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Global Investment in Wind, Solar Exceeds That of Fossil Fuels

posted by cmn32480 on Tuesday June 12 2018, @01:33PM   
from the global-warming-is-a-hoax dept.

MichaelDavidCrawford writes:

World spending on renewable vitality is outpacing investment decision in electric power from coal, natural gasoline and nuclear energy plants, pushed by slipping costs of manufacturing wind and solar ability.

More than 50 % of the energy-producing capacity extra all-around the entire world in current several years has been in renewable sources this kind of as wind and solar, in accordance to the International Vitality Company.

In 2016, the newest calendar year for which data is out there, about $297 billion was used on renewables—more than two times the $143 billion spent on new nuclear, coal, gas and gas oil electric power plants, according to the IEA. The Paris-based organization assignments renewables will make up 56% of net producing potential additional through 2025.

The moment supported overwhelmingly by hard cash-back incentives, tax credits and other authorities incentives, wind- and solar-era charges have fallen continually for a 10 years, earning renewable-energy financial commitment additional competitive.

Renewable charges have fallen so significantly in the earlier number of yrs that "wind and photo voltaic now symbolize the least expensive-charge selection for building electrical energy," claimed Francis O'Sullivan, study director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Energy Initiative.

Sustained government assistance in Europe and other formulated economies spurred the development of renewable vitality. But expenses have fallen for other factors. China invested closely in a domestic photo voltaic-producing market, generating a glut of affordable solar panels. Innovation assisted makers make for a longer period wind-turbine blades, generating devices ready to generate significantly far more ability at a reduced expense.

Quoted Article: http://relatednews.net/31303/global-investment-in-wind-and-solar-energy-is-outshining-fossil-fuels/

Originally Submitted Article [paywalled]: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-investment-in-wind-and-solar-energy-is-outshining-fossil-fuels-1528718400

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Original Submission

• Re:Wear and tear (Score: 3, Interesting) by c0lo on Wednesday June 13 2018, @06:54PM

  by c0lo (156) on Wednesday June 13 2018, @06:54PM (#692471) Journal

  When this isn't true it's generally because of a major change in the technology used, in which case the rare-earth elements may lose their value

  The way I know, PV technology does not require rare-earths (and neither other semiconductor components)
  Usually, the bulk p-type is done by introducing boron in the melt, with a strongly doped thin layer on top using phosphorus as impurity (with POCl₃ mostly let to flow on top of the cell at 800-900C). The top antireflective layer is silicon-nitride - again, no rare-earth.
  True, a multijunction pv cell will be technologically harder to manufacture, but I still don't see the need of rare-earths.

  Where rare-earths are needed - strong permanent magnets, like in the case of wind turbines. But in such cases, the rare-earths are much easier to recycle.

  Nothing convincing yet, but if you're hoping for a major improvement, that's the kind of area to look in. Or even amorphous silicon, as it's got a different set of advantages.

  A tandem solar cell [wikipedia.org] (two junctions) reaches 30% efficiency under 1sun and 40% when using concentrated illumination. But they are horrendously difficult to manufacture.

  Feeling of guts - meta-materials may be a direction.

  --
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford

  Parent

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