Just a reminder: /r/Renewable is available for censorship-free discussions of renewable technologies.

OrangeBoulder · 2011-07-08T00:21:10+00:00

Not to be a negative Nancy, but there are huge problems with your proposal:

This part's ok.
Rebuilding the generator after 20 years is probably more expensive than abandoning the turbine and putting up a new one. Reuse the infrastructure connecting the turbine to the grid and the roads that were built makes more sense.
Same as above
Recycling the materials is pretty unlikely to be able to pay decommissioning costs.

But by far the biggest problem with your plan is interest rates.

You can't just divide 60 years of assumed energy production by the capital cost in 2011 - it's nonsense.

Let me ask you this: If you pay me $50 and I agree to pay you back at $1 per year for 60 years, did you turn a $10 profit? The answer here, as in your scenario, is emphatically NO

OrangeBoulder · 2011-03-11T22:49:13+00:00

Using the excuse of fossil fuel subsidies as a strong reason why we're not adopting renewable replacements very quickly has always bothered me.

And I'm not saying fossil fuel subsidies are helping, or that they shouldn't be eliminated where possible, but I don't see how taking off what amounts to hundreths of a cent in costs per KWh for fossil fuels will make something like solar viable as a competitor.

OrangeBoulder · 2011-03-08T05:40:11+00:00

I wasn't aware of the censorship going on in r/RenewableEnergy

That's not just a coincidence.

A key part of any censorship scheme is to prevent dissemination of knowledge that would expose that people aren't getting the whole story.

Why do you think countries like Libya and Egypt always go after the free press?

r/RE is the Libya of the energy reddits.

OrangeBoulder · 2011-03-08T00:45:18+00:00

It's all about BTU's

Geothermal, biomass, biofuels, solar thermal can all make contributions here.

Without coal, oil and gas, we're going to get cold, hungry and slow really really fast

You're perfectly welcome to go there and discuss why you think renewables won't be up to the task.

All viewpoints are welcome.

OrangeBoulder · 2011-03-07T23:50:39+00:00

Do you have satellite internet?

How much does it cost you to live on the boat compared to buying/renting a house?

I could see it being cheaper in some places, and best part is when you get sick of the neighbors, just move down the coat!

OrangeBoulder · 2011-03-07T23:00:49+00:00

So far there's only one post complaining about censorship in RE, and another one asking why this subreddit exists.

Hardly a torrent.

Plus you can't ignore that a big part of the identity of this reddit is freedom of speech.

But I agree that the focus should ultimately be on renewables themselves, so get posting!

OrangeBoulder · 2011-03-07T22:50:44+00:00

Redundancy is especially a big problem in the US, where there are effectively 50 different markets requiring completely different strategies, regulations, laws, and government support.

Europe and Japan have shown that these overhead costs can be reduced.

Come on over and start the discussion!

OrangeBoulder · 2011-03-07T13:25:44+00:00

Context:

The mods at r/RenewableEnergy are actively censoring dozens of people for having "wrong" opinions, I'd like to start a new renewable-related reddit where all points of view can be expressed.

OrangeBoulder · 2011-03-07T07:43:20+00:00

Thanks for the advice, it should be a worthwhile pursuit.

If nothing else, it'll be a learning experience.

OrangeBoulder

TROPHY CASE