XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: robban@clubtelco.com   
      
   On 24/01/2014 4:25 am, Rod Speed wrote:   
   > Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)  wrote   
   >> Doc O'Leary wrote   
   >>> Greg Goss  wrote   
   >   
   >>>> Modern North Americans just cannot fathom the scale of a horse-based   
   >>>> society.   
   >   
   >>> s/horse-based/sustainable   
   >   
   >>> And, sadly, the problem isn't just limited to North American.  The   
   >>> majority of sci-fi hand waves abundant energy into the future, but   
   >>> the reality is that, so far, that appears to be the hardest hurdle we   
   >>> have facing us.   
   >   
   >> Only hardest in a political sense. There are designs for (relatively)   
   >> inexpensive and easily-manufactured safe nuclear reactors which   
   >> wouldn't require the super-billions of dollars or the many, many years   
   >> to construct, but NOOKYOULAR PHEEER! pretty much kiboshes those.   
   >   
   > I doubt it will if energy does become hard get.   
   >   
   >> Solar power has come a **LONG** way in the last 20 years, and the ONLY   
   >> real hurdle it has left is storage.   
   >   
   > That is no hurdle now with national and sub national   
   > grids and others that are close to that like the EU etc.   
   >   
   >> If someone figures out a high-density storage medium,   
   >   
   > We already have, pumped water.   
   >   
   >> or is willing to install 2-3x base capacity so that the "storage   
   >> medium" is synthesized hydrocarbon fuel of some sort,   
   >   
   > I doubt that will ever make sense.   
   >   
   > The most that is likely is that for the most convenient   
   > transport fuel once natural gas and coal seam gas is   
   > no longer economic as a transport fuel.   
   >   
   >> the energy issue would be settled pretty well.   
   >   
   > It already is if you don't mind using coal and brown coal.   
   >   
   >> Farther into the future you have SPS, which has the advantage of no   
   >> interruptions of service and no losses due to atmosphere or clouds.   
   >> And the standard designs avoid the MICROWAVE DEATHRAY!!! problem.   
   >   
   > Cant see solar power satellites being viable myself.   
   > Bet we use safe thorium nukes instead. MUCH cheaper.   
      
   Denmark and Spain now produce well over 25% of their total electricity   
   with wind power and that is set to increase.   
      
   --   
   Robert Bannister - 1940-71 SE England   
                       1972-now W Australia   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)