Solar Energy: A Thing of Beauty Is a Joy Forever
Here’s a reminder that it’s only a matter of a short period of time before this civilization derives the power it needs from its nearest star. Solar PV, which is only one of the means of harnessing the sun’s energy, is becoming so inexpensive at such an astounding pace, that the demise of the dirty energy of the 20th Century is squarely upon us.
Of course, this is a recurring theme here at good ol’ 2GreenEnergy: Ironically, clean energy will soon be ubiquitous, regardless of our wanton disregard for the environment; it’s a matter of pure market economics, as discussed at length in Bullish on Renewable Energy.
Now, is it beautiful? Well, that depends on whom you ask. Personally, I find the ribbon of PV pictured above, cutting across the wide open space, to be absolutely gorgeous, especially when we take into consideration that it’s cleaning up that which is pictured below.
Commuters cover their mouths while waiting for buses in the heavy fog and smog in Harbin, China on Monday.
Craig,
Well, I suppose it’s all a matter of taste. Ribbons of glass and metal obscuring green pasture land may appeal to some, and I suppose in this case, beauty is in the eye of the ideological correct.
While you are certainly entitled to your own opinions and tastes, your not entitled to your own facts.
1) Solar power is not getting cheaper.
There’s a limit to the price to which any manufactured product can decrease.This is especially true of products where a substantial part of the price consists of labour for installation.
The effects of mass manufacture, product development, and imported price dumping is exhausted, while the cost of installation is increasing.
2)The majority of panels are produced by enormously pollutant production methods involving outrageous brutal humans rights and environmental violations. (one of the reasons prices are so low).
3) Celebrating those long lines of solar panels will eventually end in tears ! Those panels are a massive hidden toxic pollution bomb another generation will inherit.
It’s interesting to note you, (like to rest of the solar industry) have consistently refused to offer any explanation as how future generations are to deal with this highly toxic waste which will blight the world in 20 to 40 years. The potential pollution created by solar will make the problems of coal usage seem trivial in comparison.
It’s astonishing how silent the Solar industry (and it’s advocates) are when it comes to dealing with the problem of obsolete panel disposal. The best the RFA can offer is a faith based hope the next 20 years will see a new, as yet not invented, technology developed to deal with the problem !
Of course, by then it will be our children’s problem.
I wonder if they’ll thank you for your shortsighted sanctimonious solution ?
Craig,
You do know the fog/smog occurring in Harbin is hardly a new phenomenon ?
Like Beijing’s problem with dust from the Gobi desert, Harbin suffers from farmers burning crop stubble in Autumn.
Harbin is a relatively new city. It was founded in 1898 as a terminus for the Chinese Eastern Railway,and grew very rapidly with a large Russian and foreign population in early 20th century.
In 1910, the great medical reformer Dr. Wu Lien-teh was sent to Harbin to end the terrible plague that had gripped the city. His policy of cremating bodies and burning refuse ended the plague and convinced local farmers of the benefits of smog !
The Russian Resident-General of Harbin wrote about the annual Fog/Smog in his memoirs published in 1926.
The phenomenon is not helped by the 64 coal fired power plants providing power to this city famous for it’s heavy industry.
Harbin Electric Company Limited is one of the worlds largest steam turbine manufactures and supplies companies like China Huadian Corporation with Equipment. China Huadian Corp operates 58 massive coal fired power stations.
Harbin Electric International and GE are building one of the world’s largest gas fired power plant’s in Pakistan. The Bhikki plant will generate power more than six million Pakistani homes.
The plant’s uses GE’s combined-cycle system.
Back in Harbin, Harbin Electric is undertaking a 5 year, $US 1.5 billion research project along with domestic and foreign partners into coal sequestration and emission reduction technology.
I suspect dissuading farmers from stubble burning will prove a far harder task !
@Craig.
You said “civilization derives the power it needs”
Craig please grow up! Or at least try and get out of the microcosm you are trapped in more often, and find a way to engage with or learn about “the 75% global civilised component” that you display zero understanding about “the power they need” to advance their lives, businesses, industries, factories, communities, infrastructure and nations.
You often mention your quality educational background. It is not well reflected in your writings though which are narrow and regressive.
How about expanding your mind a bit please Craig – and attempt explaining in some detail how your musings above have any practical relevance whatsoever in industrializing and advancing the population and infrastructure development of Mumbai, New Delhi, Jakarta, or all of the African nations peoples for example. By my count that lot in itself adds up to about 30% of global “civilization”; or are you really referring to another small “civilization subset” perhaps Craig? Maybe something along the lines of Miami, Los Angeles, Sydney, Madrid and Denver for example?
Totally incomprehensible. MarcoPolo often challenges my positions on some very strange grounds, but at least I can understand what he’s talking about.
MP: Can you (or somebody else) translate this into English for me, please?