President Joe Biden

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Fair point. It's a matter of perspective I suppose.

America is - and will be for the next few generations - largely capitalistic.

Within that capitalist framework though, we have social progressives. It's those that we in the USA deem centrist left; we also have politicians against capitalism, actual socialists - whom we in the USA would deem far left.

Clouding the issue in the USA though is science deniers - whackos who ostensibly should be laughed right out office, but who have welcome place now in the Republican party.

Capitalism/Neo-Libralism is the issue around the world at the moment.

Margins are getting progressively smaller and firms are running out of things to cut to increase their profits.

I think that if green, clean power became cheaper than fossil fuel based power, these science deniers would be very quiet indeed.

People everywhere are feeling the pinch and are lashing out randomly, blaming their chosen scapegoats for all their ills.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

I think that if green, clean power became cheaper than fossil fuel based power, these science deniers would be very quiet indeed.

Solar power is already cheaper than fossil power. The problem is that solar isn't always available.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Solar power is already cheaper than fossil power. The problem is that solar isn't always available.

Why don’t we cover the deserts with solar panels then?

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Why don’t we cover the deserts with solar panels then?

Because what do we do at night? Or when it's cloudy? And so on.

The problem with solar is energy storage for when it's not available.

Read for example this: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021...ind, solar and,of renewable energy is falling.
Solar has become exponentially more and more efficient. IMO solar probably won't be the sole answer to green energy - I think that modernized much, much safer nuclear power generation might well prove to be the answer. And not the type of nuclear power plant of decades ago that's going to cause a China Syndrome when it melts down.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Because what do we do at night? Or when it's cloudy? And so on.

The problem with solar is energy storage for when it's not available.

Store the energy in batteries too?

Harness tidal power too?

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Store the energy in batteries too?

Harness tidal power too?

All of these have issues. Modern nuclear fission is the answer IMO - not to be confused with any nuclear fission plant currently online today.

Nuclear fusion remains a distant hope - it's decades or more from becoming reality - if it ever will.

Yet, in certain geographic locales, amazingly brilliant technology is at play to use pure green energy - let's say solar - to create "batteries." For example, it's possible in some locales to generate an excess of power during the day and to use this to pump water way, way uphill. During the night, or at times (cloudy) when solar isn't available, you run water downhill through a generator.

In other areas, such as Iceland, thermal power is available round the clock.

Green is (mostly) king right now. Power storage and full time availability remain to be solved. Meanwhile, modern nuclear fusion can fill the gap.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

All of these have issues. Modern nuclear fission is the answer IMO - not to be confused with any nuclear fission plant currently online today.

Nuclear fusion remains a distant hope - it's decades or more from becoming reality - if it ever will.

Sure. Until then, better batteries would negate the gaps in solar power. Or having panels in both hemispheres and switching between the two.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Sure. Until then, better batteries would negate the gaps in solar power. Or having panels in both hemispheres and switching between the two.

Yes - but what does it take to create a battery? How much power? What materials?

How long does the battery last?

What do you do with the battery once it's expired?

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Yes - but what does it take to create a battery? How much power? What materials?

How long does the battery last?

What do you do with the battery once it's expired?

Not sure, but battery makers will know.
Not sure, but battery makers will know.
Replace it with a new battery?

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Not sure, but battery makers will know.
Not sure, but battery makers will know.
Replace it with a new battery?

Burying trash and producing new stuff only works so long as there's new stuff to gather and landfills to use. These are both limited resources. As a band aide, short term solution, batteries as they now exist might work - though I don't think so as I haven't read/watched any publication/video claiming that this is so; if you find some such let me know (I'd love to read/watch this).

Radical improvements in battery technology in terms of durability and efficiency may occur - so perhaps solar + battery is the answer down the road. Meanwhile, modern nuclear fission, if not ready to go right now, seems to be, at least on the cusp.