Archive for category Energy Issues

AGW skepticism is warrented. Here’s why.

Science – The path from unsubstantiated hypothesis to experimentally-verified theory, more to the point – requires that we come up with models, which then lead to predictions of the result of experiments in the realm of the hypothesis. These predictions, if borne out by experiment (the model is not falsified), validate the hypothesis and then we have a theory with laws (that is, rules for models we can use to predict.) If the predictions are wrong, they falsify the model and we are back to, or still have, an unsubstantiated hypothesis. We get to try once again, if we still think the hypothesis has merit, hopefully with more information at hand the next time around.

Now, the problem with the AGW hypothesis is that the models which are making the predictions are not matching the actual results. These climate models never worked well at both the poles and the mid-latitudes; they failed to predict the current long-lasting stall; the rates of temperature rise predicted don’t match, when rise actually does occur; and so what we have here are hypothesis that are not producing rules that we can use to predict their notional basis. With regard to predictions made of future performance, as that future has not arrived, as the near-term predictions have failed, there is no basis to presume that the models are verified long term.
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Solar storage "breakthrough"?

Solar Cells

Solar Cells

MIT professor Daniel G. Nocera is excited because he’s developed a way to separate hydrogen and oxygen using catalysts and electricity; It’s still no more than a lab experiment (the design requires platinum, which is very expensive, and suffers from the usual electrode erosion and low production issues.) Presuming the separation mechanism can be made other than experimentally possible, he suggests using the hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell centric design to recover the energy later. He’s apparently under the impression that energy storage is the problem.

Unfortunately, that isn’t the entire problem, or even a problem at all at medium to large scales.

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Most Interesting Company: EEstor

EEstor, of Cedar Park, Texas, is either headed for an ignominious (though well intentioned, I think) fall, or they’re in on the ground floor of the Next Big Thing. You see, EEstor is trying to produce a material that will in turn make relatively high voltage ultracapacitors practical.

That’s a mouthful, but it isn’t really that hard to understand; and when you understand it, the potential for change is mind-blowing.

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Is the senate… stupid?

The U.S. Senate has again failed to pass a bill that would extend solar tax credits to build new power plants. In direct reactions, I’ve seen it asked on the net: “Are they stupid?”

No. They’re not stupid. They’re bribed. 100% in the pocket of the oil companies. And why wouldn’t they be? Junkets to warm, sunny places, nights with escorts, free suites. Guarantees of lucrative speaking engagements after their terms are over, campaign contributions, perks-a-plenty… and all they have to do to get it is act like they usually do.

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