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To round out the controversial critique of solar power started here, I reproduce below the most detailed critical analysis I’ve read on solar thermal electricity. It’s written by a University of NSW academic, Ted Trainer. I’d strongly encourage you to read his full 44-page set of arguments on the inability of renewable energy to sustain an energy […]
Filed under: Renewables | 105 Comments »
Here are two useful items I want to highlight. The first is a policy and review paper on climate change written by Katherine Wells, entitled “Recent Climate Change Science, Global Targets and the Global Climate Emergency“. Katherine, a lawyer, is a former Chair of the South Australian Premier’s main environmental advisory board, the Premier’s Round […]
Filed under: Clim Ch Q&A, Emissions | 16 Comments »
I’m about to head to Madrid for two weeks, to do some research with a colleague at the National Museum of Natural Sciences — but do not fear, I’ll still be on the ‘net in the evenings to run the blog! I see, happily, that I leave behind an ongoing debate on the need for […]
Filed under: Nuclear | 104 Comments »
Below I reproduce a fascinating analysis, which attempts to classify people’s ‘belief systems’ in sustainable energy and climate change into four broad categories, types A, B, C, and D. (Note that this is only an excerpt from the introduction of a larger report that Gene is currently writing) It is written by Dr Eugene Preston, who […]
Filed under: Clim Ch Q&A, Nuclear, Renewables | 64 Comments »
The two recent posts focusing on Peter Lang’s wind study have generated considerable debate, and some very stimulating discussion, among BNC readers. This post is a follow-up, which this time highlights Lang’s analysis of solar power and related problems associated with energy storage. This is about solar photovoltaics (PV), which generate electricity directly via the […]
Filed under: Nuclear, Renewables | 505 Comments »
The following is a response from Peter Lang to various comments made in the post “Does wind power reduce carbon emissions?“ Energy Storage Energy storage, at the scale required to make wind power a reliable source of dispatchable power, is uneconomic. This link provides comparative costs of energy storage technologies. Even without energy storage wind […]
Filed under: Emissions, Nuclear | 236 Comments »
Guest Post by Tim Kelly. Tim works as a Principal Climate Change Advisor in the Water Industry and is a regular contributor to Brave New Climate. It was disappointing this week to see the level of confused and incorrect statements and criticisms in the media regarding GreenPower. Yes there are problems with GreenPower both currently (before an […]
Filed under: Emissions, Renewables | 21 Comments »
Update: Peter Lang, author of the wind study referred to below, responds here. If renewable or nuclear energy is going to be successful in decarbonising our electricity supply (and, ultimately, all energy use), it needs to hit a couple of fundamental benchmarks: (i) its life cycle energy inputs must be low compared to its ‘clean energy’ […]
Filed under: Nuclear, Renewables | 255 Comments »
Update: Listen to me on ABC Radio, talking about nuclear power, fast breeder reactors, renewables, and the inevitability of growing societal energy demand. This also features an interview with Dr Jim Green, and my response. It runs for about 16 minutes in total: http://tr.im/vXE2 —————- Published in the Adelaide Advertiser, 4 August 2009 (pg 18). This opinion […]
Filed under: Emissions, Nuclear | 63 Comments »
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