Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Nuclear power does not generate "greenhouse gases".
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But it has the potential to generate much more problems...
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffC
Correct whilst it is in operation - but what are the greenhouse emissions in the installment of the power station and then again in de-commissioning.
Wind power generation is 'free', but again the infrastructure needed generates pollution upto assembly.
btw, wind-power uses a 'free' resource, therefore at some time the electricity thus generated should become free - until that point is seems that wind-generated electricity is (currently) more expensive than others.
The main reason it is seemingly successful is due almost entirely on govt. subsidy. But even if every square mile is filled with turbines there will remain the need for backup to be maintained for those occasions of insufficient wind.
The abiding issue is to discover the most efficient power, that which generates for the least cost in terms of finance/pollution etc ..... and to date there isn't really one - only theory.
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That is what I meant by what source is truely free of any carbon footprint? The only thing I can think of is plant matter. You plant a tree, it takes carbon from the air and then, when you burn it, it releases the carbon again. But never more than it already took in.
So, let's all go back to the stone age and start cooking on wood fires again! (coal and peat and all that stuff isn't permitted, as that is already stored carbon which won't be taken up)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward
Give tidal power generation 20 years, and they'll be a strident group trying to tear it out due to disruption of tidal dependent marine animal breeding... (Save the X!)
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They tried to make a tide machine in the Westerschelde, but couldn't because the speed of the water was too low. They wouldn't mess up with the tide itself, as it wouldn't "store" water, but rather, the tide would turn the wheels by passing by (just like a hydro dam, but then on a horizontal plane instead of vertical...)
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffC
Electric cars are an obvious way forward, especially if they have in-built noise so pedestrians are alerted to their presence - one drawback of the Prius....
Personally I would favour electric motors powered by hydrogen, but it would have to be priced sensibly.....
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Water! I'd have an unendless supply of fuel (with the rain falling here
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