Interesting question, and one I’d be keen to hear yours and others’ views on. Seems like it would be a combination of all those things, no? And, increasingly, as this new world of energy evolves, you might even want to throw in the geopolitical power that would presumably come from exporting renewables, either in the form of green electricity sent through power lines or green hydrogen or ammonia shipped from one country to another....
I agree it would be a combination, but it will be interesting to see how geopolitical power comes in. I hadn't heard of the ammonia as energy until a few weeks ago when I read about Maersk creating the first carbon neutral liner vessel. The fuel? "Methanol (e-methanol and bio-methanol), alcohol-lignin blends and ammonia remain the primary fuel candidates for the future."
Look forward to your next installments, Bill. To what extent do diminished Himalayan glaciers threaten India’s hydro and make the renewable challenge even harder? or is that just doomcasting?
You know, I’m not sure how it exactly all washes through to hydropower specifically, and the science around climate effects on the Himalayas are still very much in realm of awaiting further study. But....there does seem to be a consensus building around a couple of things, as I understand it: 1) The uber-heights of the Himalayas, like the polar extremities, are experiencing amplified climate impacts compared to the earth’s non-extremities 2) that will ultimately result in net glacial retreat 3) which at first means more water heading downstream in the short to medium term and then, starting maybe after 2050 or so, a whole lot less water as Himalayan ice begins to dissapear. For hydro that’s obviously not a great outlook for the long haul — though among the least of the problems associated with the source of about a fifth of the world’s population running out — but presumably troublesome even in the shorter run to the extent more water becomes too-much water, as the recent inundation in Uttarakhand that destroyed a hydro dam....
Great post. Looking towards the future, how do you think countries as "global renewable powerhouses" should be defined? Would it be based on installed capacity? The proportion of their total energy production that is renewable? Whether they manufacture the most renewable energy technology? Patents and innovation? It will be strange to compare Germany to India, for example. Curious to hear your thoughts.
Interesting question, and one I’d be keen to hear yours and others’ views on. Seems like it would be a combination of all those things, no? And, increasingly, as this new world of energy evolves, you might even want to throw in the geopolitical power that would presumably come from exporting renewables, either in the form of green electricity sent through power lines or green hydrogen or ammonia shipped from one country to another....
I agree it would be a combination, but it will be interesting to see how geopolitical power comes in. I hadn't heard of the ammonia as energy until a few weeks ago when I read about Maersk creating the first carbon neutral liner vessel. The fuel? "Methanol (e-methanol and bio-methanol), alcohol-lignin blends and ammonia remain the primary fuel candidates for the future."
Look forward to your next installments, Bill. To what extent do diminished Himalayan glaciers threaten India’s hydro and make the renewable challenge even harder? or is that just doomcasting?
You know, I’m not sure how it exactly all washes through to hydropower specifically, and the science around climate effects on the Himalayas are still very much in realm of awaiting further study. But....there does seem to be a consensus building around a couple of things, as I understand it: 1) The uber-heights of the Himalayas, like the polar extremities, are experiencing amplified climate impacts compared to the earth’s non-extremities 2) that will ultimately result in net glacial retreat 3) which at first means more water heading downstream in the short to medium term and then, starting maybe after 2050 or so, a whole lot less water as Himalayan ice begins to dissapear. For hydro that’s obviously not a great outlook for the long haul — though among the least of the problems associated with the source of about a fifth of the world’s population running out — but presumably troublesome even in the shorter run to the extent more water becomes too-much water, as the recent inundation in Uttarakhand that destroyed a hydro dam....
Great post. Looking towards the future, how do you think countries as "global renewable powerhouses" should be defined? Would it be based on installed capacity? The proportion of their total energy production that is renewable? Whether they manufacture the most renewable energy technology? Patents and innovation? It will be strange to compare Germany to India, for example. Curious to hear your thoughts.
Thanks. Really appreciate you reading and taking the time to let me know!