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Taking the long term view solar panels of some sort seem like the energy technology pattern that will dominate the Earth's antropocene period. Other patterns (
by nologic01 3y ago
Taking the long term view solar panels of some sort seem like the energy technology pattern that will dominate the Earth's antropocene period.
Other patterns (wind, hydro, geothermal etc) feel clumsy, high maintainance and localized. Tapping secondary feeds rather than the universal primary feed.
For sure, solar panel efficiency, total environmental impact, economic costs of manufacturing and recycling, storage etc are all relevant dimensions. They see much attention and, inevitably, innovation.
In the scheme of things the fossil fuel binge will be but a blip, succeeded by a long period where humanityp enters its solar powered phase.
- anon25783 3y agoThe "fossil fuel binge" has driven so many species extinct that there is no chance it will be a "blip".
- nologic01 3y agoSpecies will continue going extinct. Its the anthropocene. Our mere presence at such large numbers in every ecosystem is having a huge impact and this will continue even conditioning on us using the most benign energy technology. The "blip" refers to the fossil fuel induced climate change. Reaching sustainable equilibrium with other parts of the biosphere is still an open issue.
- anon25783 3y agoFossil fuel induced climate change on its own is very far from being a "blip", though. I'm not a biologist or anything, but there's not a doubt in my mind that more species have died from fossil fuel induced climate change (and fossil fuel extraction, too) than anyone can even predict the consequences of.
- adrianN 3y agoIf we manage to get rid of fossil fuels before technological society collapses from climate change, maybe.