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Photos capture the breathtaking scale of China's wind and solar buildout

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Re: Photos capture the breathtaking scale of China's wind and solar buildout

#301

Post by tehjoker »

roxolotl wrote: post #21

It genuinely makes me so sad to see the US not doing the same. Having grown up to the constant beat of “energy independence” as the core goal of a party it seemed obvious that the nearly limitless energy that rains down from the sky would be the answer. But instead we’ve kept choosing the option which requires devastating our, and other’s around the world, community. That’s not to exclude the harsh reality of mining…

We chose this path because the U.S. dollar is underpinned by fossil fuel markets. Also, batteries do not have the energy density to mobilize a mechanized military.

Our elites refuse to concede dominance of the affairs of the world, so they will never allow the fossil fuel infrastructure to decline unless forced.

By contrast, China has every incentive to do the right thing.

Re: Photos capture the breathtaking scale of China's wind and solar buildout

#302

Post by tehjoker »

lateforwork wrote: post #225
jacquesm wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US does not have Venezuela.

It does. It may be illegal, immoral etc., but it does as of now.

The Bolivarian revolution kicked us out before, they can do it again.

Re: Photos capture the breathtaking scale of China's wind and solar buildout

#304

Post by deathanatos »

lateforwork wrote: post #230
samiv wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US is a crumbling democracy with crumbling infrastructure and society. I just hope while it goes down it doesn't take the rest of the planet with it.

Yes that's true... but only for the next 3 more years. We return in 2029.

I wouldn't count these chickens before they hatch.

I keep wondering where the line in the sand is for the wider GOP base. We keep crossing what I think "this is the line … right?" and nope, that wasn't it, either.

Re: Photos capture the breathtaking scale of China's wind and solar buildout

#305

Post by subroutine »

dalyons wrote: post #263
noosphr wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nuclear build out, wires and transformers. China has been building 5% extra nuclear capacity every year for the last 30 years. On target for making up 24% of their energy mix in 2060.

Everything I’ve read says their nuclear share is actually declining y/y, due to the crazy growth of renewables. I think that target is out of date?

If they build out wind and solar first then yes, the nuclear share will have declined year over year.

Re: Photos capture the breathtaking scale of China's wind and solar buildout

#306

Post by aaronmoodie »

thatsit wrote: post #58
yeureka wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently read, and recommend a book titled "Here Comes the Sun" by Bill McKibben. There's a passage where a calculation is made of the amount of minerals that have to be mined in order to build renewable energy to cover all current energy needs. This quantity is huge. However it is equivalent in mass to the amount of fossil fuels that are extracted every year. The major difference is that the equipment for renewabl…

Solar panels etc. will last decades and can and will be recycled afterwards. Further, most materials needed for renewable energy infrastructure (iron, lithium) are highly abundant on earth. Most of the suppliers work to use cheaper (=more abundant) materials in their products, replacing lithium with sodium in batteries and silver with copper in solar panels. Wind turbine blades are produced now using re-solvable resi…

Not only are older solar panels recyclable, but efficiency gains in panel construction mean that multiple newer panels can be created with the resources from older panels.

Re: Photos capture the breathtaking scale of China's wind and solar buildout

#307

Post by laurencerowe »

MandieD wrote: post #143
madeofpalk wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its crazy that in 1999 "home solar" was a fancy, new millennium idea, and now we're still barely any closer. Honestly, I think building regulations should mandate solar energy for homes.

Seeing fewer rooftop solar installations when I visit my home state (Texas) than I see in the one I live in (Bavaria) is a trip. Yes, I know that electricity is far cheaper there than here, but as much electricity as air conditioning eats, and as big as those roofs are (panels are cheap; it's the system that's expensive), it should balance out. Anecdotally, a ton of solar has gone up in the last four years here in Ge…

Something is deeply wrong with the home solar market in the US. It comes out about 3x more expensive than Australia despite similar labour costs.

Re: Photos capture the breathtaking scale of China's wind and solar buildout

#308

Post by hollowturtle »

All I see is missed opportunities to build a bunch less nuclear power plants and call it a day, without messing up with the landscape. Am I the only one? I believe if we Europeans and Americans start building nuclear power plants again we could finally compete. Renewable energy is not constant and has a storage problem

Re: Photos capture the breathtaking scale of China's wind and solar buildout

#310

Post by Computer0 »

hollowturtle wrote: post #308

All I see is missed opportunities to build a bunch less nuclear power plants and call it a day, without messing up with the landscape. Am I the only one? I believe if we Europeans and Americans start building nuclear power plants again we could finally compete. Renewable energy is not constant and has a storage problem

At least half of people I talk to are strongly opposed to nuclear energy. How many are opposed to the current sources of energy as well? I wonder.
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