Quote:
Originally Posted by peter_4059
more fun renewable fuel facts...
Australian jet fuel consumption is about 9,400 ML per annum.
The carbon neutral jet production from CO2, H2O and solar can make 20,000 litres per day from a square kilometre heliostat solar collector. That's 7.3 ML per annum. So to make Australia's jet fuel demand you would need 1,292 square kilometres of solar collection.
According to Google, the biggest solar farm in the world (Shakti Sthala) is 52.5 square kilometres, costing $2.2bn.
If you want to factor in diesel that's another 29,255 ML per annum. While this is completely different solar technology, it puts things in perspective in terms of the challenge of replacing fossil fuels.
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A significant challenge indeed but, we haven't even scratched the minutest particle of the surface in looking to seriously overcome the challenge..
No-one (well, I'm not seeing it) is disputing that we are heavily reliant on fossil fuels for the lifestyle we enjoy.. no-one is actually suggesting that we yet have all the answers nor, is anyone seriously suggesting we just switch off the fossil fuels overnight...
Interestingly, our history is littered with more efficient ICE designs that were bought up & buried by those more interested in fossil fuel profits.. So perhaps, simply by unburying those technologies & furthering those designs we could contribute to reducing our over reliance on fossil fuels...
However, there seems to be a consistant global push to simply maintain the status quo & 'she'll be right mate'...
Look at the challenges that mankind (even ancient civilisations) have overcome in the past.. are we not able to do that anymore?
Or is just considered 'not profitable' by those organisations that currently dominate the market & therefore, not worthy of the effort?
It is no small undertaking but, unless we begin a transition with what we currently have... I suspect we'll never get started.. at all...
Hardly seems in keeping with the spirit of our species history of progress.. we seem to have arrived at 'too hard, let's not bother'...