/sci/ - Science & Math

>>3958486

Solar and nuclear are going to be part of the future bro. Solar PV is already price-competitive:

http://www.ncwarn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NCW-SolarReport_final1.pdf

Baseload energy production: nuclear, geothermal, hydro, molten salt storage-equipped CSP
Peak/variable energy production: solar CSP, solar PV, wind, thorium (future)
Storage: pumped-water hydro, compressed-air, flywheels, fuel cells, plug-in cars
Transmission: HVDC lines (there won't be no wind and no sunshine everywhere), superconducting power lines (future)

>>3921232

>Even if one would get solar panels for free, the maintenance and the installation costs make solar panels economically nonviable

lol maintenance costs? In big CSP maybe that would be an issue, but all you have to do for PV is wipe it down when it gets dirty.

In all seriousness, solar is probably a more competitive energy source than thorium but /sci/ never talks about it

>>1707081

Fuck yo PV cells, Concentrated Solar is where the shit's at

Although newer PV cells are pretty awesome, it'll be a long time before they catch up with CSP

>>1304813

USE EVERYTHING

Concentrated solar, put it in all the major deserts in the world. Arizona, Arabia, Gobi, Sahara, the Australian Outback, and close to major cities that get decent amounts of sunshine. Like DESERTEC for Europe, except everywhere. HVDC lines to carry the electricity long distances, and replace them with superconductors when they become viable.

Wind farms, both off- and on-shore, in all the places where there's good wind potential. Or gigantic turbines like the Maglev-type this guy posted >>1304876

For intermittent renewables like those above and VIVACE, use molten salt systems, plug-in cars, and pumped-water hydroelectric to cope with peak demand hours.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) can be built almost anywhere, not just in hot spots. So build them everywhere where it would work. Supplement with Gen IV nuclear and we have a solid baseload.

If it becomes necessary, when newer technologies become commercially viable we should add them in or use them to replace the old system entirely. Fast breeder reactors that can generate electricity from nuclear waste. High-altitude moored balloon-turbines to take advantage of the jet stream. Spaced-based solar. Maybe even fusion if it ever becomes economical. Hopefully we won't have to rely on future technology because if we don't get our shit together in the next three decades, peak oil and global warming are going to double-team us and we aren't going to enjoy it.

Sup /sci/

I've been working on this climate change education package and I'm looking for some input. Some of you may remember the old version I posted a few months ago, which contained significant weaknesses which I'm trying to address with the new version.