64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
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Re: 64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
#2Original title: 64% of new electricity in Q1 came from Solar Power – is it enough?
Re: 64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
#3A few interesting tidbits from the table in the article:
1) Coal is seeing a dramatic decline! The decrease in electricity generated by coal in 2015 was four times the increase in renewable (wind+solar) electricity generated. In fact, it was more than all other electricity increases combined. This is great for the environment, and not just from a carbon perspective, also from an ash and air pollution perspective. (But unfortunately bad for the areas where coal mining is the sole economic driver)
2) The total amount of electricity generated actually declined significantly (~5%) in 2015. Since we're not seeing a dramatic economic crash, does this point to efficiency gains, weather, or something else? Hopefully, we'll begin realizing more 'negawatts' - the most efficient watt-hour of electricity is the one that is never produced.
3) From a PV perspective, I live in an area attractive to solar power both physically and economically, yet only a handful of my neighbors have installed solar panels. There's still a LOT of room to grow!
Re: 64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
#4"China aims to have 100 gigawatts (GW) of wind power capacity by 2020, and the nation’s leaders plan to expand installed solar capacity to 20 GW during the same period. These are truly astonishing goals, and, if China even comes close to accomplishing them, it will become the world’s renewable energy leader. But there is a problem. Total Chinese electricity generation capacity is 900 GW currently; with seven percent [GDP] growth, that means the nation’s electricity demand in 2020 will be something like 1800 GW. Wind and solar together would supply less than seven percent of that. The only thing likely to boost that percentage much would be a dramatic reduction in growth of energy demand to, say, two percent annually."
I like this from The End of Growth (2011) by Richard Heinberg.
As much as the numbers are incredible we are really undermining the amount of energy produced by fossil sources.
Similar problem with nuclear.
Are we really on the exponential road to sustainability? I hope so.
Re: 64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
#5"this summer we might see clear oceans in the Arctic." - this is absolutely terrifying.
Re: 64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
#6"China aims to have 100 gigawatts (GW) of wind power capacity by 2020, and the nation’s leaders plan to expand installed solar capacity to 20 GW during the same period. These are truly astonishing goals, and, if China even comes close to accomplishing them, it will become the world’s renewable energy leader. But there is a problem. Total Chinese electricity generation capacity is 900 GW currently; with seven percent…
This quote isn't recent, is it? Because it takes 10 years of 7% growth to double[1], and China's economy is becoming less energy intensive over time, so no, it's not going to double power usage in 4 years.
Re: 64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
#7A few interesting tidbits from the table in the article: 1) Coal is seeing a dramatic decline! The decrease in electricity generated by coal in 2015 was four times the increase in renewable (wind+solar) electricity generated. In fact, it was more than all other electricity increases combined. This is great for the environment, and not just from a carbon perspective, also from an ash and air pollution perspective. (Bu…
Fossil fuels account for 67% of the power generation in the US. Coal was replaced with another fossil fuel: natural gas. Solar accounts for less than 1%. So, yes, there's a lot of room for solar to grow.
Re: 64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
#8"China aims to have 100 gigawatts (GW) of wind power capacity by 2020, and the nation’s leaders plan to expand installed solar capacity to 20 GW during the same period. These are truly astonishing goals, and, if China even comes close to accomplishing them, it will become the world’s renewable energy leader. But there is a problem. Total Chinese electricity generation capacity is 900 GW currently; with seven percent…
This quote isn't recent, is it? Because it takes 10 years of 7% growth to double[1], and China's economy is becoming less energy intensive over time, so no, it's not going to double power usage in 4 years. 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_72
2011. I'll edit it.
Re: 64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
#9"this summer we might see clear oceans in the Arctic." - this is absolutely terrifying.
That made me remember the last time I read of some guys trying to reach the north pole. They almost died because the sea ice they were on broke up.
Re: 64% of new energy from Solar Power in Q1 is not enough
#10"this summer we might see clear oceans in the Arctic." - this is absolutely terrifying.
2048 or somewhere around that is the time when all of the ocean ecosystems will be completely destroyed.
we're living in some crazy times.