Why Energy Is Becoming Less Reliable—and Less Affordable—All Around the World
Germany historically never had problems with its electrical grid.In 2012, however, the country had about 1,000 brownouts. In 2013, that number hit 2,500, and it continues to get worse.Germany is not alone.
I am by no means against green energy or cleaner energy of any kind. However, if the technology is not ready to replace what we have and maintain at least previous levels of supply and reliability then that is a problem. If green energy is so much better and cheaper as proponents claim, then there are no need for laws restricting, taxing or punishing traditional sources of energy. The transition will happen on its own.
The main reason for the push towards green energy at an accelerated rate is because of false claims by politicians. Either the claims are not based on the science or the science on the subject is not yet reliable enough to make judgments based on it. Here are a few of the predictions made by politicians on the subject since 1989:
- 1989: nations will be "wiped off the face of the Earth" by 2000 (UN official).
- 1990: humans only have 10 years to save the planet from "turning into a total frying pan."
- 2018: the world is going to end in twelve years if we don't address climate change (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
If any nations have been wiped off the face of the Earth by rising sea levels, I've missed it.
I wouldn't categorize the earth as a "total frying pan".
I would be shocked if the world ended in twelve years (seven now) because of climate change...and I don't think science says anything of the kind anyway.
Humans may well be contributing to climate change but that's no reason to exaggerate for political goals. The effects of energy shortages and economic catastrophes can lead to dangers for the climate as well. We should not be sacrificing energy reliability and availability to transition to alternate sources.
This article lays out three different facts to consider from the book Fossil Future:
- Fossil fuels are a uniquely cost-effective source of energy.
- Cost-effective energy is essential to human flourishing.
- Innumerable people are suffering and dying for a lack of access to cost-effective energy.
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I have always been interested in green energy, I took up a specialization class before focusing on this field. The problem is that some green energy raw materials still produce a much carbon footprint than that what we have today, also a problem with logistics, and high maintenance equipment needed. Since we already have a lot of studies that prove good sources of green energy I think we should now focus more on how to convert that sources in a cost-effective way.
There are definitely other things to consider. For instance, what is the carbon cost of manufacturing and maintaining solar panels? What is the environmental cost of manufacturing the Lithium batteries needed for electric cars? For newer green energy sources (particularly intermittent sources like wind and solar), we will need much better energy storage technology than the batteries we have today for it to truly replace fossil fuel sources.
Also, current carbon capture technology allows for the capture of 90% of the CO2 released by fossil fuel powered power plants and that may, in the not too distant future, reach 100%.
yeah exactly, hope professionals will continue to seek solutions for this challenges