Neglected options mean squandered fossil fuels
October 17, 2007 - 12:04pm
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The U.K. chairman of Royal Dutch Shell, in a BBC article today, talks of a reliance on fossil fuels for decades to come accompanied by a phenomenal increase in demand as, for just one example, China's current 40 million vehicles are estimated to become 150 million by 2020:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7028214.stm
As I read this I'm moved by two other news items. One concerns a prototype Wavebob device, about to be tested off the Irish coast. Each wave-powered device, when at full scale, will provide power for 1,000 homes.
The other item concerned a project that has been mulled over for a hundred years, tidal turbines set in the Bristol Channel's Severn estuary. This massive project is sponsored by the Tidal Power Group.
The growth of such projects is encouraging. We have much tidal and wave power to be exploited and a strong argument to fast track suitable projects.
[ 17 October 2007: Message edited by: bliter ]
The trouble with these sustainable alternative energy sources is that they will do nothing as far as improving the climate situation as long as we keep burning fossil fuel. It will only work if we keep shutting down the fossil fuel spigot as we develope sustainable alternatives and reduce our consumption. And then we are still left with the problem on how to mop up all that excess carbon in our atmosphere.
Dear Bubbles,
My oh my. Where's the vision? What a drab lot we are.
quote:Originally posted by bliter:
Dear Bubbles,
My oh my. Where's the vision? What a drab lot we are.
bliter,
Visions are a dime a dozen these days. I have had my share of them. We have a fair understanding about the environmental issues facing us. we also have a fair understanding as to what needs to be done and how to do it. What fails us is the willingness to get moving and apply our knowledge.
My vision on that is rather depressing. I suspect we will be reacting on a series of environmental events rather then acting to prevent those events from happening.