For home generation, local electricity production may be much more
sustainable, less infrastructure, ditto for power-loss in transit. It
may requires us to schedule our power usage a little better to create a
more even daily demand. For businesses it is a little different
depending on demand, but still plenty of scope. The growing number of
co-operative power-generation schemes is something to behold.
A greater concern is reducing power-consumption and making our terribly
inefficient country invest in better design and practice.
As for the car issue, you should also read Edwin Black's book, Internal
Combustion http://www.internalcombustionbook.com/ .
The range idea is something of a myth for most of us, as average mileage
for daily usage indicates. For longer trips we need battery exchanges,
or to have better public transport. For cities, just to remember to have
one battery charging whilst another is being used. Again, increasing
occupancy and so on would help first.
A pressing problem in renewable energy in the UK is NIMBYISM. That and a
lack of clear information for comparing energy types.
Jonathan
Tom Barker wrote:
> A carbon swipe card within a decreasing cap such as proposed by
> Contraction and Convergence will do all that. Remember Colin Challen
> and the TEQs. Energy conservation combined with lifestyle changes is
> also very promising. The financiers and other 19th and 20th century
> aberrations are the very people who will mess it up for everyone. What
> they've done so far is the very tip of the ice-berg (or should I say
> thin end of the wedge?).
> Tom
>
> At 12:35 11/02/2009, CHRIS KEENE wrote:
>> I don't think this is as depressing as first seems.
>>
>> It highlights the deficiencies in iridium for the most advanced solar
>> cells, after pointing out that the old types of solar cells just made
>> from silicon, which is plentiful, fail to compete with fossil fuels
>> (this is a problem with the market - we shouldn't be trying to
>> compete with fossil fuels, we should just ban them - let's have a bit
>> of good old-fashioned regulation; that is coming back into fashion
>> now that free market economics has wrecked the world economy, so
>> there is hope).
>>
>> I agree with the comments on the hydrogen economy; I don't think it
>> is the way forward. And the Centre for Alternative Technology agree
>> with me on that - their Zero Carbon Britain report <
>> www.zerocarbonbritain.com <http://www.zerocarbonbritain.com>>
>> promotes electric cars. The oil industry doesn't want them of course
>> (see the film "Who killed the electric car") which is why we need to
>> challenge their power. There is also the shortage of range provided
>> by the battery, and the time it takes for charging, but this could be
>> overcome if garages were able to swap fully charged batteries for
>> flat ones. But here is another problem with the market - garage
>> owners won't provide battery swapping facilities because there are
>> hardly any electric cars, and drivers won't buy electric cars because
>> there are no garages to swap batteries. So the government should
>> provide the charging stations, which is now Tory policy, so there is
>> hope again here.
>>
>> I agree with the problems of biofuels taking land for food. They are
>> a complete red herring, one promoted by the oil industry who wish to
>> keep us hooked on liquid fuels instead of making the transition to
>> electric power.
>>
>> But I note the article mentions nothing of wind, wave or tidal,
>> renewable resources which Britain possesses in abundance, and could
>> easily fulfill our energy needs *as long as we can cap demand*. Which
>> is why we need some sort of energy rationing system. And I suspect
>> the government will come up with one soon, based on upstream trading
>> and auctioning of emission rights, since this will provide a stream
>> of government revenue (and they are going to need one to keep the
>> bankers in the style to which they are accustomed - which is all the
>> bail-out has done)
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> George Marshall wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> *from new scientist*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Why sustainable power is unsustainable*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> * 13:02 06 February 2009 by *Colin Barras*
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/search?rbauthors=Colin+Barras>
>>> * For similar stories, visit the *Energy and Fuels*
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/topic/energy-fuels> and *Climate
>>> Change* <http://www.newscientist.com/topic/climate-change>
>>> Topic Guides
>>>
>>>
>>> Renewable energy needs to become a lot more renewable – a theme that
>>> emerged at the /Financial Times/
>>> <http://www.ftconferences.com/energytechnologies/> Energy Conference
>>> <http://www.ftconferences.com/energytechnologies/> in London this week.
>>>
>>> Although scientists are agreed that we must cut carbon emissions
>>> from transport and electricity generation to prevent the globe's
>>> climate becoming hotter, and more unpredictable
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11462-climate-change-a-guide-for-the-perplexed.html>,
>>> the most advanced "renewable" technologies are too often based upon
>>> non-renewable resources, attendees heard.
>>>
>>> Supratik Guha
>>> <http://www.ftconferences.com/energytechnologies/speakerdetails/434/?PHPSESSID=58464854a34d4f3e008278da468e6c9c>
>>> of IBM told the conference that sales of silicon solar cells are
>>> booming, with 2008 being the first year that the silicon wafers for
>>> solar cells outstripped those used for microelectronic devices.
>>>
>>> But although silicon is the most abundant element in the Earth's
>>> crust after oxygen, it makes relatively inefficient cells that
>>> struggle to compete with electricity generated from fossil fuels.
>>> And the most advanced solar-cell technologies rely on much rarer
>>> materials than silicon.
>>>
>>>
>>> *Rare metal*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The efficiency of solar cells is measured as a percentage of light
>>> energy they convert to electricity. Silicon solar cells finally
>>> reached 25%
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16018-solar-cells-need-to-be-more-dull-to-power-up.html>
>>> in late December. But multi-junction solar cells
>>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell#Multiple_junction_solar_cells>
>>> can achieve efficiencies greater than 40%
>>> <http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/press-and-media/pdfs-zu-presseinfos-englisch/2009/press-release-world-record-41.1-efficiency-reached-for-multi-junction-solar-cells-at-fraunhofer-ise-pdf-file>.
>>>
>>> Although touted as the future of solar power, those and most other
>>> multiple-junction cells owe their performance to the rare metal
>>> indium <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indium>, which is far from
>>> abundant. There are fewer than 10 indium-containing minerals, and
>>> none present in significant deposits – in total the metal accounts
>>> for a paltry 0.25 parts per million of the Earth's crust.
>>>
>>> Most of the rare and expensive element is used to manufacture LCD
>>> screens, an industry that has driven indium prices to $1000 per
>>> kilogram in recent years. Estimates that did not factor in an
>>> explosion in indium-containing solar panels reckon we have only a 10
>>> year supply of it left
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19426051.200-earths-natural-wealth-an-audit.html>.
>>>
>>> If power from the Sun is to become a major source of electricity,
>>> solar panels would have to cover huge areas, making an alternative
>>> to indium
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13103-carbon-electrodes-could-slash-cost-of-solar-panels.html>
>>> essential.
>>>
>>>
>>> *Precious platinum*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The dream of the hydrogen economy
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026841.900-whatever-happened-to-the-hydrogen-economy.html>
>>> faces similar challenges, said Paul Adcock
>>> <http://www.intelligent-energy.com/index_article.asp?SecID=2&secondlevel=33&artid=3853>
>>> of UK firm Intelligent Energy.
>>>
>>> A cheap way to generate hydrogen has so far proved elusive. New
>>> approaches, such as using bacterial enzymes to "split" water
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16409-bug-enzyme-generates-fuel-from-water.html>,
>>> have a long way to go before they are commercially viable.
>>>
>>> So far, fuel cells
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16370-worlds-smallest-fuel-cell-promises-greener-gadgets.html>
>>> are still the most effective way to turn the gas into electricity.
>>> But these mostly rely on expensive platinum to catalyse the reaction.
>>>
>>> The trouble is, platinum makes indium appear super-abundant. It is
>>> present in the Earth's crust at just 0.003 parts per billion and is
>>> priced in $ per gram, not per kilogram. Estimates say that, if the
>>> 500 million vehicles in use today were fitted with fuel cells, all
>>> the world's platinum would be exhausted within 15 years
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19426051.200-earths-natural-wealth-an-audit.html>.
>>>
>>> Unfortunately platinum-free fuel cells are still a long way from the
>>> test track. A nickel-catalysed fuel cell
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16275-platinumfree-fuel-cell-promises-cheap-green-power.html>
>>> developed at Wuhan University <http://www.whu.edu.cn/en/>, China,
>>> has a maximum output only around 10% of that a platinum catalyst can
>>> offer.
>>>
>>> A new approach announced yesterday demonstrates that carbon
>>> nanotubes could be more effective, as well as cheaper
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16547-carbon-catalyst-could-herald-cutprice-fuel-cells.html>,
>>> than platinum. But again it will be many years before platinum-free
>>> fuel cells become a commercial prospect.
>>>
>>>
>>> *Fuel vs food?*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Biofuels, like ethanol fermented from maize, are the most infamous
>>> examples of the doubtful sustainability of supposedly renewable
>>> forms of energy. This time the non-renewable resource at risk is the
>>> world's arable land
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626343.800-is-the-biofuel-dream-over.html>,
>>> Ausilio Bauen <http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/people/a.bauen> of
>>> Imperial College London said at the meeting.
>>>
>>> Again, there are potential solutions, but none that are ready for
>>> market. Biofuels from cellulose
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826616.100-new-technologies-promise-biofuel-plan-b.html>
>>> or even lignin
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14360-chemical-breakthrough-turns-sawdust-into-biofuel.html>
>>> can be derived from inedible plant material and wood rather than
>>> food crops. Algae, grown in outdoor tanks, continues to attract
>>> attention
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19726414.400-algae-hold-the-key-to-the-biofuel-conundrum.html>,
>>> and extracting biofuel from marine algae or seaweed
>>> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16456-invention-biofuel-from-the-oceans.html>
>>> could sidestep land use issues altogether.
>>>
>>> Renewable energy technologies remain the great hope for the future,
>>> and are guaranteed research funds in the short term. But unless a
>>> second generation of sustainable energy ideas based on truly
>>> sustainable resources is established, the renewable light could be
>>> in danger of dimming.
>>>
>>> --
>>> George Marshall,
>>> Director of Projects,
>>> Climate Outreach Information Network,
>>>
>>> George Marshall contacts in Wales
>>> Direct 01686 411 080
>>> Mobile 0781 724 1889
>>> E-mail [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>> The Friary
>>> Pen-Y-Green Rd
>>> Llanidloes
>>> SY18 6PG
>>>
>>> Main COIN Office
>>> Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JE.
>>> Telephone 01865 403 334
>>> E-mail [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>> Web: www.COINet.org.uk <http://www.COINet.org.uk>
>>>
>>> COIN is a charitable trust, registration number 1102225. It supports
>>> initiatives and organisations that increase public
>>> understanding and awareness of climate change.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> ÐÏࡱá
>
> Tom Barker BSc, PhD
> SWIMMER (Institute for Sustainable Water, Integrated Management, and
> Ecosystem Research)
> Nicholson Building
> University of Liverpool
> Liverpool
> L69 3GP
>
> 0151 795 4646
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Support Contraction and Convergence - the global response to climate
> change
> http://www.gci.org.uk/briefings/ICE.pdf
>
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