Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Judith Curry :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4YUnZIKneY
This lady is a climatologist who has some very pertinent views to share. I especially liked the part from about minute 26 where she mentions two useful alternatives to wind and solar. One interesting point she made was this – if fossil fuels have led to wilder weather events, WHY would anyone in their right mind move to an energy source that depends totally on weather (solar and wind)?
Further to that, she mentions both the hugely increased amount of mined materials that are needed to create (what is it in Australia today) 22,000 solar panels PER DAY for the next 7 years, plus the fact that these require vastly greater areas of land for both the placement and the subsequent transmission lines for these solar or wind farms.
All in all, it is the frantic rush with little cogent thought around the whole subject that is leading to doubtful decisions being made in the political arena on the subject of power.
Sad to say, not a lot has changed in the last three months – except that “Extinction Rebellion” protagonists appear to have gone to ground (thank heaven for that!!). Solar panels continue to be added to the grid. The more that are added, the more sensitive the grid becomes.
Think about this – the grid needs stability to prevent brown or blackouts. With more and more transient inputs added (i.e. they CAN’T operate full-time – their operation is thus transient) the ability of the grid to continue to provide a solid, unchanging 240v becomes harder and harder. Like, when it is broad daylight, coal generators aren’t needed so much as the solar input is providing power. Then the Sun goes down, and coal/gas must pick up ALL the slack…. Instantly !!!
Add to that, with Banks not lending to build more “fossil fuel generators” and the old ones needing maintenance (and some brain-dead States blowing up their coal-fired gennies), when will the existing base load generators fail, leaving us on our proverbial knees re energy? Solar CAN’T work at night – how will folks power their electric vehicles overnight?
Sorry – there are too many questions for mine re this so-called “green energy”. How much fossil material needs to be mined to CREATE these solar acreages in the first place? And don’t these panels have a lifetime of 10 years? What then?
Come in nuclear – you can’t come soon enough !!
Let’s highlight that interesting comment from the last post – it bears thinking about:-
if fossil fuels have led to wilder weather events, WHY would anyone in their right mind move to an energy source that depends totally on weather (solar and wind)?
Nuff said?
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