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These are arbitrary metrics, why does energy density matter for anywhere which has the space? Even in Northern latitudes and high density countries you can gene

These are arbitrary metrics, why does energy density matter for anywhere which has the space? Even in Northern latitudes and high density countries you can generate a lot of electricity with a nominal amount of land. All the more if they can be fitted on rooftops. For sunny places near deserts it can absolutely provide a big percentage, even a dominant percentage of power. The main issue is matching demand to supply, production density is a distant concern.

ThomPete 7y ago
Energy density isn't arbitrary. It normally means something can be used in compact form (batteries, oil, gasoline, coal, uranium) and deliver energy at will. Look at the capacity factor of wind and solar, add to that the huge areas they need and the fact that they are intermittent and you start to get a glimpse of the problem. This is neither economically nor technically feasible. You can't generate as much as you think and you can't do it at a cost that makes it feasible generally for society not even with lowered cost. Currently, we are talking 1% of world energy consumption not expected to be much more than 3-4% in 2040 and that's despite huge investments and all the political goodwill you can ask for [1] Keep in mind that the numbers you normally see displayed is for electricity not for energy. Electricity is only a subset of energy. Furthermore, investments in solar and wind is decreasing especially when you take china out of the equation. [2] And again. Lab results or theoretically possible advantages most of the times aren't feasible in reality and at scale. [1] https://www.iea.org/weo/?fbclid=IwAR3eH1AFcRSPSEit8JINLCMvE_UmZAsNNdxRRpIepIGqCz_rILNEHHwLtNw https://www.iea.org/weo/?fbclid=IwAR3eH1AFcRSPSEit8JINLCMvE_... [2] https://www.globalresearch.ca/growth-renewables-stalled-investment-falling/5678889?fbclid=IwAR0Sd3mRotIjpUDmwO-6M1t9lQ4buvB8BW8ceQBlJesRA5b4rgUW23Af7FU https://www.globalresearch.ca/growth-renewables-stalled-inve...
- Brakenshire 7y ago
  Those IEA renewable projections are comically wrong every year: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsX2rpPW0AIVORG?format=jpg&name=large https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsX2rpPW0AIVORG?format=jpg&name=...
  - ThomPete 7y ago
    Ate they wrong about the current situation?

ThomPete 7y ago

Energy density isn't arbitrary. It normally means something can be used in compact form (batteries, oil, gasoline, coal, uranium) and deliver energy at will. Look at the capacity factor of wind and solar, add to that the huge areas they need and the fact that they are intermittent and you start to get a glimpse of the problem. This is neither economically nor technically feasible. You can't generate as much as you think and you can't do it at a cost that makes it feasible generally for society not even with lowered cost. Currently, we are talking 1% of world energy consumption not expected to be much more than 3-4% in 2040 and that's despite huge investments and all the political goodwill you can ask for [1] Keep in mind that the numbers you normally see displayed is for electricity not for energy. Electricity is only a subset of energy. Furthermore, investments in solar and wind is decreasing especially when you take china out of the equation. [2] And again. Lab results or theoretically possible advantages most of the times aren't feasible in reality and at scale. [1] https://www.iea.org/weo/?fbclid=IwAR3eH1AFcRSPSEit8JINLCMvE_UmZAsNNdxRRpIepIGqCz_rILNEHHwLtNw https://www.iea.org/weo/?fbclid=IwAR3eH1AFcRSPSEit8JINLCMvE_... [2] https://www.globalresearch.ca/growth-renewables-stalled-investment-falling/5678889?fbclid=IwAR0Sd3mRotIjpUDmwO-6M1t9lQ4buvB8BW8ceQBlJesRA5b4rgUW23Af7FU https://www.globalresearch.ca/growth-renewables-stalled-inve...

Brakenshire 7y ago
Those IEA renewable projections are comically wrong every year: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsX2rpPW0AIVORG?format=jpg&name=large https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsX2rpPW0AIVORG?format=jpg&name=...
- ThomPete 7y ago
  Ate they wrong about the current situation?