Energy... as usual

So as you can probably can see from my blog, I care a lot about energy and (more importantly) the planet. How cliche that's becoming, sadly, but happily (because it means it's finally being said). Or maybe it's just because I hear/talk about energy so much, I think it's cliche. Annnnnd then again maybe I'm just off topic.

The point of this post is to talk about the sun. The grand-daddy of all life as we know it.

More specifically, the energy from the sun. Plants do amazing things with this energy. (I'm totally envious but thats a side note.... I don't think I'll ever photosynthesize...). BUT (back to topic again), there are ways we can use some of the energy the sun is throwing at us.

SOLAR THERMAL.... IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL....

And better yet, it doesn't involve making a whole bunch of silicon wafers, it doesn't involve doping, and (thank goodness) it doesn't cost 6.7 dollars a watt (like PVs).

It's super cheap....
We have everything we need to make them....
It's CLEAN....


So whats all this talk about (we'll be using FFs for at least another 50 years?!)

Heck, with a few adjustments to the grid we could have this baby up and running all across the sunbelt in no time.

Even better, this grad from MIT has started building these solar thermal generators out of old car parts and plumbing supplies. Now imagine: using things that are waste (parts) and using them to make energy....

What doesn't make sense?

Who gives a shit if PVs become super efficient in the future? What about the here and now??? Let PVs continue to grow and expand, but until then how about we make things a little better?

The longer we don't, the longer renewables stay expensive and the longer politicians shy away from them (cycle repeats, add nausea).

About every week, China produces a coal fired power plant producing about 500 megawatts and *you wouldn't believe me if I told you* tons of CO2. Each of these power plants will be in operation for 50 years. That's a fact. As long as the plants are functioning, they will run. Every week China makes a 50 year resolution to keep using coal. Now I'm not saying that China should try to make a 500 megawatt solar farm.... but you have to crawl before you can walk...