XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: robban@clubtelco.com   
      
   On 24/01/2014 10:36 am, Rod Speed wrote:   
   >   
   > Robert Bannister  wrote   
   >> 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.   
   >   
   > Pity about the cost of doing that and the need to have all that   
   > coal fired power to handle the situation where the wind isnt blowing much.   
      
   Pity there are no working thorium reactors anywhere either.   
      
   --   
   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)