Yep , I understand the energy density of coal and oil . They are...

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acorn

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20/02/18

18:14

Post #: 31198450
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Originally posted by mudguts ↑

Nuclear like any power source will only last a few generations until Thorium & Fusion become main stream - sadly I won't see that in my life time.

FWIW, Not spitting the dummy.

This could also describe me

(Not the greenie bit .......................... . I'm an engineering technology nerd . I'm just interested in the engineering solutions and the benefits from them . Obviously I want to see a greener world but not at the expense of living standards or practicality . I reckon that by using some clever engineering and some effort we can achieve a greener practical world .

So we are on the same page believe it or not.

I sit with a few people that are involved in the energy space & have some of their knowledge to draw on.

(a bit of trivia - How much does it cost to mine a tonne of coal ready to burn (in Qld).....answer 2c---not a typo.
How many kW are released from that burning of coal. This is what you have to replace.

Wind turbines in SA last graph I saw was almost nil (a wind drought).

FWIW - I also think molten salt/ solar is a tech that requires more development. Just need to scale them up.
Pumped Hydro is great, just not enough place (read big enough) in Aust ie snowy hydo. There are plenty of small scale opportunity, but increases the cost per unit produced.

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Yep , I understand the energy density of coal and oil . They are fantastic energy sources . That's why , as I posted previously , it's going to take a long time to wean ourselves of fossil fuels .

Don't know why people fuss over wind turbine charts ? We know that the wind doesn't blow all the time . Just as we know the sun isn't up for 24 hours . But , these resources are quite predictible . And , as they are developed they are getting more and more efficient .

But , it still comes back to the storage . That is the key I reckon . You can generate as much as you like from renewables but until you can store it you will always need fossil for backup .
Molten salt does have a big future as does large scale flow batteries in my view . Enviromentally friendly , scaleable , long lasting , can be located anywhere urban or remote .

I still think we will see smallish scale pumped hydro in certain areas . The one they are looking at for Port Augusta seems like it might work . Plenty of elevation , plenty of water and plenty of sun . Be interested to see how that one pans out .

Here's another example of where renewables can be practical .

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-...hium-batteries-big-success-wa-farmers/8954740
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