Exciting sustainable developments

Yes! Now to work on storage as well as generation

Scotland Is Now Generating So Much Wind Energy, It Could Power Two Scotlands

 

I have to chuckle - hubby works in coal - don't knock it, a lot of coal workers are also ardent greenies underneath, but the pays good and they graduated with coal specialities waaaaaay back when - and he's sitting in on a series of interviews for new apprentices next week.

He was asked to supply two questions of which he did ... one being ... what are you doing to reduce your personal carbon footprint? ... the second ... do you believe there is a future for coal?

That should put the cat among the pigeons

 

Listened to the guy who runs this company, on the radio yesterday, and - even tho not sustainable - was very exciting.

He said that jetpacks are currently commercially viable to manufacture, just that government needs to catch up with regulations (identify take off and landing ports etc). I can see this as a mode of transport within 5 years!

Apparently works burning diesel fuel - but they are working on a hydrogen model. Can get up to 300km/hr, to a height of 5,000, and are computer controlled to prevent collisions. They are starting trials in Melbourne, Dallas and Los Angeles - of multiple ports and hire facilities



I notice there is already somewhere to "have a go"

Sydney Jetpack Flyboard Adventures Hire

Not sure where you'd put the dog and groceries tho

 

Interesting times.... this was yesterday.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/electricity-prices-across-the-grid-fall-to-zero-as-renewables-reach-44-share-77635/Electricity prices across the grid fall to zero as renewables reach 44% share | RenewEconomy

 

You could place the meat underneath the exhaust so it's cooked by the time you get home. I'll leave it for others to determine if a dog is included or not in the definition of meat.

 

ooooo - wah!

 

Queensland backing renewables (hope the other states follow suit) - Queensland underwrites 10 big renewable projects

BHP acknowledges climate change is a major threat and dedicates $half a bil to cutting emissions - BHP boss announces $US400m plan to combat 'indisputable' climate crisis

 

Heard on the radio solar installers in Victoria are not happy about the way the State Government's incentive scheme has been implemented.

Political opportunism (?) does not exactly equate to good planning it seems.

 

Every little bit counts - never think that your actions don't count:

California using $70 million to replace more than 200 diesel school buses with all-electric buses - Electrek

 

... and don't forget the plants. Science has shown that regeneration of soils with carbon sequestering humus - and the re-establishment of forests - are the two most important things humans can do to stagnate climate change

Can 'Supercharged' Plants Solve the Climate Crisis?

 

Some interesting research coming out from the ANU according to this article.

Nature holds key to limitless renewable fuel supplies: ANU scientists

"Scientists in Canberra have identified a process used by plants which they say could be harnessed to make a limitless supply of cheap renewable hydrogen fuel and position Australia as a world-leader.

The scientists, from the Australian National University, have identified for the first time an important photosynthetic process that enables plants to split water cells into hydrogen and oxygen components.

Lead researcher Dr Nick Cox said if humans could split water the way nature did, society would have an endless supply of cheap hydrogen fuel for transportation, without the carbon emissions that contributed to climate change.

"Enough sunlight hits the Earth in a single hour to power all human activity for over a year," Dr Cox said.

"Plants use this harvested energy to split water and make complex carbohydrates, which provide food for the plant to grow and thrive.

"This process also enriches our atmosphere with oxygen for animals, including humans, to breathe.

"Copying this process from nature would lead to new and improved renewable energy storage technologies."

More.."

 

Wow!

 

Fascinating ... I know it's not actually "removing" CO2 from the equation if the resultant fuel is then burnt and reverts back to CO2 ... but it does close the production of CO2 loop and gives other options (such as kelp farming) time to take effect.

Also remember - we don't create or lose any chemicals or nutrients on planet earth (except for the stuff we send into space) - they simply change form

From thin air: Can converting atmospheric carbon into fuel close the carbon loop? - Create

 

I know - very few companies are recycling panels that have reached their "use by" date ... but don't despair ... things are changing so rapidly that who knows what next year will bring

 

90% of the Wellington, NZ, taxi fleet is electric - the rest are hybrid - and they don't burn coal. They use hydro, thermal and wind. As usual our cousins over the ditch are leading the way.