Energy Business Ideas that Violate the Laws of Physics

It’s the birthday of Isaac Newton, whose book “Principia” overturned nearly everything humankind had believed about the universe up to that point (1686). I bring this up to note that perhaps we should not be so smug about “the laws of physics,” rejecting ideas out of hand that do not conform to our understanding.

I like the position that my friend, physicist and engineer Wally Rippel takes: “I have the bar raised very high for ideas that appear to violate the laws of thermodynamics or mechanics or electricity and magnetism, or quantum physics — but I do not throw the bar away.”

I’ve come to adopt this, which I translate as follows: If an idea violates the laws of physics as I understand them, I’ll need to see a working model.  Do not expect to raise money – even a dime – to build a model of something that is theoretically impossible. You’d be surprised how frequently I’m forced to have this conversation.