Which energy source would you develop?

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

If you were in charge of your countries energy infrastructure, and you could choose one alternative energy source to invest in, develop, and make the priority for filling the future power needs of the country, which one would you choose, and why?

Piri

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Probably I would choose solar. Because nowadays they started to make almost fully recyclable and very efficient panels - roof tiles, as well there is coming up new technologies for long lasting batteries. It does not require sunlight to make energy, even cloudy days are okay. It is easy to adopt in the cities simple on the roofs. Can be in the system and off-grid and both.

Clementine

Piri It is easy to adopt in the cities simple on the roofs.

Yes, I think solar is a good solution for that reason, every urban environment has lots of surfaces that you can put solar on, as well as in space like desert that can not be used for anything other.

Treebeard

I am not sure it would be good to put too much time and resources to any one energy type.

A mix of solar, offshore wind, or tide/wave power.

John

Treebeard I am not sure it would be good to put too much time and resources to any one energy type.

I think that depends on your reasons for investing in it.

Print enough resources into one field for the nation to become regarded as a world leader in that field makes sense because you can then export that tech and knowledge which is good for the economy.

If it is just a question of energy supply then maybe you are right and it is better to have a mix.

Skylar

Solar or wind, and also I would invest a lot in the research of energy storage.

The thing with using natural energy sources is that they depend on the amount of sun or wind, where fossil fuel power stations can work 24/7 as much as needed, so we need good energy storage to make up for that.

Treebeard

Skylar Solar or wind, and also I would invest a lot in the research of energy storage.

Good point. If you are going to develop solar or wind you need to store energy better.

Aiga

Wind, I think it has less environmental damage than mining the materials in solar panels or changing rivers to make hydropower.

John

Aiga it has less environmental damage than mining the materials in solar panels

The tech in solar panels is getting more sustainable and more efficient. This is still a huge and growing issue with battery technology though, and we need to find more sustainable solutions for power storage.

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Aiga changing rivers to make hydropower.

I watched a report recently about the environmental effects of damming rivers, for power or for any other reasons, and it changes water tables and ecosystems hundreds of miles away from where the actual changes are made, and some of them are not noticeable until decades afterwards. They are huge environment changes.

Arvīds

Geothermal energy. 🌋

Geothermal is the best solution, renewable, clean, always there!

John

Arvīds Geothermal is the best solution, renewable, clean, always there!

I don't know so much about geothermal but I'd like to find out more.

I think it is right to say that there are a lot more countries using geothermal as a hearting source than as a way of generating electricity at the moment. Also that it isn't emission free, because carbon and greenhouse gases are released along with some acids, but that it is still a massive percentage cleaner than burning any kind of fossil fuels.

Arvīds

John I don't know so much about geothermal but I'd like to find out more.

I do not know as much as I want either, but from what I see it is the best renewable choice.

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