tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211624219772149197.post9149817485547893482..comments2024-03-01T17:23:42.261-05:00Comments on Sustainable Energy Today: Post # 37: Is Sustainability Enough?Sherrell R. Greenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027976431195016041noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211624219772149197.post-74334154100536815432011-04-07T22:32:36.872-04:002011-04-07T22:32:36.872-04:00David,
Good comments!
Yes, to some extent, batte...David,<br /><br />Good comments!<br /><br />Yes, to some extent, batteries can off-set the intermittent nature of renewables – of course with added expense. An "apples-to-apples" comparison of wind and solar with coal, oil, nuclear is difficult. I've not aware of a good analysis of the lifecycle performance of a large (say ~ 2 MWe) commercial integrated wind generator / battery storage system. I'm actually not sure if anyone markets such a system. Most large wind systems I'm aware of are designed to use the grid as the "battery". Actually, it should be possible to perform at least a semi-quantitative comparison of technologies based on the performance metrics I cited in my post. I'll give it some thought.<br /><br />With regard to needs and wants...this is a complex cultural, societal, and moral issue. I believe competition for energy, food, and water resources will be a major source of global unrest as we move further into the 21st century. I continue to be amazed at the fact we have millions of people living in this world today who have cell phones, but who still live in mud huts with no plumbing or electricity. Not a stable situation.<br /><br />Thanks for reading my blog!<br />SherrellSherrell R. Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027976431195016041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1211624219772149197.post-71812174877257190312011-04-05T23:29:50.559-04:002011-04-05T23:29:50.559-04:00It would be useful and interesting to estimate to ...It would be useful and interesting to estimate to what extent the various alternative energy technologies satisfy the criteria outlined here. As regards wind and solar energy, batteries are coming to provide a buffer supply. Would this mitigate their shortcomings in predictability as you've defined it?<br /><br />As for distinguishing between needs and wants, Western society is founded on permitting individuals to make that distinction themselves in a space that, while restricted by laws, remains considerably vast. For that reason, I suspect defining what people need and don't need wouldn't work as well as focusing on the technological and commercial barriers to energy sustainability.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06479661850407909825noreply@blogger.com