Questions tagged [power-generation]
41 questions
17
votes
2 answers
Is the net output of CO₂ from Nuclear Energy lower than the net output of other energy sources?
While CO₂ is not produced directly when producing electricity from nuclear power, it is obvious that obtaining the radioactive material and preparing it for its use in a plant inevitably produces some CO₂. Thus, the claim that nuclear power is CO₂…
Lagerbaer
- 12,311
- 2
- 68
- 81
16
votes
0 answers
Solar energy in place of conventional energy sources
The first time I came across these arguments against solar energy was in "Overload" by Arthur Hailey. Admittedly, this is fiction, but the arguments seems to have some merit.
Using solar cells to produce comparable amount of energy will need so…
rest_day
- 493
- 1
- 3
- 9
15
votes
2 answers
Does a coal plant "kill more in a few weeks than nuclear has ever killed"?
Director Oliver Stone and Prof. Joshua Goldstein have created a film named "Nuclear Now", arguing in favor of installing more (modern) nuclear power plants to combat climate change and generally. In this interview on the Hill's 'Rising TV', Prof.…
einpoklum
- 2,101
- 10
- 28
15
votes
2 answers
Has nuclear power generation saved millions of lives from avoided air pollution?
In a recent paper in Environmental Science and Technology, Kharecha and Hansen argue that, by avoiding the airborne pollution that would have resulted from fossil fuel burning, millions of lives have been saved.
In their words:
Using historical…
matt_black
- 56,186
- 16
- 175
- 373
10
votes
1 answer
Would covering 10% of hydro-power reservoirs with solar panels generate as much power as fossil-fuel plants worldwide?
This article in the journal Nature, claims that:
Covering 10% of the world’s hydropower reservoirs with ‘floatovoltaics’ would install as much electrical capacity as is currently available for fossil-fuel power plants. ... nearly 4,000 GW
Now,…
einpoklum
- 2,101
- 10
- 28
9
votes
2 answers
In the U.S., is more water used for electric generation, and more electricity used for water infrastucture, than anything else?
Today I received an e-mail message regarding an upcoming Energy Water Nexus Technical Conference that made this unsupported claim:
Nationally, the largest category for water consumption is electric power
generation. Similarly, the largest demand…
LShaver
- 9,931
- 6
- 41
- 73
9
votes
1 answer
Did Mt. Etna cause Sicilian clocks to run fast?
From The Atlantic Wire: The Case of the Volcano That Set Time 15 Minutes Fast:
It came to light that for thousands of people, digital clocks and watchers, from computers to alarm clocks, were all running 15 minutes fast. RIA Novosti also reported…
user5582
9
votes
2 answers
How long does it take for renewable technology to recoup its energy cost?
There are a number of technologies which are aimed at producing energy from non-fossil sources, among which very popular are wind power and solar power technologies. However, I have encountered a number of claims (1, 2) that due to the amount of…
StasM
- 473
- 4
- 12
8
votes
0 answers
Does the higher accuracy of smart meters lead to higher electricity bills?
Some people are reporting on social media that their electricity bills are doubling after the installation of smart meters:
This blog explains the problem:
Simply speaking, when any domestic electrical appliance is switched on, it momentarily draws…
Peter Tirrell
- 181
- 3
7
votes
1 answer
Is solar power the cheapest form for utility companies to build?
A recent Popular Mechanics article claimed
In a new report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says solar is now the cheapest form of electricity for utility companies to build. That’s thanks to risk-reducing financial policies around the world,…
Sebastiaan van den Broek
- 338
- 2
- 11
7
votes
0 answers
Is the idea of solar roadways practical?
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solar-roadways#home
This indiegogo campaign suggests replacing roads and highways with solar panels that could produce power, while keeping themselves free of snow and easy to replace. The idea as outlined in the…
Damon
- 501
- 4
- 6
6
votes
1 answer
Can one generate enough electricity from a plant to power a cellphone?
This company is marketing a product which uses the photosynthesis of a single houseplant to charge a phone.
http://www.bioo.tech/
IIRC the theoretical maximum efficiency of photosynthesis is about 10%, so at best the plant would be able to act as a…
Steven Gubkin
- 619
- 4
- 11
6
votes
0 answers
Are Chinese companies dumping defective solar panels in other countries?
I've come across some people claiming that Chinese solar energy companies are dumping defective panels in other countries. The gist of the claim is that these low-cost panels will drive local producers out of business, but will soon have to be…
adam.r
- 1,411
- 14
- 19
5
votes
2 answers
Does the average carbon footprint per bitcoin transaction range from 233.4 to 363.5 kg of CO2?
https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(19)30087-X says,
According to the Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index, Bitcoin’s energy use in 2018 translates to a carbon footprint of 19.0 to 29.6 million metric tons of CO2 (475 g CO2 / kWh). The…
5
votes
1 answer
Is the production of nuclear power very expensive?
Reuters recently published the following piece:
Nuclear energy too slow, too expensive to save climate: report
Inside, it says:
The cost of generating solar power ranges from $36 to $44 per megawatt hour (MWh), the WNISR said, while onshore wind…
einpoklum
- 2,101
- 10
- 28