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Deep ocean wind has potential too. It's currently very expensive, of course, but the costs will fall substantially if it scales up. Oceanic wind is much more co

• dredmorbius 5y ago
  Wind, geothermal, and hydraulic energy (and hydraulic energy storage) are also clearly viable. Wind and hydro are largely derivatives of solar energy (as is wave energy). That is: the original energy source is the sun, here creating energy potential through kinetic wind energy (created by heating and cooling of the atmosphere), or of falling water (initially evaporated by solar energy). The total amount of available power is a fraction of incident sunlight, though the capital and maintenance costs may be lower where wind and hydroelectric potential are concentrated. Geothermal represents an independent power stream, though high-potential sites are limited (and surprisingly highly utilised) over much the Earth, with Africa's Rift Valley being a notable exception. Tidal and nuclear energy are also independent of solar power. The first seems to offer de minimas actual potential and at high costs. The second already provides ~4% of humans' net energy, with risks and fuel abundance posing grave concerns. But yes, wind is also a viable significant contribution. It's being rapidly built out on land and in some offshor locations.