When Will Science Keep Their Promises on Renewable Energy? themindguild.com/when-will-science-keep-their-promises-on-renewable-energy October 29, 2018
Over the past few decades, we have seen countless developments take place in our society. The various fields of science have produced many of these new developments. In just 20 years, we have seen the creation of the Internet and smart phones. Both of these have changed our lives forever. But there is one goal of science that we cannot seem to reach. In fact, when can’t even seem to get close to this goal. The goal I am referring to is renewable energy. For many years, we have stated that our ultimate goal is to quit using fossil fuels altogether in the near future. This is an admirable goal for many reasons. It would be very difficult to find someone who wouldn’t agree with this. The problem is that science is forever reporting about all their achievements in the field of alternative energy sources. We read about this all the time, but it seems that very few of these great scientific achievements ever reach consumers. Here are some recent articles where science reports new developments in regarding to alternative energy.
Renewable energy will be equal or cheaper than fossil fuels in 2020 The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) believes wind and solar will be equal or cheaper than fossil fuels by 2020. Prices could be as low as three cents per kilowatt-hour for onshore wind and solar photovoltaic projects over the next two years. The average by 2020 is expected to be around five cents for onshore wind and six cents for solar photovoltaic auctions. Hydropower was the cheapest at five cents per kilowatt-hour, onshore wind at six cents, and bioenergy and geothermal sources at seven cents. Solar projects are still high in comparison at 10 cents per kWh Renewable energy will be equal or cheaper than fossil fuels in 2020 – NextBigFuture.com Renewable energy will be equal or cheaper than fossil fuels in 2020
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Zinc- Air Batteries A Low Cost Sustainable Energy Option As green energy continues to rise as an alternative to traditional power grids, more people are looking towards how renewable energy sources can reach people in underdeveloped or remote areas. One California-based company, NantEnergy, might have an answer: rechargeable zinc-air batteries. Still relatively unknown, the innovative energy storage system could have major global impact. The green rechargeable battery is an air-breathing cell that uses just zinc and air and integrated with digitally controlled intelligence, but what makes it even more unique is the low cost and longer duration of use. CoolBusinessIdeas.com | Zinc- Air Batteries A Low Cost Sustainable Energy Option
Decentralized Home Solar Power Is Lighting Up Sub-Saharan Africa According to tech optimists, the world is consistently getting better, and technology is partly to thank. It seems plausible given statistics about reductions in poverty rates, longer life expectancy, increased literacy, and the like. Over 500 million Africans currently live without electricity, and thousands of people who do have power have to deal with frequent outages. In rural areas lacking a grid, most homes get light from kerosene lamps. Kerosene is dependable —if you burn it, it’ll definitely give you light—and it can be purchased in as small and variable quantities as a family’s finances allow. Decentralized Home Solar Power Is Lighting Up Sub-Saharan Africa After reviewing a 2012 copy of Issues in Science and Technology, an article was found about governmental energy policies. They stated that energy plans created by government and science have failed in a huge way. Here is an excerpt from that issue: “… during the past 40 years, the federal government has spent about $150 billion (in 2012 dollars) on energy R&D, offered $35 billion in loan guarantees, and imposed numerous expensive energy mandates in an effort to develop new energy sources. During this time, many talented and dedicated people have worked hard, done some excellent science, and learned a great deal. Yet federal energy technology policy has failed to reshape the U.S. energy market in any meaningful way. The major failure has been in efforts to commercialize technologies, with many billions of dollars essentially wasted on loan guarantees, tax credits, and other subsidies that never produced results. We have failed to learn that commercialization cannot be forced and must wait until the technologies are competitive enough to support private investment on a market basis.”
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