How are we going to substitute our hunger for power
I have always loved technology and can't wait to see what the future holds. We are about to install a 1 Kw solar power system to our house. I would love to here from other people who have been in the reneable energy sector about their thoughts on where the technology will take us. As we speak I'm undertaking a training course in Australia to give me accreditation for installing "grid connected" solor syatems. Most people arn't aware but the Australian government gives out $8000 rebates for people installing systems to their principle place of residence. In this country that means you will be out of pocket to the tune of around $2000. I think this is a stong incentive for people to jump on the band wagon, but I'm more interested in what the future holds for the "free energy" . I think the sooner we can move away from fossil fuels the better, the price of fuel (gassoline) in this country and I'm sure many others has gone through the roof, we were also notified that our electricty bills are also going up by 5%. I see a time when households will produce all the energy they need, wether it be for lighting heat or for their automobile.
For the most part we already posess the neccessary technology to make the changes we need to to stop ourselves heading onto oblivion. The technolgies may not be perfect yet but they would make the difference we need to stave off global warming. From what I see, the Australian government is the most proactive in terms of tackling this issue but not matter what it will never be enough as long as the world is held to ransom by oil companies and car manufacturers. Oil companies and car manufacturers are dependant on the continual consumption of oil. Electric cars have been around for ages but we've been hearing nothing but excuses for why they are not viable other than in hybrid from (combined with a gasoline engine). So they keep us using oil till they can find something else to replace it that we would continually need to buy from them and not get from our own homes. The problem part is that oil companies and car manufaturers employ a shit load of people and contribute alot to the GDP of a country so if the go bust economies falter and alot of people are out of work. It's a vicous cycle. whether its energy for homes or transport we are stuck waiting for these energy companies to come up with viable clean alternatives that are good for their bank balances or we switch now to the available cleaner alternatives and alot of people become unemployed.
here are some interesting links about a wind power generated electric. the car in the video looks like crap but the theory is sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkcn8ZkvKKc
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4117900.html
