Energy supply solutions summary: Difference between revisions

Made it more complicated but necessarily so.
(Had to change "only" to "mostly", sacrificing elegance for the sake of correctness)
(Made it more complicated but necessarily so.)
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Things that actually stand a chance to replace all [[fossil fuel]] energy in the ''near'' future:
Things that actually stand a chance to replace all [[fossil fuel]] [[energy]] in the ''near'' future:
* '''[[Solar panels]]:''' Only if they can be made cheaply [[solar/challenge 1|without scarce minerals]] (it's ok if the efficiency is lower). Need to mass produce enough to cover every [[rooftop solar|rooftop]]. Need [[energy storage]]: [[sodium-ion batteries]] or similar.
* '''[[Solar panels]]:''' Only if they can be made cheaply [[solar/challenge 1|without scarce minerals]] (it's ok if the efficiency is lower). Need to mass-produce enough to cover every rooftop. Need [[energy storage]]: [[sodium-ion batteries]] or similar. For [[homes]]/buildings{{x|connected together via the power grid for some load balancing}}, [[rooftop solar]] would provide enough "general-purpose" electricity, but not always enough for [[heating]].
* '''[[Wind power]]:''' Mostly to generate [[hydrogen gas]] (which can be used as fuel instead of [[natural gas]]). Otherwise too intermittent, too far away for power lines.
* '''[[Wind power]]:''' Mostly to generate [[hydrogen gas]] (which would be used as fuel instead of [[natural gas]]). Otherwise too intermittent, too far away for power lines.
* '''[[Nuclear]]:''' Only if it's [[thorium]]. [[nuclear fusion|Fusion]] is a pipe dream{{x|although it's ultimately the best choice in the ''distant'' future}}, [[conventional nuclear power|uranium-235]] is too scarce, and [[uranium-238]] reactors have too many weapons proliferation concerns.
* '''[[Nuclear]]:''' Only if it's [[thorium]]. [[nuclear fusion|Fusion]] is a pipe dream{{x|although it's ultimately the best choice in the ''distant'' future}}, [[conventional nuclear power|uranium-235]] is too scarce, and [[uranium-238]] reactors have too many weapons proliferation concerns.
There would be battery [[electric vehicles]]{{x|mostly sodium-ion, because [[lithium-ion]] battery minerals are too scarce}} and hydrogen-based vehicles{{x|mostly [[hydrogen combustion vehicles|combustion]], because fuel cells are too high in platinum-group metals}}.


In any case, it becomes a lot easier if we '''[[public transit|drive]] [[walkability|less]]''' (some careers are an exception obviously) and '''[[frugalism|buy less]]''' new stuff. Those factors alone account for 2/3 of the world's [[energy]] consumption.
In any case, it all becomes a lot easier if we '''[[public transit|drive]] [[walkability|less]]''' (some careers are an exception obviously) and '''[[frugalism|buy less]]''' new stuff. Those factors alone account for 2/3 of the world's [[energy]] consumption.


==See also==
==See also==
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* [[Housing]]
* [[Housing]]
* [[Climate change]]
* [[Climate change]]
* [[Energy]]