Various Forms of Renewable Energy

Over time, guest bloggers and I will post articles that will enable readers to learn about the various forms of renewable energy that are feasible at various places around the world. We will also encourage you to question our leaders as to why the transition to renewable energy sources is occurring at such a ridiculously slow pace.

I happen to favor solar thermal — concentrated solar power — for North America. In brief, the Earth receives 6000 times more energy from the sun each day than we humans use. A solar thermal farm in the shape of a square 105 miles on a side in the southwest US desert would provide sufficient power for the entire continent, using extremely common and inexpensive materials, principally concrete, aluminum, glass, and salt (to store the heat energy so that power can be generated at night).

Of course, solar thermal is valuable only in places that have deserts; if you’re in Iceland, for instance, you’ll need to look to tidal, geothermal, etc.

As I’ve written extensively, there is no reason (beside the enormous money/power behind coal, nuclear, and petroleum) that we can’t develop solar thermal quickly and easily.

PS: Here’s an infographic that depicts the history of renewable energy at a glance.