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Ask HN: Would there be an energy crisis if...

by globalrev on 10/3/08, 3:24 AM with 5 comments

Would there be an energy crisis if we replaced all powersources with nuclear power plants? And then started using electric cars?

And then put all energy-research into solarpower to replace nuclear power when there is a major breakthrough?

I'm hardly an expert but it seems most other alternatives are either not viable or they are just a trade-off.

  • by dkokelley on 10/3/08, 3:41 AM

    It has to do with market forces and politics.

    Disclaimer: These are not necessarily my views, but views I believe others hold.

    A: Nuclear energy is dangerous and a terrorism threat (political)

    B: Electric vehicles are not practical (market) and there is a ton of money in oil (market) and our relationship to the oil providers is frail (political)

    C: Wind energy is not very profitable (market) or practical (market) because the technology isn't there to harness it efficiently

    I agree with most of my market reasons, but the political ones I think are unfounded.

    I also think that there is a great reward awaiting those who find a way to make electric vehicles and wind power practical and profitable (and a great deal of headache awaiting those who attempt to change the political aspect of energy).

  • by etal on 10/3/08, 4:06 AM

    The cheapest energy source right now is coal, even if carbon-offset costs are factored in. So it would be cheaper to do the electric car thing right now with the existing power sources than with the nuclear option -- but we haven't done that, because electric car designs aren't quite ready yet, and because the demand for raw materials for all those new lithium-ion batteries would push the cost through the roof. (That actually happened this year with laptop batteries, somewhat.)

    But yes, nuclear power stands a better chance of being able to fully replace fossil fuels than most of the other options in the next few decades.

  • by hs on 10/4/08, 5:23 AM

    with nuclear, you still have a centralized source ... resulting loss in cables and converters

    with solar, it's decentralized ... loss should be minimal ... maybe no need for AC converters ... can u directly use DC ?