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Tag Archives: renewables
Stable Electricity: A Long Slow Goodbye
Stable Electricity: A Long Slow Goodbye Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash Electricity shortages are looming for the UK and Europe, and then later for the rest of the overdeveloped world as well. Blackouts will become common, and you will get power only for a couple of hours a day — just like in countries with a less favorable economic […]
The Weakening Electric Grid: Less Reliable, More Fragile
The Weakening Electric Grid: Less Reliable, More Fragile California Independent System Operator announced a statewide electricity Flex Alert urging conservation to avoid blackouts in El Segundo, Calif., on Aug. 31, 2022. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) As more and more irritated customers become certain that power shortages and blackouts have become more […]
The End of the Oil Age Gets Postponed Again. Really?
The End of the Oil Age Gets Postponed Again. Really? Photo by Diyar Al Maamouri on Unsplash It looks like we have to wait a little more to see the end of the oil age. Our desire to burn more and more stuff knows no limits — at least not when talking about the foreseeable future. Statements like “oil will […]
A realistic ‘energy transition’ is to get better at using less of it
A realistic ‘energy transition’ is to get better at using less of it Image via Shutterstock. In 2022, I authored two articles expressing doubts about society’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable solar and wind power. In this final article in the series, I’ll explain why my conclusions are based on experience as well as analysis. My […]
Ramping up wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicles can’t solve our energy problem
Ramping up wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicles can’t solve our energy problem Many people believe that installing more wind turbines and solar panels and manufacturing more electric vehicles can solve our energy problem, but I don’t agree with them. These devices, plus the batteries, charging stations, transmission lines and many other structures necessary […]
The great energy descent – Part 1: Can renewables replace fossil fuels?
The great energy descent – Part 1: Can renewables replace fossil fuels? In summary, fossil fuels, as finite resources, will peak and decline in the next decades. However, they are extremely difficult to replace, so it’s unlikely that alternatives can replace them at the scale required. You can check the short version of the post. This […]
Renewable Power Projects Slow In US Over High Costs And Community Opposition
Renewable Power Projects Slow In US Over High Costs And Community Opposition The installation of wind and solar power projects is slowing down in the United States, with some projects being canceled over persistent cost issues and community animosity. Solar panels are seen next to a Southern California Edison electricity station in Carson, Calif., on […]
The Dangerous Fantasy of Scotland’s Net Zero Energy Transition
The Dangerous Fantasy of Scotland’s Net Zero Energy Transition Suppose that Scotland’s CO2 emissions fell tomorrow to zero, i.e., that, at midnight, the country ceased to exist. Then according to the “Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Induced Climate Change” (MAGICC), based on the latest IPCC climate models, the reduction in the Earth’s temperature in 2100 would […]
The Renewable Energy Problem That No One Talks About
Windmills and solar panels are shown in Kahuku, Hawaii, on Aug. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) The Renewable Energy Problem That No One Talks About An obvious barrier to adopting wind and solar power for electricity supply is their intermittency—when the wind isn’t blowing, and the sun isn’t shining, substitute sources are required. This issue […]
These Are North America’s Biggest Sources Of Electricity By State And Province
These Are North America’s Biggest Sources Of Electricity By State And Province On a national scale, the United States and Canada rely on a very different makeup of sources to generate their electricity. The U.S. primarily uses natural gas, coal, and nuclear power, while Canada relies on both hydro and nuclear. That said, when zooming […]
Renewables Are Slowly Approaching Diminishing Returns
Renewables Are Slowly Approaching Diminishing Returns Photo by Ryan Grice on Unsplash Once a source of hope for maintaining our modern lifestyle, renewables are close to hit diminishing returns (i.e.: providing less and less benefit to society with every addition of a new solar panel or wind turbine). For the record: fossil fuels have long passed the same […]
#243. The Great Inflexion
#243. The Great Inflexion A SYSTEM UNRAVELS INTRODUCTION As everyone surely knows by now, the global economy has entered a recession which is likely to be both severe and protracted. For the most part, governments and central bankers are concentrating on the task of trying to tame inflation. Their critics tend to argue for more expansionary […]
Electricity vs Oil
Electricity vs Oil The epic battle that never was Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash In light of the diesel crisis unfolding around the globe I thought it would be worthwhile to touch upon the topic of electrification. Will EV-s be our saving grace? Can we save the climate and our modern way of life by switching to […]
How the grid works, why a distributed grid won’t work
How the grid works, why a distributed grid won’t work Preface. This book is a good primer on how the grid works, worth the price to me just to understand Volt-Ampere Reactives (VARs). Renewables don’t provide them, but they’re essential for keeping the grid stable and not coming down. Angwin describes VARs as a bit […]
