Big Oil the problem, Renewables the future

I am convinced that all it takes is MONEY and the will to do it.. Saudi Arabia and the GCC have been aggressive in pursuing these solutions since the 1970s,, The thing that blows my mind is their recharge dams,

 

Fossil fuel and nuclear subsidies outstrip those of renewable energy as anyone who is in the industry would already know.

http://cleantechnica.com/2016/02/25/the-myth-about-renewable-energy-subsidies/

Improving the efficiency of turbine blades is something that would have been done already if the fossil fuel industry hadn't choked it with lobbying efforts. Those improvements simply need to be adapted from the nuclear submarine propellers that eliminated the vortices that were causing cavitation and thus noise that gave away the position of the submarine.

We are seeing improvements in storage and solar technology too.

 

You have to 'renew' them constantly with maintenance, replacement, etc. Also there is 0 energy output when the sun doesn't shine and when the wind doesn't blow. At best they are supplemental only.

The military can't run a tank on a windmill or solar panels.

 

lmao...I literally just rolled my eyes back into my head.

You're actually entirely wrong. The reason that the military is investigating renewables is because they enable them to create sustainable bases. And its not just the American military...its global. And no, the energy is not a net negative if the energy can be stored...clearly you don't know much about hydrogen storage. With smart systems, you capture excess energy using a variety of renewable sources and then store that energy and use it during low cycles...ie, low wind, low sun...OR you can also use those cells in other systems..ie hydrogen powered vehicles, forklifts, equipment. You can also clean water using the same technology and depending on what water input you use, you can get fertilizer out of the system.

This is same technology that has been used on space missions for years.

Its nice that you have some background in wind turbines...but that's simply one of the many renewable technologies and the issue isn't generation from renewables...its energy storage.

You'll forgive me if I'm not cowed by your amazing strategy of posturing and name-dropping. Its highly foolish to assume that you're the only person working in this space or you're the only person with knowledge about it. And by the way, the people who have the most knowledge in this industry are generally pretty humble about it because the technology is moving fast and there are amazing projects being done all across the globe.

 

Lol...actually yes you can. Renewables create energy in high peak cycles that can be stored. Then you can use those fuel cells to run a variety of equipment.

And you should read about the new solar capture technology. They're using new thin, disposable materials that have almost zero maintenance and are relatively cheap. Also concentrators, sterling engines, etc are making it easier to get larger energy yields with less square footage and less direct sun.

 

Solar panels are passive devices that don't require regular maintenance.

Wind turbines do require maintenance but so do all other forms of energy production so the point you are making is moot.

The advantages of not wasting fuel to power generators means more fuel for the tanks.

As far as the supplemental issue goes that is what batteries are for.

 

Because I'm at work and I have a job to do, sometimes. Anyway, I'm not a Troll, I asked for evidence and you supplied it. It is new to me, so forgive me, I stand corrected.

 

More appalling ignorance, Exxon Mobile is building wind farms right and left and moving ahead as fast as possible with other renewables research. So is the rest of the oil industry. Exxon buys more oil than it currently produces.

 

There's actually a lot of newer technology in solar panels because the current ones do lose efficiency over time. And if sand blows on them...which it does a lot on missions in the middle east...you've got to assign personnel to keep them brushed clean to keep the efficiency up.

But they're working on many more efficient, lighter systems on mats...or thin balloon material that can be launched up (with a device that works like a t-shirt launcher)...so that they can get rid of the weight and the bulk and that can be carried/transported easier. There's a name for the current system they use (I'll have to look up the name of it) but its foldable panels and they're pretty bulky.

 

NO no no. No conspiracy theories please. A prop on a nuclear boat operates in a vacuum, as in all by itself. The tech I speak of is how MULTIPLE turbines react in relation to each other, and in this case it is not the elimination of the vortexes but the utilization of said vortexes to actually IMPROVE downstream performance.

Again, dude, don't speak unless you know whereof you speak, OK? BTW, my son in law is a sonar operator on the USS Dallas, and before that the USS Kentucky. We speak alot about what can be spoken of, and since I'm a machinist by trade, business owner by profession, and make defense parts all my life, it's actually something we have spoken of.

Got anymore "expertise" to lend to the discussion? Now, go look up the guy I mentioned, re-read my post and get yourself educated.

 

The life expectancy of a solar panel is about seven years or the first quarter sized hail storm.

 

They will have to be constantly replaced as they wear out or newer, more efficient panels hit the market.

Petroleum does not require maintenance and is easily transportable. No so with solar panels or wind mills.

Well, it seems you are agreeing with me...Solar and wind mills are supplemental only.

Batteries do not 'supplement' they are storage devices that are highly inefficient.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes....And, most of them are manufactured in China where Petroleum is used for energy.

 

The technology is already changing...you're talking about old technology. The new solar PVs are on rollable or foldable mats...or very thin fabric-like materials that can be used launched up and secured on cables like a weather balloon. And concentrator technology projects are all over the place.

 

Your spurious condescending attitude is duly noted and your posts will be treated accordingly in the future.

Have a nice day!

 

Really? Where are all the solar battle tanks? Stirling engines require an external heat source. So, where are all the Stirling engine power plants? Why isn't electricity cheaper with all these supposedly more efficient energy producers?

 

No offense...I admire you sons service but being a sonar operator or even a machinist really has little to do with understanding energy...particularly clean energy technology. In fact, the DOD under a navy contract just funded some HUGE projects because they're highly interested in moving away from nuclear technology at least some of their ships. They're very interested in smart grid technology for some of the reasons I previously listed. Being a manufacturer of defense parts really doesn't necessarily mean you understand the research being undertaken in government or in universities in this country or others. And if you look at where the money is being invested and spent...you'd be extremely wrong.

And why would name dropping one guy's name and telling someone to go read his material make you an expert? Bizarre.

Hey Derideo_Te...Albert Einstein. Go read his stuff and get yourself educated....lmfao....

 

Translation: 'I ain't got nothin'

 

Big oil and renewables aren't in competition.

Renewables are not a viable means of transportation. The amount of energy contained in a gallon of gas that can be freed just by setting it on fire is not something any renewable energy source can come close to duplicating.

Still, if renewables are the future, why do they need so much taxpayer money right now??? I had solar installed on my house here in Houston and my lake house last year, and you better believe I used the solar tax credit. It will be worthwhile investment provided the maintenance doesn't get too crazy, but my sister charges her $32,000 Ford C-Max up there for hours and it barely gets her back to Houston. So as good as solar is, it can't compete with gas when it comes to making a car go.

 

omg...seriously? You have to STORE THE ENERGY. They currently have vehicles that use batteries...however, lithium ion batteries have limitations...that's why they're spending money looking at higher scale storage technology like hydrogen. They're already making forklifts using hydrogen fuel cells and the automotive companies are right now writing standard for the new hydrogen powered vehicles that are already being tested. Look up the new testing facilities for hydrogen technologies from the standard companies like CSA. They just opened a huge testing facility in Vancouver. These vehicles are headed to market quickly.

And the reason that energy isn't cheaper is because the USA is far too dependent on grid technology. So far, its been cheap, easy and the US hasn't wanted to invest the money to move to clean tech...that is slowly changing. Mostly because the globe is moving toward this and if the US doesn't start catching up, they WILL be left behind. That's one of the many reasons I support the Democrats. They're far more likely to sign treaties to move clean tech along. We already saw that with the major conference that President Obama attended with global leaders about climate change at which they agreed to make financial incentives for clean tech each within their own country.

I guarantee you, at some point, the US is going to have a major security issue with one or more of their grids and they'll be a sudden shift. Already there's been attempted cyber attack hacks on the grids.

The whole entire point of my first posts were that the middle east and europe are much further along with implementing these new technologies and the US needs to catch up to ensure its viability longterm...because of security issues, because of global climate change, and because of innovation leadership and job security.

Right now energy isn't cheaper because they don't have to provide American consumers with cheap energy. Why do that when you have no choice but to pay through the nose for the existing technology? That's why the US may need a large incentive or push towards clean tech. But just because the technology isn't mainstream doesn't mean it doesn't exist and isn't being used on small projects in the country or in large use outside of the country.

 

The internal combustion happens to have a quite well known fuel to air ratio. It does not matter if it is a carburettor or a fuel injector, once it is in the combustion chamber, the fuel air ratio must be proper.

There are advantages to fuel injection but not that the F/A ratio gets changed.

Have you noticed that as the auto gets tiny like a two person kids toy that the auto makers have come out with some huge horsepower engines for guys like me to buy?

Back when I bought my first new car, that Bel Air Hardtop had around 165 hp I think. Course when i got done it had more than 400. But point is, Chevy will sell you a new car now with a lot more than 400 hp.



I did not realize that was one benefit from the regulations. Jerk off the rest of you so we hot rodders can go fast.

 

Most innovation comes from small businesses or research grants that then come to market. This isn't new. Every government agency dedicates a certain percentage of their funding to SBIR or STTR projects.

And the reason we don't have better energy technology ...particularly for the OEMs is because we haven't invested in the infrastructure required to make new technologies feasible. That is changing. The government started moving that way under Bill Clinton..in fact, they started moving with Ford on investments for a hydrogen fueling station highway between michigan and ohio to test hydrogen powered vehicles which are far, far, far more efficient than hybrid vehicles. However, then GWB got into office, the funding dried up...there was little investment in US clean tech...and instead, the US spent its time funding big oil and invading countries where they could steal more oil.

Under President Obama, clean tech initiatives have enjoyed a resurgence...particularly because of agreements made due to global climate change. But the US is far behind. And one of the greatest tragedies of that is that many industry experts have either left the country to work overseas or in the middle east or they've gotten funded by those governments and intellectual property is owned by foreign governments.

We SHOULD have cheaper energy...we SHOULD have more efficient, more green vehicles...we SHOULD be protecting the environment (I'm watching massive floods and forest fires on the news right now)...but we're way behind because too much of our government (right-wingers) are mired in the money they make keeping things exactly the same.

 

Renewable energy investment grew every year of the Bush presidency.

You can't get around the cost, hence your long post that was ultimately a partisan rant. Renewable and cheap just don't go hand in hand yet. Hydrogen, even with a highway, is still less cost effective than EV's which are themselves less cost effective than combustion. This is true in every country in the world. Which is why every country still uses petroleum as its primary source of energy for transportation.


Oil and renewables don't compete. Do I need to say it again?

And there is no funding for big oil.

 

The consumption of energy is a behavior.

The ultimate purpose of behavior is the continuity of survival. This is why sex is so important, it leads to reproduction and the continuity of behavior.

That all fails if the behaviors are not focused on survival,

The planet can process a certain amount of carbon particulate through its ecosystems, but this fact cannot he allowed to interfere with our own observance of our behaviors and their impacts on vital elements or survival.

Renewable energy sources, in their varity, need to be constantly balanced against potential compromise of the vital elements of air and water.

 

They also keep claiming that solar and wind are "renewable". Sure, the sun may shine for another billion years and the earth has constant wind, but the materials needed for humans to capture this energy is more scarce than oil and coal and natural gas. The materials for the batteries in hybrid Prius is hard to come by and takes strip mining to obtain. And, we are coming up with new ways of producing oil from algae which further extends the already 500 years supply we know of. And new methods of extraction will allow us to get more oil from the ground. As of now, we only get 20-30% of the oil from known reserves we can access.

 

You don't work for Solar City by any chance? (that's not a rhetorical a
question, BTW)