By 2040 most countries will have decarbonised their electricity generation. Already Scotland generates 58% of its total power needs from renewable sources. As tidal power in particular continues to develop it is likely that developed countries will be fully renewable.

 

My main worry about range is if there is enough being put into researching high capacity batteries and more environmentally friendly and efficient combinations than lithium ion. It's all fine and well Renault-Nissan spending €4bn on their electric car binge but we need to see Governments and the EU start stumping up the cash so we can be in a situation that Simon mentions of having storage capabilities for renewable energy that isn't a pumped storage hydro plant

oil is not good for the planet, and neither are power stations charged by burning stuff. Nuclear power is ridiculously expensive over the entire life of building and decommissioning, and long-term potential damage to the environment.

 

So, anything that avoids any of those things is a good thing, and technology can get around most issues with advance planning. As politicians tend to knee-jerk react though, I expect it'll just drift and drift until Europe gets it act together and we have no choice but to join in, probably with rubbish renewables rather than environmentally friendly ones like water, wind and solar power.

Did I say that solar panels were a complete solution? A clue - the answer is No.

 

Did I say you said they were - no. ;)

We can all understand *why* this ban has been suggested, but ISTM little thought has been given to the practicalities.

 

Electric cars only have a limited range, and take hours to charge up - hardly practical for anything more than short range commuting!

 

I wouldn't say little thought has been given. Many nations are heavily investing money into the technology related to electric cars and power storage. There's still 23 years to go for more advances in the technology which should be more than enough time. The cost of the batteries have come down heavily from $750 per kWh in 2010 to $145 per kWh in 2016 - only 6 years. The life of batteries has also been increasing from 2-5 years average in the 90s/00s to 10+ years with the latest models (lasting up to ~1 million miles).

 

Not to mention the newest models of electric cars can travel up to around 100 miles on one charge (that's not what I'd call limited range), with some able to go up to 300 miles in one charge. Charging times are still somewhat lon, but are coming down as well.

 

There is a big "electric highway" that's been built and continues to be expanded on from London to Edinburgh with extensive charging stations which have the capability to get cars up to 80% charge in 20 minutes. The infrastructure for electric cars is expanding quite quickly. Give it another 23 years and there should be ample infrastructure in place.

 

It's all fine and well Renault-Nissan spending €4bn on their electric car binge but we need to see Governments and the EU start stumping up the cash so we can be in a situation that Simon mentions of having storage capabilities for renewable energy that isn't a pumped storage hydro plant

 

There is a good amount of money being invested by governments and a lot of private companies are investing heavily as well given that the electric car market will grow a lot in the near future. A lot of money is being pumped into energy storage, which is an issue for wind/solar power (essentially have to turn them off if they over-produce energy as storing energy for extended periods of time is in its infancy for the national grid).

 

There's also money going into researching electric vechiles being connected to the grid to help with power at peaks times.

 

But there's no *guarantee* that electric car efficiency will have improved enough by then, and besides, the fuel saved will have to be used in power stations to generate the extra electricity needed.

 

As for solar panels - in the UK, especially in winter, really? :P

 

They're already pretty good right now. In 20 years or so time things will be even better with a lot of funding going into their development and the infrastructure needed. And I'd rather the energy needed be produced away from my home than to have cars constantly spewing out nasty air along the streets constantly.

 

Solar panels can still generate a decent amount of energy in the winter, although obviously not as much as in the summer.

 

As politicians tend to knee-jerk react though, I expect it'll just drift and drift until Europe gets it act together and we have no choice but to join in, probably with rubbish renewables rather than environmentally friendly ones like water, wind and solar power.

 

I don't think that's fair to say. The UK is leading the way in reducing coal use and all coal power plants are to be closed by 2025. The first floating wind farm is currently being installed off the coast of Scotland, which was subsidised heavily by the government. As well as the first large scale tidal farm being launched in Scotland last year. The first tidal lagoon will start being built in Swansea in 2018 and be finished by 2022. Another is to be built in Cardiff having gone through a few planning stages already, although there appears to be another step to be taken next year. Others are beginning to be planned in places such as Newport, Cumbria and Bridgewater Bay in Somerset.

 

The UK is likely to become the world leader in harnessing tidal power for renewable energy. The potential there is huge. Of course that's not to knock off solar and wind - which continue to fall in cost. Home insulation will be important as well - I really hope the government invest and make a plan for that very soon. I think the UK's renewable energy future looks quite bright. If only the government would scrap the ludicrous Hinkley C nuclear power plant project and just invest more heavily in tidal/wind/solar and energy storage.

the UK certainly led the way in getting rid of coal back in the mid-80's, though it wasn't for the environment and led to being dependant on Russian imports of fuels.

 

Tidal lagoons are still subject to controversy re environment/costs and the Welsh one seems to be one individual creating an empire which is not very environmentally friendly to land on the other side of the channel.

 

I agree about Hinkley C, hugely expensive for consumers, and the French company is losing money not fulfilling the decommissioning of aged reactors it already has taken off line in France. These costs are being passed on to UK consumers to subsidise the company (it is anticipated with the rubbish deal signed). More windfarms cancelled by NIMBY's would have helped make up the shortfalls (eg Dorset).

I caught something on the TV last week about technological advances in road surfaces so they would help to top up while driving.

 

Wish we still had a programme like Tomorrows World which would show us all the advanced technology. BBC has Click which is mostly limited to digital. There are so many other fields engineering, medicine, transport, space.

I dread to think what the price of petrol will be by 2040 anyway... :???:

I caught something on the TV last week about technological advances in road surfaces so they would help to top up while driving.

 

Wish we still had a programme like Tomorrows World which would show us all the advanced technology. BBC has Click which is mostly limited to digital. There are so many other fields engineering, medicine, transport, space.

 

Electric motorways.. yes, the government were tabling that idea in 2015. Does it work by having solar panels along the carriageway which provide stored charge under the surface which cars could then use to 'charge-up' as they navigate along?

 

“Oh I’m running out of charge, better head on to the M6 to top myself up.... oh looks like everyone else had the same idea” *Sits in jam for 17 hours* : (

Edited August 20, 20177 yr by Doctor Blind

Sorry. I was doing something else so not really listening.

 

They've flown a plane on solar power. I'd think it would play a part in non petrol non diesel transport, even in Scotland where everyone is always surprised to see the sun far less feel its warmth.