Solyndra not disposing heavy metals properly

[Niri Te]

Here is the link to The San Francisco CBS affiliate's story on this topic.

Solyndra Not Dealing With Toxic Waste At Milpitas Facility

Niri Te

[Raiden]

This is why solar may not be feasible for the long term.

The US might have stringent laws about where people need to put waste contaminated with heavy metals, but other countries that don't might just toss 'em in the ocean.

[Niri Te]

Originally Posted by Raiden

This is why solar may not be feasible for the long term.

The US might have stringent laws about where people need to put waste contaminated with heavy metals, but other countries that don't might just toss 'em in the ocean.

I agree Raiden, but for the short term, until we can come up with something that WILL work long term, this will help to lower the amount of CO2, and sulfur from oil and coal burning power plants that is pumped int the atmosphere on a daily basis.
I think that due to the economics of scale, if we could convince the air traveling public that the TRIP can be as much fun as the destination, and convince the Business travelers that they can get the meetings and presentations done at the speed of light, pollution free on the internet, then we could go to solar powered airships, that had the glamor of the airships before the Hindenburg disaster. Slower? DEFINITELY, but with ballroom sized areas for Theatrical shows, or disco's, and fine dining of the sort between the wars. The journey could almost BE the destination.
Niri Te

[Human No More]

This is just an example of why people need to look at the wider picture with everything. The amount of resources, global shipping, and waste per solar panel is staggering.

[Moco Loco]

Wind is far superior

Commence with all the reasons wind is not superior

[Niri Te]

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

Wind is far superior

Commence with all the reasons wind is not superior

I will only give one reason. Unless you live in far west Texas, or the north shore of one of the Hawai'ian islands the wind is not that consistent. Here in far West Texas, we have sun for 320 something days a year, and although we DO have an almost steady 12 to 18 MPH wind out of the southwest, during our Spring windy season, we have a solid two weeks of straight line 50 to 60 MPH winds also out of the south west, where the props have to be locked in place to keep from damaging them. I'm sure that there are other places like far West Texas as well, where for several weeks a year, the wind plants need to be shut down.
There are places on the planet where there is not much Sun, so there will be no magic bullet that will work everywhere, wind in some places, solar, or both in others.
Niri Te

[Human No More]

Better than solar? Sure.
Better than every other method? No.

[Niri Te]

For a place with as much cloud cover as the UK, you are absolutely right HNM, but for southern Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, a lot of north Africa, the equatorial islands, west Texas, southern New Mexico, southern Arizona, and desert California, a bunch of power can be made from the sun. It all depends on location.
Niri Te

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by Human No More

Better than solar? Sure.
Better than every other method? No.

I thought nuclear was more efficient than that. (Still, fission FTW. Until fusion comes along.)

[Niri Te]

SEVENTY ONE PERCENT of UK's electric is STILL done with fossil fuels?? That's OUTRAGEOUS. I thought that the UK would be one of the LEADERS in clean energy production in the EU. That shocked me when I read it on the graphic that you posted. I realize that England drew a bad hand when it came to the weather, but you guys should be on the forefront of tidal energy for the production of electricity. Are you guys doing anything about giving that a try? If you ARE, please load up a link to any reports or news stories on it, as I, and I assume others would love to know. There must be roaring currents in the Channel. Please expound on this technology use in England.
Niri Te

[Human No More]

That beats a lot of countries

Tidal isn't as good as you'd think - sites are limited in terms of suitability, generally remote, and it causes MASSIVE environmental devastation. The Channel is a major shipping lane, and also too wide (and expensive) to cover in any case.