The Myth of Renewable Energy

One will not be able to put solar collectors in areas of low solar insolation. They will be put in areas of high insolation, usually deserts for bulk energy collection. But deserts reflect huge amounts of energy straight back out into space, anywhere up to 90 percent. If we absorb the energy that is ordinarily reflected, eg., 3 k-hrs per day, over an area of 10,000,000 sq kms, i.e., 10,000,000,000,000 sq metres, Earth as a whole will be absorbing an additional  30,000,000,000,000 kw-hrs per day.

In brief, as stated earlier, we will be adding to the global warming problem, not reducing it.

With respect to other forms of renewable energy eg., tidal power, or wind, or biomass, or any combination of those, we find similar problems. Let us consider first of all, wind power.

A typical wind power tower might deliver 50 Mw-hrs per day, and thus supply the total energy needs of 16 people. A country like Australia, with its population of 21 million people, would require over 1,300,000 such towers today, and twice or three times that number by 2050.

Let us now turn to the problem of efficiency. If we are to reduce energy consumption, in particular electrical energy consumption, by 50 percent by 2050, when population will be twice or three times what it is now, all of our appliances must be 4 times more efficient. In addition, our cars, CO2 producers all, will have to use no more than 1 liter (of equivalent fuel) per 100 kilometres, i.e.,  well over 100 miles per gallon.

In brief, solar energy, or for that matter other forms of renewable energy, simply aren't going to cut it.

One can hope that efficiencies will improve. For example it was stated that conversion efficiencies of up to 42 percent have been achieved. But those efficiencies can only be achieved by concentrating the solar energy by 500 times, requiring huge sun tracking mirrors, at great cost.

Likewise, no solution to the global warming problem will work if countries refuse to recognize the nature and extent of the problem, or of denying that a problem exists, saying, "Oh it's just another drought." as one hears so often.

No solution will work if people engage in wishful thinking, or of tinkering at the edges, or acting in their own self interest, or of using solutions for political ends, as the demand of some appears to be, to limit the development of some nations by forcing them to accept carbon limits which they themselves won't accept, or economic ends, as an opportunity to make a quick dollar at the expense of someone else's misfortune.

There are simple, low cost, economical solutions to this problem of course, but no one seems to want to know.

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Contact:  georgebl@iprimus.com.au