New Energy Initiative
It is time to move away from hydrocarbons, in so far as possible, and begin using renewable energy sources, which can be transformed into electricity or hydrogen. Frankly, electricity is the mode of choice and it is quite feasable with sufficient political will. The move will bruise a few noses of those who continue to advocate various forms of hydrocarbons but it is time to pay the price. The plan is straightfoward.
Wind turbine generated electrical power is now virtually cost effective with gas turbine generated power. Wind generating areas sufficient to supply the entire U.S. with wind-generated energy are present in a north-south corridor extending from north Texas to the Canadian border and beyond. In addition, there is enough constant wind velocity to power offshore wind turbines along the northern half of the west coast and along much of the eastern seaboard. It is possible to station these powerful, multi-megawatt turbines far enough offshore to negate complaints of noise and unsightliness. Dedicated high voltage power lines could be constructed to transport electrical power from these sites to whereever power is required in the U.S. Stationary battery storage and other forms of stationary energy storage are available to modulate the variations in generated power from this source. Both wind powered and hydro- turbines can be combined with solar power to modulate the daytime power load. Millions of plug-in battery-powered hybrid automobiles can be charged at night when power costs are low and then be plugged-in and connected to the grid during the day, offering some of their power back to the grid, at a profit, in this way modulating peak power requirements and reducing the need for new plant to supply peak power generation.
Whatever liquid fuel is required can be supplied by ethanol created from both corn (wasteful) and cellulosic (cost-effective) feedstocks. But this feedstock should be a waystation to a hydrogen-fuel economy. We need to extract power from the sun, transform it into electricity, convert that electrical power into motive power directly where possible to connect vehicles to an electric grid and into hydrogen for those vehicles that need to be more independent from electrical power and battery power.
Our high tech battery researchers must find a substance other than cobalt from which to make the battery electrodes, then use nanotechnology to enhance the configuration of battery electrodes to spread out the surface area of the electrode maximally. We are getting close and I have no doubt about its advent.
Air transportation will need fuel. It is possible to create high quality aviation fuel from coal. And it is possible to sequester the effluent from burning coal by pumping and securely storing it deep underground to create a zero-emmissions coal plant. Costly, yes, but it can be done. And should be done so that the true costs of coal, including its environmental costs, are paid for up front.
Wind turbine generated electrical power is now virtually cost effective with gas turbine generated power. Wind generating areas sufficient to supply the entire U.S. with wind-generated energy are present in a north-south corridor extending from north Texas to the Canadian border and beyond. In addition, there is enough constant wind velocity to power offshore wind turbines along the northern half of the west coast and along much of the eastern seaboard. It is possible to station these powerful, multi-megawatt turbines far enough offshore to negate complaints of noise and unsightliness. Dedicated high voltage power lines could be constructed to transport electrical power from these sites to whereever power is required in the U.S. Stationary battery storage and other forms of stationary energy storage are available to modulate the variations in generated power from this source. Both wind powered and hydro- turbines can be combined with solar power to modulate the daytime power load. Millions of plug-in battery-powered hybrid automobiles can be charged at night when power costs are low and then be plugged-in and connected to the grid during the day, offering some of their power back to the grid, at a profit, in this way modulating peak power requirements and reducing the need for new plant to supply peak power generation.
Whatever liquid fuel is required can be supplied by ethanol created from both corn (wasteful) and cellulosic (cost-effective) feedstocks. But this feedstock should be a waystation to a hydrogen-fuel economy. We need to extract power from the sun, transform it into electricity, convert that electrical power into motive power directly where possible to connect vehicles to an electric grid and into hydrogen for those vehicles that need to be more independent from electrical power and battery power.
Our high tech battery researchers must find a substance other than cobalt from which to make the battery electrodes, then use nanotechnology to enhance the configuration of battery electrodes to spread out the surface area of the electrode maximally. We are getting close and I have no doubt about its advent.
Air transportation will need fuel. It is possible to create high quality aviation fuel from coal. And it is possible to sequester the effluent from burning coal by pumping and securely storing it deep underground to create a zero-emmissions coal plant. Costly, yes, but it can be done. And should be done so that the true costs of coal, including its environmental costs, are paid for up front.
posted by Bob at 2:30 AM
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