[OSM-talk] radioactivity

[John Smith]

--- On Mon, 10/8/09, Martin Koppenhoefer <dieterdreist at gmail.com> wrote:
> what about wind and solar energy? With a large-scale
> (DC-)grid you can
> also achieve the coverage of base loads with wind-energy,
> as there is
> always some wind somewhere. What about reducing useless
> energy
> consumption and augmenting efficiency (also in the
> transportation of
> it)? Sorry for this offtopic, but there IS solutions beyond
> nuclear
> power stations. Don't know Australia well, but worldwide
> there could
> be a huge reduction in consumption by better housing
> insulation.
> Architecture is one of the key fields where consumption
> could be
> reduced by intelligent design, though it is generally not
> considered a
> main target by investors because energy is so cheap.

The problem with wind and other alternative sources they usually require either vast amounts of land, are hugely inefficient, don't produce peaks amounts of energy at peak demand times, there is no viable solution for storing energy in enough quatity for peak times, and very long transmission lines waste vast amounts of energy.

Toshiba probably has the best option around, they make a mini nuke plant that can operate close to where the power is needed with minimum personnel for about 30 years. Although hopefully someone will perfect a boron reactor in the next decade or so.

As for wind farms being able to provide base loads, the facts aren't with you.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/05/25/renewable-energy-%E2%80%93-our-downfall/