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A group of scientists have called for a "moonshot" renewable energy research program called the "Global Apollo":
They say they have generated interest from major nations in their plan for an investment of 0.02% of their GDP [about $150 billion over 10 years, and about the cost of the Apollo program in 2015 dollars] into research, development and demonstration (RD&D) of clean electricity. Their report, launched at London's Royal Society, says on current projections the world will exceed the 2C danger threshold of climate change by 2035.
The academics are led by the UK's former chief scientist Professor Sir David King. He told BBC News: "We have already discovered enough fossil fuels to wreck the climate many times over. There's only one thing that's going to stop us burning it – and that's if renewables become cheaper than fossil fuels. "Under our plan, we are aiming to make that happen globally within a decade." Another of the authors, former Cabinet Secretary Lord O'Donnell, told BBC News: "People never believed we could put a man on the Moon - but we did. People don't believe we can solve climate change - but we have no choice."
It complains that renewable energy has been starved of investment to a shocking degree, with publicly funded RD&D on renewable energy only $6bn a year – under 2% of the total of publicly funded research and development. The authors say this compares poorly with the $101bn spent worldwide on production subsidies for renewables and the $550bn "counter-productive" subsidies for fossil fuel energy.
Solar is the most favoured renewable source as the group says it has greatest potential for technology breakthroughs, and most new energy demand will be in sunny countries. The cost of solar has been plummeting and is already approaching competitive prices in places as different as Germany, California and Chile. But the authors believe next-generation plastic photovoltaics can to keep prices tumbling. They believe battery technology is improving fast – but think batteries and other forms of storage need to be massively developed to store intermittent renewable energy. The authors say much smarter software is needed to enable electricity grids to cope with the new sources of power. Some experts believe that energy technology has developed so fast that it simply needs further price support to keep volumes rising and costs falling. Others will complain that the Apollo group has done little to tackle the immense problem of replacing fossil fuels in heating.
Original Submission
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday June 10 2015, @01:31PM
This is an important point. A parsimonious mindset can do so very much. Mind you, that's parsimony, as in, "only using what you need," not "going without." In many cases it's not only less wasteful, but flat out better. I use daylight in my office, too. The only window opens onto a well between two buildings, which you would think is terribly dark. When I pull up the blinds, the lumens measured on my light meter is higher than when I turn on all 4 LED lights in the room; it turns out it is harder than you think to equal the brightness of natural sunlight. Another, transportation-related example: my younger brother, an automotive engineer for Ford, and my brother-in-law, one of those guys who LOVES his car, have been petrol heads for years. They would never have imagined giving up the "throaty growl" and "raw power" of their V8's. Yet, now they have both switched to BMW i3 EV's, because the instant they felt that crazy linear acceleration push them way back into their seats, the excellent braking power, and the bliss of the total silence, they dropped their ICE cars like hot rocks. Yeah yeah they don't have to buy gas any more and blah blah blah the environment blah blah, but, "Hey man, feel that acceleration!" My younger brother is also now seriously pursuing putting solar panels on his roof to recharge the car scot-free.
One thing leads to another.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by Dunbal on Wednesday June 10 2015, @01:48PM
They would never have imagined giving up the "throaty growl" and "raw power" of their V8's.
You mean this [washingtonpost.com] throaty growl? I don't see why an electric car's stereo system can't play back exactly the same sounds. Heck if people like we could probably put in a "stick shaker" and vibrate the steering column/driver's seat to simulate rpm...
Thank god the fate of the world doesn't rest on "petrol heads".
(Score: 2) by sudo rm -rf on Wednesday June 10 2015, @02:54PM
For stick shifts (in case anyone remembers those) you would also need that unique sound that occurs when you're not pressing the clutch pedal strong enough while switching gears ;)
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday June 10 2015, @04:59PM
That's called grinding. Something that you shouldn't be hearing, if you know what you're doing.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Wednesday June 10 2015, @02:58PM
Good news, everybody! They do [washingtonpost.com]
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday June 10 2015, @04:00PM
They can. Nissan Leaf implemented a car noise because some people complained they couldn't hear it coming.
I find engine noise irritating because it drowns out conversation with my family in the car and the subtler passages of the classical music I prefer when driving. Also, the traffic noise causes me constant, background stress as a driver, cyclist, pedestrian, and guy sitting in my apartment in the city. For me, silence is golden. Lack of it is the biggest drawback to living in New York City (for everyone, according to statistics from the city's 311 information line which say noise complaints far outnumber all others).
The silence of EVs and the active cruise control they all seem to be coming out with take driving from stressful and aggravating to, dare I say it, almost sublime.
Washington DC delenda est.