge solar grids in the Sahara to supply Europe with power. If I were a technically aware African I might be tempted to say " Hang on guys. You've been exploiting us economically for 300 years. Now it's pay-back time. Our desert, our sunshine, our power. Put up or shut up."

Direct solar heating has about the same long-term value as wind power; useful as a top-up, but inutile as base-load.

So what's left? Tidal power is predictable, powerful, operates 24/7. Even subject to climatic change, the tides will keep on flowing. Why are we not investing massive amounts of money and research in the one viable long term sustainable resource? Could it be that there is no political gain?

Perish ther thort.

Ric

animartco · #2 (**permalink**) 01-10-2010, 10:20 PM

Interesting point Ric. got me thinking. It isn't about politics it never is. It is always all about the filthy lucre. Investment is a form of gambling and faced with a sure thing there's no money in it! Business believes that steady state is entropy. They may be partly right but the rules aren't quite the same as in nature.
By the way, that was a nice long post. Sight seems OK now. Getting clearer?

STYRBJORN · #3 (**permalink**) 02-10-2010, 08:42 AM

[quote=animartco;684460]It isn't about politics it never is. It is always all about the filthy lucre.
By the way, that was a nice long post. Sight seems OK now. Getting clearer?[/QUOTE]

There's a difference?
Improving steadily thanks Gillian. Ops both gone well, 3-4 more weeks and I can get prescription lenses. Roll on!

Ric