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viernes, marzo 18, 2011

The natural energy society

The natural energy society is an old concept. It is, if there is natural energy, we spend it, if not, we wait for it. Here natural energy means solar energy, energy obtained from the whether cycles, geothermal energies, or others of the kind. They characterize for being almost eternal, and with little negative impact impact on the environment, because they have always been there. Fossil fuels are also natural resources, however, they pose significant threats because they alter the natural sequestration of certain elements that took millions of years to the earth to attain. The same for nuclear energy, the natural radioactivity presents serious problems to the development of life, and it also took several millions of years to reach today's low levels. One of drawbacks that have been attributed to natural energy resources is that those of high power, as the sun or the wind, aren't constant or of predictable throughput. This is although something that humanity have managed to survive and succeed during thousands of years. The industrial revolution meant the intensive use of fossil fuels, so production could continue day and night and in places not previously unsuitable.
The fossil and nuclear fuels are finite. That face us with the question, what will we do after this point? There is the possibility that a new kind of energy, with higher power density appears, such as nuclear fusion. This energy could also in principle be so expensive that would not be available to undeveloped countries.
then there is another possibility, and it is, to embrace a new production model. Produce only if there is natural energy for it. That would mean, for example, that industrial plants produce only when there is daylight, winds, tide, etc., presents. it would mean the produce would much more expensive, but it would have another added value: sustainability.
It has some limitations, for example, it does not seems adequate in the short term for massively populated countries, or to countries of high energy consumption. It must be however a long term target that must be prosecuted through the control of population and industrial investment. And it represents a real possibility to small countries like ours.

2 Comments:

  • Es bueno el post, me gusta por que no satanizas nada, sino que muestras la realidad.
    Ahora bien, como científico ¿Qué propondrías como matriz energética viable a nuestro país?

    By Blogger Javier Valenzuela, at 4:07 PM  

  • mucha solar y eolica en el norte, mas eolica en el sur, geotermica e hidroelectrica. la energia nuclear es mas cara que cualquiera de las anteriores. las mas baratas son las basadas en carbon y gas natural, pero de vida finita.

    By Blogger Ecoidea, at 11:00 PM  

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