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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

I just had a conversation with a building contractor who specializes in eco-friendly residential improvements–in a part of the world where such a specialty is a big deal: Santa Barbara, California.

This was a great opportunity to ask questions about certain home construction technologies that seemed to have great promise 10 or 15 years ago, but for some reason never took off.  Among these is building-integrated photovoltaics, or BIPV.  As shown in the photo above, it isn’t on the roof; it is the roof.

The fellow gave me two reason for the slow adoption (failure?) of BIPV:

1) It’s very brittle, which makes roof repairs very difficult without cracking other panels, and

2) The carbon footprint associated with making BIPV is still very high.

Interesting stuff.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

We come across this a lot, i.e., the mass resignation of honest people in government positions when they are faced with extraordinary levels of corruption and other untenable positions.  As the senator from Connecticut points out, this is a double-edged sword. We applaud their integrity, but we need to deal with the fact that the only people remaining are the bad apples.

This happens constantly in the parts of government that deal with energy and the environment.  Many dozens of our top scientists in the Department of Energy and the EPA have resigned their positions since Donald Trump came on the scene, and right-wing politics have made it impossible for them to carry on with their duties.  Whom does this leave?  Climate deniers and others who reject (or don’t understand) basic science.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

There isn’t a heck of a lot of integrity left in the way modern-day Republicans and their “news” sources conduct themselves. It seems like just a few weeks ago, the key objective was to “drain the swamp” of the Deep State, i.e., unelected bureaucrats who frustrate the will of the voters.

Then along comes Elon Musk.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

The author of the meme here makes a good point.

My only response is that the number of teachers who voted for Trump must be extremely low.  Because I tutor at my local public high school and I have the opportunity to speak with teachers on this subject.  During Trump’s first term, one told me:

You can’t be an educator and a Trump supporter at the same time.  And it’s not because of politics per se; we all understand that there are some conservative teachers.  But even they won’t vote for someone who’s clearly trying to destroy public education and keep our kids as ignorant as possible.  Look at the extremes to which his Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, is going to phase out public schools in favor of private education and religious institutions for the affluent.  

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Energy Storage
Below is a claim about a type of energy storage that exists in great abundance today in the form of pumped hydro.  We take off-peak electrical energy and use it to lift a mass against the force of gravity, converting the electrical energy to potential energy.  Then, when we want to use that energy, we release the mass and allow it to come downhill, converting (most of) the potential energy back into electricity.
Of course, the “mass” doesn’t have to be water; it can be anything fairly heavy, e.g., train cars laden with concrete blocks.  See my posts on “advanced rail energy storage.”
These people claim that abandoned mines can be used instead of naturally occurring hills, and there is no scientific reason that they’re wrong.
Here is their claim with a few comments below:
Game-Changer for Energy Storage
Did you know abandoned mines can be repurposed into massive energy storage systems?
How It Works:
Excess energy lifts heavy weights when demand is low.
When energy is needed, the weights drop, spinning turbines to generate electricity.
Why Mines?
✔️ Existing Infrastructure – No need for new construction.
✔️ Deep & Powerful – The deeper the mine, the more energy it can store.
✔️ Eco-Friendly – No lithium, no pollution, just pure physics.
The Future of Renewable Energy
Gravity batteries could revolutionize energy storage by making green power more reliable and stabilizing the grid.
Again, there is nothing that makes this theoretically impossible, and in fact, more than 90% of energy storage on this planet today utilizes this principle.  The problem is that this combination of Newton (ca. 1660) and Faraday (ca. 1830) is as efficient and cost-effective as it will ever be, where battery technology is improving each year.
If there were a window of opportunity for “gravity batteries,” it has long since closed.
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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

At the risk of sounding cynical, get used to it.

At this point, there is no mechanism for limiting Trump’s power in matters like these. Yes, this is a clearcut violation of the First Amendment, but it’s part of an onslaught of violations; it’s impossible to litigate every single one, especially since half of American voters think this behavior is just fine.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Although I’m reluctant to gainsay distinguished mathematicians/physicists, it’s hard to imagine that what Roger Penrose said here can be true.  I’m with 20th Century philosopher of science Karl Popper who told us that if a statement can’t be falsified, it’s not a scientific assertion.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

With the passing of each day, we’re learning more about how Elon Musk fails to understand the most essential parts of the U.S. law.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

At left we see a reader’s observation that the world has undergone some fundamental changes in the past few years.

And no, he’s not the only one with that perception.  From here, it looks like the world is a less democratic, less scientific, and more hostile place than it’s ever been–at least in the lifetimes of any of us alive today.

The aggression coming from China, Russia, the United States, and the Middle East is a good example.  The autocracies that have arisen in places like Hungary and Turkey are also noteworthy.

Of course, Americans are especially attuned to the insanity that’s happening here at home, with our saber-rattling not with historic enemies like Russia, but with our allies like Canada and Denmark. We’re also running headlong into Project 2025, which promises to, among other things, consolidate power in the executive branch, one whose current leader is regarded by many as a criminal sociopath.

Keep in mind that all this is taking place on a globe that’s getting hotter and less capable of supporting life with each passing year.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

When we look at people like RFK Jr. we’re forced to think: This guy just might be the very least qualified person for the job in the entire United States.  He’s a crackpot, for sure, and he poses an extreme threat to the health and safety to every U.S. citizen. In Trump’s eyes, that makes him perfect for the job.

Hey, what about the Secretary of Defense?  What about an alcoholic Fox News anchor with no experience in leading military operations?  Bullseye!

FBI Director?  No problem.  We need someone whose only qualification is his pledge to use the agency to exact revenge against Trump’s enemies.

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