XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: robban@clubtelco.com   
      
   On 25/01/2014 9:33 am, J. Clarke wrote:   
   > 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.   
   >   
   >   
   I find it hard to believe that in such a huge country as the USA, there   
   are no such places. I would expect them by the sea, by the lakes and up   
   the mountains, all of which exist in abundance.   
      
   --   
   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)