tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post1122363008655553963..comments2024-03-28T10:25:22.825+01:00Comments on Robert's Stochastic thoughts: Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455788499385673507noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post-82607984570869654102007-04-11T04:42:00.000+02:002007-04-11T04:42:00.000+02:00Dear John HoodThanks for explaining and big thanks...Dear John Hood<BR/>Thanks for explaining and big thanks for commenting on my humble (wrong word) modest (uh uh) low traffic blog.<BR/><BR/>Dear Gerrywolff<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the excellent comment. I didn't no CSP was so advanced (I last remember it as a Carter administration pilot project). I should have thought of how heat can be stored.<BR/><BR/>I still think that nuclear power generation can be made safe with new technology (modular pebble bed reactors). I think that would also be useful for waste disposal. <BR/><BR/>I don't think there is a need to choose. <BR/><BR/>Also I really like algae in tubes from greenfuel http://www.greenfuelonline.com/Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455788499385673507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post-37060066136503463562007-04-11T01:15:00.000+02:002007-04-11T01:15:00.000+02:00There is absolutely no need for nuclear power in t...There is absolutely no need for nuclear power in the US because there is a simple mature technology that can deliver huge amounts of clean energy without any of the headaches of nuclear power.<BR/><BR/>I refer to 'concentrating solar power' (CSP), the simple but effective technique of concentrating sunlight using mirrors to create heat, and then using the heat to raise steam and drive turbines and generators, just like a conventional power station. It is possible to store solar heat in melted salts so that electricity generation may continue at night or on cloudy days. This technology has been generating electricity successfully in California since 1985 and half a million Californians currently get their electricity from this source. CSP plants are now being planned or built in many parts of the world.<BR/><BR/>CSP works best in hot deserts and, of course, these are not always nearby! But it is feasible and economic to transmit solar electricity over very long distances using highly-efficient 'HVDC' transmission lines. With transmission losses at about 3% per 1000 km, solar electricity may be transmitted to anywhere in the US and Canada too. A recent report from the American Solar Energy Society says that CSP plants in the south western states of the US "could provide nearly 7,000 GW of capacity, or ***about seven times the current total US electric capacity***" (emphasis added). <BR/><BR/>In the 'TRANS-CSP' report commissioned by the German government, it is estimated that CSP electricity, imported from North Africa and the Middle East, could become one of the cheapest sources of electricity in Europe, including the cost of transmission. A large-scale HVDC transmission grid has also been proposed by Airtricity as a means of optimising the use of wind power throughout Europe.<BR/><BR/>Further information about CSP may be found at www.trec-uk.org.uk and www.trecers.net . Copies of the TRANS-CSP report may be downloaded from www.trec-uk.org.uk/reports.htm . The many problems associated with nuclear power are summarised at www.mng.org.uk/green_house/no_nukes.htm .Gerry Wolffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11460178635334918047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post-19983741594921814482007-04-10T03:12:00.000+02:002007-04-10T03:12:00.000+02:00Fair enough. I didn't explain in my post that the ...Fair enough. I didn't explain in my post that the "deal" would be to agree to offset the foregone sales or income taxes with lower spending on, says, corporate or agriculture subsidies. That would essentially transfer budget authority from relatively ineffective or even counterproductive spending to useful infrastructure investment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com