100% renewable energy is becoming cost-effective,

[***super_nova***]

Advances in technology, and the ambitions of countries willing to harness it, are proving that the transition to 100% renewable energy is not only possible, but cost-effective, too. Investment and development of solar and wind infrastructure, as well as energy output, is booming after a 3-year slump—a hopeful sign of things to come.

http://www.benjerry.com/values/issues-we-care-about/climate-justice/eu-clean-energy

[vicr3000]

"that the transition to 100% renewable energy is not only possible, but cost-effective, too."

Only if you don't want to run normal items every day - or live in a cave.

You still need power stations to provide base load electricity, the wind doesn't blow all the time.

[softail-joanie · Accepted solution]

Only if you don't want to run normal items every day - or live in a cave. You still need power stations to provide base load electricity, the wind doesn't blow all the time

It's a start. Nothing advances without demand. Theres a reason auto makers and the oil companies were/are worried about electric cars. Not only did they know about the advancments on EVs, they bought out the technology and patients, or controlling shares. Just to avoid what they knew,, with alittle demand creating oppertunity for advancment,, would be too much compitition for them.

The more people that venture into something such as this, the more potintial for advancment through demand for it. The more affordable,, the more people buy into it.

Means = demand = advancment..

[vicr3000]

The biggest thing that will advance renewable energy via solar or wind is not anything to do with solar or wind power.

It is battery technology and storage of electricity that is holding back renewable energy.

Once we can store what we generate cost effectively and without loss, it will remove some of the need for base load power stations.

[serendipityricho · Accepted solution]

What about ...Tide Power........works everyday-not like wind turbines.....Richo.

[vicr3000]

Well, twice a day for 22 hours ! LOL

If tide power was workable, it would have been done by now.

[***super_nova***]

Advaces in technology are done daily, some people do not keep up with what is happening and instead listen to Ackerman, Jones and Bolt spouting bleep.  Other countries are racing towards developing better renewable energy systems, Australia is doing almost nothing and that is the biggest inter generation debt that will haunt our kids. 

[vicr3000]

Funnily enough, I don't ever listen to Ackerman, Jones and Bolt.
I might cop Jones if I am in Sydney for a day or two if that happens to be the station the car radio is on. i think that was the last time I heard him.

And I am fully aware of what the is happening in Europe with Wind and Solar power.

[softail-joanie]

The biggest thing that will advance renewable energy via solar or wind is not anything to do with solar or wind power. It is battery technology and storage of electricity that is holding back renewable energy. Once we can store what we generate cost effectively and without loss, it will remove some of the need for base load power stations

Yes exactly, but we can't expect to get the best of anything in one fell swoop. Heres an example, look at how video games started out, look where they are now. It took people having an intrest in them, same with computers, the internet. Look at how far the internet came with the limitations of dial up, before DSL and cable internet. Do you think anyone would invent higher speed forms of internet if no one ever bought computers because dial up was too slow?

Its a chicken and the egg sanario and someone has to step up and gett the ball rolling. Otherwise, we are gonna spend up all the coal and oil, making polution and no advancment. then it will be that much harder to find better ways to store energy, if we start now, it will serve two funtions.. One, stretch out the fossil fuels to last longer, and two, give us a head start on better ways to harness and store the energy, and 3, (an added bonus) we might stumble upon an even better energy alternative.

Went to the store, couldn't find what i was looking for, but found something better. Effort often gets rewarded.

[vicr3000]

If they can work out how to scale up NimH batteries (like Panasonic Eneloops) to a big enough scale, then I think it will take off.