All the advocates of these “high tech solutions “ fail to mention the basic physics that dictate that their energy storage systems are inherently inefficient. The laws of physics state that energy can neither be created or destroyed, only changed, and that energy output equals energy input plus losses.Part of the challenge is not only electricity storage but the inability of the layperson's inability to imagine the type of things that might be used as energy storage. We are kind of like people who read about the first computers and can't imagine what else it might be used for beyond accounting.
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All the advocates of these “high tech solutions “ fail to mention the basic physics that dictate that their energy storage systems are inherently inefficient. The laws of physics state that energy can neither be created or destroyed, only changed, and that energy output equals energy input plus losses.
So in order to create 100Mw of storage, you have to impart 100Mw of input energy into that storage plus whatever losses that energy conversion has. Then to draw out that energy (now somewhat less than 100 Mw because of the initial conversion loss) you lose more energy in the conversion from the storage medium into whatever energy type ( electricity, heat etc) you need to perform the work you want to do.
Obviously it’s more energy efficient to use the initial energy source to directly do the work we need it to do, but this is where the greenies don’t understand or care that using more energy to create a lesser amount of green energy is idiotic. It may make them feel good, but environmentally it’s a step backwards.
All the advocates of these “high tech solutions “ fail to mention the basic physics that dictate that their energy storage systems are inherently inefficient. The laws of physics state that energy can neither be created or destroyed, only changed, and that energy output equals energy input plus losses.
So in order to create 100Mw of storage, you have to impart 100Mw of input energy into that storage plus whatever losses that energy conversion has. Then to draw out that energy (now somewhat less than 100 Mw because of the initial conversion loss) you lose more energy in the conversion from the storage medium into whatever energy type ( electricity, heat etc) you need to perform the work you want to do.
Obviously it’s more energy efficient to use the initial energy source to directly do the work we need it to do, but this is where the greenies don’t understand or care that using more energy to create a lesser amount of green energy is idiotic. It may make them feel good, but environmentally it’s a step backwards.
All the advocates of these “high tech solutions “ fail to mention the basic physics that dictate that their energy storage systems are inherently inefficient. The laws of physics state that energy can neither be created or destroyed, only changed, and that energy output equals energy input plus losses.
So in order to create 100Mw of storage, you have to impart 100Mw of input energy into that storage plus whatever losses that energy conversion has. Then to draw out that energy (now somewhat less than 100 Mw because of the initial conversion loss) you lose more energy in the conversion from the storage medium into whatever energy type ( electricity, heat etc) you need to perform the work you want to do.
Obviously it’s more energy efficient to use the initial energy source to directly do the work we need it to do, but this is where the greenies don’t understand or care that using more energy to create a lesser amount of green energy is idiotic. It may make them feel good, but environmentally it’s a step backwards.
Things that work are those that are not ... subsidized, retards in charge and just throwing gobs of money at it, never theirs of coarse ... never works out.
My only point is that technology moves on. Everything we do is an interim step. Some things work fairly well and others less so. Every technology takes time to develop and many don't make it past bench scale testing. I am interested in technology and follow it closely from time to time because it can be frustratingly slow. The desire of the greenies as you call them helped California reduce emissions in automobiles, acid rain in the Great Lakes areas and other things that really are worthwhile. If we stuck to using the energy source directly without looking for other ways to be more efficient or better use the resources we would all still be lighting our homes with gas lanterns as for most of us electricity is created by converting one energy source to another.
I think hybrids are the best of both worlds.
So I guess it is better to never try than to try and fail and learn while you are doing so? If people weren't trying new approaches all the time, where do you think we would be at? It took 30 years for researchers to find a treatment for diabetes. I think it is good they didn't give up and I imagine there were literally thousands of dead ends. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-discovery-of-insulin
It is a good thing that others have the patience it takes to find new approaches to problems. Discoveries are coming faster now because of better funding much of which comes from private sources.
Look at your electric bill. On a $100 bill your actual electricity cost is likely $20. If electricity were to double your bill would be $120 dollars. One part of the reason why the solar payoff is so long in Alberta right now is because our electricity is the cheapest in Canada (and most of the world). The price of electricity doubling would cut the time to pay off your system in half. Ontario also has time of use billing. So during the peak demand in the day when your system is generating it's max you are getting paid the highest rate. Then at night when the rates fall and demand on the grid goes down you charge up the battery in your car.
It's very easy to drive 1000km in a day. You wake up in the morning and unplug with a full charge. Drive 500km. Stop and charge for 45min-hour. While you're charging you might as well go to a nearby restaurant and eat. Drive another 500km and charge at your destination.
We all benefit from new technology and you’re right, new approaches have to be tried. But like all other scientific endeavours, truth and logic must be applied in evaluating the results of the R&D, and decisions made should be based on results and logic, not emotion. Every current green technology is a net loss to the environment and to pretend otherwise is disingenuous. Research on green energy will continue, but research on clean coal and reducing fossil fuel emissions should as well. If you look at the emissions of a modern car vs a 1970’s model, the reduction is amazing. There’s no reason a similar reduction can’t be made to a coal fired plant as well.
We all benefit from new technology and you’re right, new approaches have to be tried. But like all other scientific endeavours, truth and logic must be applied in evaluating the results of the R&D, and decisions made should be based on results and logic, not emotion. Every current green technology is a net loss to the environment and to pretend otherwise is disingenuous. Research on green energy will continue, but research on clean coal and reducing fossil fuel emissions should as well. If you look at the emissions of a modern car vs a 1970’s model, the reduction is amazing. There’s no reason a similar reduction can’t be made to a coal fired plant as well.
Wait until they finally start adding the road tax, fuel tax, etc tax to electricity. It's coming. The govt needs the money and they ain't walking away from all the gas taxes. Electric vehicles are getting subsidized to use the roads, just like the peddle bikers.