Category Archives: Solar Energy

Why It Is Hard to Convince the US Public of Climate Change

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Dennis SILVERMAN

The primary reason that acceptance of climate change has been opposed in America, is that climate change is mainly caused by CO2 from fossil fuel burning, and is strongly opposed by those industries, which are the richest in America.  They … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Fossil Fuel Energy, Natural Gas, Oil, Politics, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Energy | Leave a comment

Comments on the Movie “Switch” and discussion at UC Irvine

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Dennis SILVERMAN

I have just returned from a showing of the movie Switch about forms of energy generation, and searching for our energy future, sponsored by the Newkirk Center.  Presenting was the film’s director, Harry Lynch.  We are planning to show this to … Continue reading →

Posted in Autos, Conservation, Electric Power, Energy Efficiency, Fossil Fuel Energy, Oil, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Energy | Leave a comment

China’s Coal, Renewable and Nuclear Power: Present and Future

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Dennis SILVERMAN

China has large, public plans for an ideal world of power in China.  They are moving toward most of these.  Since power is partly a national project, they may well succeed in some of them.  Clearly they have the motivation … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Electric Power, Energy Efficiency, Fossil Fuel Energy, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Energy | Leave a comment

US and World Solar Power for 2012

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Dennis SILVERMAN

World Solar Power    World Wide Photovoltaics The total world wide photovoltaic peak power at the end of 2012 is 102 gigaWatts at peak overhead illumination, where a gigaWatt (GW) is a billion Watts or 1,000 megaWatts.  Germany has a … Continue reading →

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Projections for Future Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Dennis SILVERMAN

The first rule of the Energy Futures Club is that there are no rules, but you can talk about it all you want.  You would think that with power plants that last 60 or more years, and that take a … Continue reading →

Posted in Autos, Climate Change, Conservation, Earthquakes, Electric Power, Natural Gas, Nuclear Energy, San Onofre, Solar Energy, Transportation, Tsunami, Wind Energy | Leave a comment

Cost and Area of Replacing San Onofre Nuclear Energy by Solar Photovoltaics

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Dennis SILVERMAN

Nuclear power is directly emission free clean power, and replacing the fuel only uses about 5% of the energy generated, which might end up as fossil fuel usage.  In Southern California some want to replace a possibly closed nuclear plant … Continue reading →

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Update on California Solar Power

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Dennis SILVERMAN

Solar Thermal There are 4243 megaWatts approved, and 1500 megaWatts under review.  1164 megaWatts are installed, and an average cost of $7.08 per Watt, for projects greater than 10 kiloWatt. Solar Photovoltaic and the California Solar Initiative As of 4/4/12, … Continue reading →

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Comments on Larry Agran’s Talk on San Onofre

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Dennis SILVERMAN

I read Larry Agran’s talk to the packed Irvine City Council meeting on the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).  I want to make comments on some of the statements made there. First of all he makes the comparison that … Continue reading →

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Evaluate Before Acting on California Reactor Risk

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Dennis SILVERMAN

From what I have read in the local papers, there is much concern locally about earthquakes, tsunamis and other problems at the SONGS nuclear reactors in San Onofre, California.  There have been city council meetings in Laguna Beach and Irvine … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Earthquakes, Electric Power, Fossil Fuel Energy, Nuclear Energy, Politics, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Tsunami | Tagged | Leave a comment

Comparison of Nuclear Power Plants with Solar Tower Power

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Dennis SILVERMAN

A recent LA Times article and the Brightsource Energy website give data on the Solar Tower reflecting mirror power sources currently being built.  Today the first two new nuclear reactors have been approved, and the cost for an 1.1 gigaWatt … Continue reading →

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