Green Energy Revolution Megathread

[jimmy olsen]

  There were too many vested interests, so they wouldn't touch it. The technology for renewables and nuclear were in the hands of foreigners.  They wanted energy self-reliance, and China was the world's largest producer of coal.  There was scope to burn coal more efficiently, and that would be their focus.  Not replacing coal with solar.

This is such a ridiculously huge lie that even Gobbels would pause at it. China is far and away the world's largest producer of solar panels.

[derspiess]

China just needs to create more green jobs.

[Valmy]

China just needs to create more green jobs.

The South China Sea problem will be solved!

[Monoriu]

  There were too many vested interests, so they wouldn't touch it. The technology for renewables and nuclear were in the hands of foreigners.  They wanted energy self-reliance, and China was the world's largest producer of coal.  There was scope to burn coal more efficiently, and that would be their focus.  Not replacing coal with solar.

This is such a ridiculously huge lie that even Gobbels would pause at it. China is far and away the world's largest producer of solar panels.

As I said that's what I heard from the Man.  I do wonder if producing solar panels and setting up farms and other infrastructure is the same thing.  Just like the largest producer of car frames isn't necessarily the largest producer of manufactured cars. 

[Monoriu]

Well steam power was invented by foreigners to better not use that technology! Is China going to destroy all its computers and cars as well! We want transportation and data self reliance! We will be the world's largest producer of ox carts and scribes!

It makes sense in the case of nuclear technology.  China can build a coal plant by itself, but it still partially relies on foreign firms in constructing nuclear plants.  China usually cooperates with the French on this.  Part of the reason is political.  Foreign involvement makes the plant an easier sell to the nearby population. 

[Monoriu]

Also, I am repeating myself here but I don't think the ox cart/steam power analogy works.  As a consumer, I clearly want to drive a car, not an ox cart.  But I can't care less if my electricity comes from a coal plant or a solar farm. 

[Valmy]

Also, I am repeating myself here but I don't think the ox cart/steam power analogy works.  As a consumer, I clearly want to drive a car, not an ox cart.  But I can't care less if my electricity comes from a coal plant or a solar farm. 

You will if the coal plant is more expensive and less efficient.

[jimmy olsen]

Also, I am repeating myself here but I don't think the ox cart/steam power analogy works.  As a consumer, I clearly want to drive a car, not an ox cart.  But I can't care less if my electricity comes from a coal plant or a solar farm.

Given the air quality in China I find that hard to believe.

[Monoriu]

Also, I am repeating myself here but I don't think the ox cart/steam power analogy works.  As a consumer, I clearly want to drive a car, not an ox cart.  But I can't care less if my electricity comes from a coal plant or a solar farm.

Given the air quality in China I find that hard to believe.

Why?  The thing with air quality is that making one small change won't make any material difference.  Just because I walk to my office instead of driving a car won't improve the quality of the air that I breathe in.  Change on a much larger scale is needed.  Since that's not something I can achieve on my own, might as well give up. 

[frunk]

Why?  The thing with air quality is that making one small change won't make any material difference.  Just because I walk to my office instead of driving a car won't improve the quality of the air that I breath in.  Change on a much larger scale is needed.  Since that's not something I can achieve on my own, might as well give up.

I'm starting to think that either people completely forget what you write within a day or two, or that somehow they've presented the information in a way that will cause you to have a sudden revelation.

[Monoriu]

Why?  The thing with air quality is that making one small change won't make any material difference.  Just because I walk to my office instead of driving a car won't improve the quality of the air that I breath in.  Change on a much larger scale is needed.  Since that's not something I can achieve on my own, might as well give up.

I'm starting to think that either people completely forget what you write within a day or two, or that somehow they've presented the information in a way that will cause you to have a sudden revelation.

You have lost me 

[frunk]

You have lost me 

You've had the same position on these matters for years and they haven't changed, yet people are always shocked when you say them.

[Monoriu]

You have lost me 

You've had the same position on these matters for years and they haven't changed, yet people are always shocked when you say them.

Oh well, at least someone notices that I am consistent    I'd rather that people believe that anime is worth watching and/or that it is pointless for me to try to find a job in Canada though.  Still working on these. 

[Valmy]

You've had the same position on these matters for years and they haven't changed, yet people are always shocked when you say them.

I care about this issue though

[The Minsky Moment]

So how is that possible if no coal is being replaced with solar? Maybe they just have all that capacity connected to nothing at all.

It is theoretically possible if total newgen capacity is being built so fast than even geometric increases in solar -- starting from a small base - don't really impact overall relative shares.

That is the most incomprehensibly stupid statement I have ever heard in my life.

I don't know about that but it would represent a massive unprecedented shift in PRC industrial policy, which for decades has involved import and adaptation of foreign technology.