The Future of Energy

[ratty]

From the International Journal of Sustainable Energy ....

What if Germany had invested in nuclear power?

A comparison between the German energy policy the last 20 years and an alternative policy of investing in nuclear power

ABSTRACT
Germany has one of the most ambitious energy transition policies dubbed ‘Die Energiewende’ to replace nuclear- and fossil power with renewables such as wind-, solar- and biopower. The climate gas emissions are reduced by 25% in the study period of 2002 through 2022. By triangulating available information sources, the total nominal expenditures are estimated at EUR 387 bn, and the associated subsidies are some EUR 310 bn giving a total nominal expenditures of EUR 696 bn. Alternatively, Germany could have kept the existing nuclear power in 2002 and possibly invest in new nuclear capacity.

The analysis of these two alternatives shows that Germany could have reached its climate gas emission target by achieving a 73% cut in emissions on top of the achievements in 2022 and simultaneously cut the spending in half compared to Energiewende. Thus, Germany should have adopted an energy policy based on keeping and expanding nuclear power.

[nonentropic]

But that is going to encourage capitalism so I'm sorry, not going to happen.

[ratty]

Opinion piece by a former US power engineer, Dick Storm. His reflections on what is happening in the US power grid is just like looking into a mirror relative to electricity generation in Australia. Digging ourselves a deeper & deeper grave energy-wise that the unreliables will not be capable of saving us from.

The War on Carbon, Not Climate Change, Is the Real Existential Threat to the Future of Western Civilization

The Biden-Harris Administration and Congressional Democrats are self-righteous environmental zealots with low energy IQ’s, they are seriously misguided and they have created anti-American energy policies that are impossible to achieve.

These self-righteous Bureaucrats and elected officials are detached from energy reality and are destroying our country. Churchill’s Minister of Labour said, “Heaven runs on righteousness, and the Earth runs on energy.” Biden, Harris, and the Democrats do not understand this.

My retired engineer friends and I are among the 5% or so of Americans who understand energy and electricity generation. The enviro-zealot government policymakers have been placed in office by the 95% majority that does not understand energy and electricity generation.

The majority of Americans have been misguided into believing carbon is an existential threat, worse than nuclear weapons or other catastrophes.
How? By the mainstream media, entertainment personalities, ‘woke’ corporations, and misguided, low-energy IQ politicians.

Etc ...

[ratty]

Reality biting for renewable unreliable energy ....

BP's dramatic shift: What its renewed focus on oil and gas says about lofty renewable goals as 2030 green energy targets loom

Four years after boldly announcing its industry-leading plans to go green, British Petroleum has looked to more oil and gas after investor backlash and energy security woes crushed the energy giant’s dreams.

The bombshell revelation comes after BP's former CEO Bernard Looney came flying into 2020 vowing to reduce the company’s oil and gas production.

He planned to slash fossil fuel production by 40 per cent by 2030 and invest heavily in renewables, all while promising investors an 8-10 per cent return on capital from clean power.

But Mr Looney’s eyes were too big for his stomach and BP’s 2030 target was reduced to 25 per cent in February 2023 as it cut projected annual renewables spending projections.
....
BP, which has vowed to hit net-zero by 2050, is not alone in its move away from renewable targets.

Its rival Shell has sold power and renewable businesses, scaled back offshore wind operations, biofuels and hydrogen and lifted its oil and gas production outlook during its recent third quarter results.

In Australia, Fortescue, Woodside and Origin have all abandoned targets which would set the nation up as a global leader in green hydrogen, with the latter flagging concerns over “uncertainty around the pace and timing of development of the hydrogen market”.

And the government’s own ambitious plan to have an energy mix of 82 per cent renewables by 2030, which it currently lags behind, is also up in the air.

Etc ...

[ratty]

This is a long article by multi-disciplinary scientist David Archibald who explores future power generation options; it includes a detailed discussion of nuclear options.  Something for a rainy day?

Conserve to Convert

There was an inspiring story in the magazine Tablet about Palmer Luckey, the founder of the first-person-viewer company bought out by Meta. As recounted in Tablet, Mr Luckey had an epiphany — instead of developing the next iteration in that technology, he should develop the ultimate technology. He did, made billions and went on to found a yet more successful company in defence technology.

So that begs the question: what is the ultimate technology in energy? What technology will our great grandchildren have settled on to keep the lights on, the wheels turning and the grain growing? No matter what we are doing in energy at the moment, we, as a civilisation, should prepare for adopting the ultimate technology. Preparation starting as soon as possible will reduce the pain and suffering in getting to that shining city on a hill.

David Archibald is also the author of American Gripen: The Solution to the F-35 Nightmare

[nonentropic]

I like David but he is underestimating the time it takes for the transitions. Ultimately peak this and that will all happen but driven by technology not shortage.

[blustnmtn]

www.theblaze.com/return/texas-announces-plan-for-advanced-nuclear-reactors-across-the-state-worth-over-50-billion

[ratty]

Nov 18, 2024 21:32:20 GMT blustnmtn said:

www.theblaze.com/return/texas-announces-plan-for-advanced-nuclear-reactors-across-the-state-worth-over-50-billion

Meanwhile, Australia has a legislated ban on nuclear energy.