On Mar 15, 2006, at 11:01 AM, Philip Winestone wrote:
In certain countries such as India and Africa, small, self- contained systems, such as for pumping irrigation water, or powering comfort fans, can work wonders. For countries such as the US and Canada, renewable power such as solar energy is quite inadequate.
What is the basis for this position? Wind rose data for mountain top regions in northern latitudes like Canada and Alaska show enormous energy potential. The southern US has enormous solar generating potential, and Canada has much to offer in trade in the US/Canada energy grid. The principle technological problems are renewable energy storage and transmission. There are also the lessor problems of generating power during windmill feathering in high winds, and operating in arctic conditions, but these problems are solvable. There is good geothermal potential in the US and Canada as well as bio-fuel potential. In addition, renewable energy can be imported from efficient solar generating countries using silicon or nitrogen based energy transport systems.
See supporting material and refs at http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/.
Power sources such as small hydro, where to some extent the power output is consistent, is attractive, as is biomass to some extent. But in order to capitalize on biomass, there have to be some logistical structures in place.
Yes, major infrastructure changes have to occur to convert to renewable energy. However, these infrastructure changes and the economic efficiencies occurring as a result of these changes should have a dramatic and positive effect on the world economy and the quality of life.
Horace Heffner
