Organizing for America | John Hague's Blog: China's Electric Cars and Dirty Coal Electric Production

China's Electric Cars and Dirty Coal Electric Production

By J. HAGUE, Community Advocate - Apr 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 pm EDT

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Tags: china, electric cars, Renewable Energy, trade

"China Vies to Be World’s Leader in Electric Cars http://www.nytimes.com/todaysheadlines
By KEITH BRADSHER
In a new threat to Detroit, China is investing heavily in hybrid and electric-vehicle technology with a plan built on research, recharging stations and incentives."

What are we waiting for?
China needs clean electricity, we need clean cars.
With what we now know, can we not "leap frog" to an advanced
level of clean electricity production and optimal use?

There must be some better use for China's dirty coal than to pollute its
air and damage the health of its flora and fauna. And there must be alternatives
to expanding nuclear fission-electricity production.

I have floated the idea of "energy farms" in previous e-mails. Something like this
might be among the answers for not only China, but for many other nations, especially those
with tidal potential or virtually firm sun/wind combinations.

Tidal, wind, sunlight, municipal waste, ( any local renewables ) all, on or near the same site - "energy farm".

Produce at the maximal production function for all resources concurrently, and with the surplus electricity*, produce and store it as hydrogen, for use when one or more of the renewable sources are at sub--optimal levels. ( *surplus is determined by the difference between average "firm" production and maximal production; "deficit" would be the mirror image of "surplus" and require "topping up" to maintain average firm production from the total energy farm ). The stored hydrogen, if in sufficient supply, could also be used as an emergency "peak power" supplemental resource. The stored hydrogen is the "battery" or "resevoir" of the system enabling all the otherwise "non firm" renewables to be firmed up - much like our massive hydro-electric resevoirs here in British Columbia. There will be production losses and the need for sophisticated process computer controls to balance the system provides another outlet for North American know-how.

We know how to do this. On a net social benefit to cost analysis, I challenge anyone to do better. Properly balanced, this energy farm could produce and utilize "surplus" hydrogen at no economic cost!

So, who needs convincing? This could be a potent economic renewal project.

Comments?

John Hague - BA, CA, Mediator,
"Creative Conflict Services, BC" :: "NATURE, PEOPLE, BUSINESS, In Harmony"

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