A few years ago I set out to make a series of “Renewable Energy Solution of the Month” videos, but I’ve been swamped in the meantime by continually trying to keep up with and sort out the tidal wave of information, and disinformation, about climate change itself. Finally I’m getting back around to presenting the hopeful facts. Speaking to thousands and thousands of people has convinced me that, if you only talk about the problem, and not the path forward, its almost as if people literally, physiologically – can’t hear you.
One more reason to support Dark Snow this year:
For months I’ve been gathering interviews with people I know who are following the renewable energy explosion – and everywhere I go, I’m telling people that we are in a stage very much like the internet in about 1993 – taking shape and about to blow up. In fact, the key enabling technologies for renewables are growing right out of the distributed information network that is shaping the new century. There’s no going back, and the companies, and countries, that do not grasp the scale of the change we are seeing, may not survive.
A lot of people seem to think that its a one type of energy only and solar wont work because the sun does not shine at night or, wind wont work because the wind does not blow all the time. What does work is a mixture of everything. Wind is cheap so take it when you can, solar is reliable and powers the house during the day. Hydro is great for instant power when surges in demand need to be met and geothermal is a good base load and steady provider. The main thing is to get rid of coal which is a dirty fuel. produces three times its own weight in CO2 and kills and maims a lot of miners. Its not difficult. http://www.climateoutcome.kiwi.nz/clean-energy-alternatives.html
The fact that a comment such as yours still has to be made in the 21st century is quite depressing.
The increase of solar in Germany and California has chopped the daytime peak so much that there is a daytime surplus problem. Night time charging for EVs is good now in most places and will continue to be for a while. But daytime charging is becoming more useful as solar makes inroads.
“Since California has made such spectacular progress with solar generation, we now have no afternoon peak at all; the sun is brightly shining and generating electricity at just the time that the air conditioners need it. The result is a glut of power at 2 p.m. and a reduced load after dark.”
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Youve-Got-to-Charge-Your-EV-While-the-Ducks-Are-Quacking
Rooftop solar is having a noticeable effect in Australia as well and just caused negative pricing in the middle of the day
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/solar-sends-energy-prices-below-zero-in-middle-of-day-63767
Who was that masked man?
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/07/01/3449868/renewables-soar/