XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: jclarkeusenet@cox.net   
      
   In article , robban@clubtelco.com   
   says...   
   >   
   > On 24/01/2014 12:17 pm, J. Clarke wrote:   
   > > In article , robban@clubtelco.com   
   > > says...   
   > >>   
   > >> 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.   
   > >   
   > > Bear in mind that the total power consumption of Denmark is tiny   
   > > compared to that of, say, the US.   
   >   
   > So is the amount of space for wind farms.   
      
   Not really.  Wind farms require steady wind.  Denmark apparently has   
   such locations in abundance, the US doesn't.   
      
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