Re:How Windmills as Wide as Jumbo Jets Are Making Clean Ener...
by greglindahl on Monday April 23, 2018 @11:21AM
(#16904175)
Most of the developing world doesn't have a grid today. Building microgrids powered by small clean energy resources is much cheaper than building a grid. Now this is only true at modest per-capita electricity consumption amounts, but that matches the wealth available in a lot of places.
On a very small scale, that's why you see solar-powered flashlights being so popular in rural areas of the developing world. And my favorite charity (kickstart.org) is currently designing a solar-powered water pump, as a step up from their current human-powered water pumps.
Re:How Windmills as Wide as Jumbo Jets Are Making Clean Ener...
by blitmap on Monday April 23, 2018 @10:03AM
(#16903451)
I am hopeful the cost of entry will be greatly reduced in the near term with so many developed nations turning to renewables.
By helping ourselves, we are lowering the barrier for less developed nations.
This is a really good point, clean energy seems to be a luxury at the moment.
No one can blame poorer countries, they aren't all in a position to invest in renewables, for many of them it would be crippling, the argument that renewables is sometimes cheaper only works long term, and long term takes significan't up front investment, burning coal etc takes significantly less.