Japan tested a giant turbine that generates electricity using deep ocean current

Re:Japan tested a giant turbine that generates electricity u... by Tade0 on Saturday June 04, 2022 @04:19PM (#31624652)

This idea keeps being brought up and people keep reminding everyone that for all intents and purposes this is the closest to a cartoon supervillain death ray that we can create.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Japan tested a giant turbine that generates electricity u... by Aeolun on Saturday June 04, 2022 @09:40PM (#31627076)

I think the important point is that we’re reasonably certain we can create it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Japan tested a giant turbine that generates electricity u... by taneq on Sunday June 05, 2022 @12:53AM (#31628135)

Yes but could we please not? Orbital death rays for power generation seem like a bad idea when we have options like rooftop solar and wind turbines.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Japan tested a giant turbine that generates electricity u... by vegetablepotpie on Sunday June 05, 2022 @07:39AM (#31630032)

Right, but what do we do when we’ve covered every surface of the earth with solar panels and wind turbines?

We’ll need to move into space sooner or later if we want to continue exponential growth.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Japan tested a giant turbine that generates electricity u... by taneq on Monday June 06, 2022 @08:03PM (#31648168)

We'll just have to clear some area, I suggest the quickest way would be with the giant orbital heat beam! :D

(100% agree that getting into space is important, and that if we want to continue exponential growth we'll need more than one planet. In fact, we'll need more than all the planets and we fairly rapidly (in cosmic terms) hit the point where the available volume of our light cone isn't enough. Maybe indefinite exponential growth isn't something we should feel entitled to...)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Japan tested a giant turbine that generates electricity u... by gibolt on Sunday June 05, 2022 @04:00PM (#31634326)

We're nowhere close to that. Covering all land in solar would be ~100x our current energy needs, and then we still have ocean (most of the surface) available.

[ Parent | on HN ]