Keeping the Energy Debate Clean: How Do We Supply the World's Energy Needs?

摘要: We take a fresh look at the major nonrenewable and renewable energy sources examine their long-term viability, scalability, sustainability of resources that they use. achieve this by asking what would happen if each source was single supply power for world, as gedanken experiment. From perspective, solar hydrogen economy emerges dominant solution to world's needs. If we globally tap sunlight over only 1% incident area an conversion efficiency 1%, it is simple show meets our current world consumption. As 9% planet surface taken up desert efficiencies well are possible, in practice, opens many exciting future opportunities. Specifically, find thermal collection via parabolic reflectors - where focussed heats steam about 600?C drive turbine best available technology generating electricity. For static storage, provide electricity night, there number viable options discussed. mobile such fueling vehicles, argue case both liquid gaseous use internal combustion engines. outline reasons why semiconductor cells fuel do not appear scale global solution. adopt approach envisions exploiting massive establishing large arrays collectors hot regions world. cannot wait them be exhausted need start conserving imminently. What often forgotten debate oil, natural gas, coal used sources, but also rely on embodying crucial physical products. It fact requires us develop platform with urgency. argued unavoidable, ultimately humankind has no other choice.