[Cashmere]

The funny part is, these yahoos have no idea that we will be reducing our dependency on foreign oil reeaaaaaaal soon.

[Rogozhin]

You fellas believe you know more than their geological procurement crews?




You're internet prognosticators!

[vilemerchant]

Perhaps Google don't have the solution, but stuff like this from such a high-profile bunch of megalomaniacs might actually make some people/politicians THINK about solutions and necessary actions that need to be taken. Maybe they won't help, but they sure as hell can't hurt.

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'G')oogle Proposes $4.4 Trillion Clean Energy Plan

[ROCKMAN]

Big deal. I doubt Google hasn't really studied the technology/scalability issues in sufficient detail. Just like an 8 yo offering reasons to its parents why keeping a pony in its room is a good idea. There are lots of clever folks right here at PO that can come up with even better plans I'm suire. Now, let's hear from someone who knows where we can get the $4.4 trillion to do this real quick. Yes...in time, perhaps, the money could be found incrementally. But time is our enemy. Good plans are worthless without sound and financed business plans supporting them. As much as I dislike direct gov't involvement in the private sector (can we say "Fannie May?) it's difficult to imagine any other approach succeeding in the time allowed.

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'G')oogle Proposes $4.4 Trillion Clean Energy Plan

[Plantagenet]

Google kids will learn that its much easier to write a search engine program then it is to change the entire world's energy system from oil to alternative green energy.

[AirlinePilot]

No Leadership.

No Money.

No Time.


Good Luck Googly heads.

[coyote]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 't')hese yahoos

[strider3700]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'G')oogle kids will learn that its much easier to write a search engine program then it is to change the entire world's energy system from oil to alternative green energy.

[ROCKMAN]

strider,

Please correct me but I didn't see any mention that Google was going to put one dollar into the plan let alone billions. Maybe that part was in another press release.

I do give credit to Google for putting the message out to the public. They'll probably generate more interest in PO than all our combined words here at PO.

[yesplease]

Not just PO, but use of costly, both in terms of apparent and externalized costs, fossil fuels compared to cheaper renewables. They definitely have the clout, if not the capital, although they've thrown some cash at decent ideas IMO.

[Graeme]

Google’s Big Idea: How Realistic is Google’s $4.4 Trillion Clean-Energy Plan?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he plan has three big pillars: energy efficiency to reduce demand for new electricity; a massive renewable-energy push to replace coal; and an accelerated rollout of plug-in cars that can displace about half the gasoline-powered cars on the roads. Let’s just look at the electricity part of the proposal.

To meet the entirety of new demand for electricity over the next 22 years, Google is counting on the government to push energy efficiency, through tougher standards for things like buildings and appliances, and via regulatory changes that give power companies an incentive to save juice. Plenty of recent studies argue that energy efficiency is the easiest and cheapest way to meet electricity demand, especially given recent hikes in capital costs for new power plants.


That puts the onus of Google’s plan on transmission, one of the areas (like geothermal) where it is increasingly active as an investor. Google reckons it would cost $462 billion to build the new transmission lines needed for wind and solar power and to tackle their intermittency by rapidly installing “smart grids” that can handle roller-coaster power loads and better manage demand. That’s a generous estimate, if recent renewable-energy transmission projects are any guide.

Google’s plan looks attractive on paper—and by its own estimates would actually save about $1 trillion. But it also makes clear why politicians from both sides of the aisle, as well as government and industry, are searching for ways to clean up coal and keep using it—the economy needs power than runs 24 hours a day, rain, wind or shine.

[Shaggy]

World Leaders Gather at Green Energy Summit 2009 to Plug Bailout Scenarios
Clean Technology, Renewable Energy, and Sustainability as Sound Engines for Economic Growth

BANGALORE, November 5, 2008 -- Don't wait for a bailout. There is none. This deepening understanding is bringing together leading green energy experts, heads of state, top government officials, heads of large international organisations, policy makers, sustainability experts, environmentalists and global investors at Green Energy Summit 2009 (GES 2009), March 4-7, 2009 to be held at the Palace Grounds, Bangalore, India.

Going green is both a corporate advantage and an opportunity for humanity to enable change. GES 2009 (www.greenenergysummit.com) will bring together the government, civil society and private business leaders in a bid to develop and drive new initiatives, provide insights, showcase sustainable product development and green business opportunities, and facilitate interaction between entities from all over the world and India. The summit will also address policy options and practical applications that have proven successful in ramping up development of environmentally and economically sound solutions that truly benefit all stakeholders.

At GES 2009, participants can:

-> Tune in to four focus areas - Green Power, Green Buildings, Green Fuels & Transportation, Green IT.
-> Discuss solutions to some of humanity's most compelling issues: energy security, climate change, renewable sources of energy & sustainable human development.
-> Unlock sales opportunities in India: must-attend for International companies interested in meeting Indian buyers, partners and representatives.
-> Find your match and shortlist potential business partners: the GES concierge will work away at your shortlist and arrange up to 6 one-on-one appointments.
-> Expertise, advice and strategy: benefit from the expertise, credibility and mandates of a powerhouse team of influential RE and clean technology experts.

SPEAKERS AT GES 2009

“GES 2009 will be a wholly interactive event with accent on the application of renewable energy and clean technologies in green power, green buildings, green fuels and transportation and green IT. The program will comprise high-level keynote sessions, expert case studies on specific themes, awards function, networking dinner and guided tours of green energy installations”, says Dr. Arcot Ramachandran, chairperson of the organising team.

Speakers include Dr. Jose Achache (Director, Group on Earth Observations), Dr. Mohamed T. El-Ashry (Chair, REN21), H.E. Corrado Clini (Director General, Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea, Italy & Chair, G8 Global Bioenergy Partnership), Dr. R.K. Pachauri (Chairman, IPCC), Dr. Dan Arvizu (Director, NREL), Dr. Jamshed J. Irani (Director, TATA Sons Limited and Chairman, Tata Quality Management Services), Michael T. Eckhart (President, ACORE & Co-chairman, WCRE), Dr. Marianne Osterkorn (International Director, REEEP), Dr. Yogi Goswami (Former President, ISES), Dr. Pramod Deo (Chairman, CERC), R Seshasayee (MD, Ashok Leyland), Nitin Desai (Special Adviser to the Secretary General for the World Summit on the Information Society), David Bohigian (Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce), Dipal C Barua (MD, Grameen Shakti), Dr Ajay Mathur (Director General, BEE), and several other important stakeholders.

ASIA'S LARGEST EXHIBITION FOR RENEWABLE AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES

Green Energy Expo is spread out over 10,000 sqm and will enjoy a footfall of more than 100,000. The exhibitions will have separate pavilions for Green Power, Green IT, Green Buildings, Green Fuels & Transport, Sustainable Brand Showcase, Nano in Sustainability and Biotech in Sustainability.

Featuring Indian and International exhibitors from the US, Europe, Canada, Middle East and Asia Pacific, meet manufacturers, builders, vendors and investors of unconventional energy technology (solar, wind, biofuel, thermal), enterprise hardware & software technology vendors, semiconductor companies, financial institutions, venture capitalists and government bodies.

SPONSOR GES 2009 AND JOIN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE

“Climate change and sustainability strategies, renewable, green and clean technologies are as important for our planet as was perhaps financial jurisprudence to the current economic downturn. When the chips are down, customers and prospects will always look up to brands and businesses that are sustainable, conservative, and willing to assume corporate social responsibility for a cleaner future,” says Dilip Thomas, Steering Committee Member/Program Chair & CEO of Saltmarch Media, the organizers of GES 2009.

If you have a sustainable brand, product, or service, your presence as a sponsor at GES 2009 sends out the right signals to your various marketing initiatives including customer touch points, CSR and branding, besides demonstrating clear commitment towards a clean, green and sustainable planet. GES 2009 is the world-class forum for varied stakeholders from the Solar, Wind, Biomass, IT, Transport, Construction, Aviation, Nanotechnology, and Biotechnology, to showcase your brand, propagate your leadership message, and unlock sales opportunities.

About Saltmarch Media

GES 2009 is conceived and organised by Saltmarch Media in association with the Renewable Energy Action Forum (REAF) -- like-minded bodies that believe passionately in the role of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) in national development, reducing our dependency on fuel imports and protection of the environment.

The organising committee is chaired by Dr. Arcot Ramachandran (Chairman TERI Governing Council, Former Under Secretary General UN, and Secretary, DST). Committee members include Dr. J Gururaja (Former Sr Adviser, United Nations and Adviser, MNRE, GoI), Dr. V Balasubramanian (Former Additional Chief Secretary, GoK), Dilip Thomas (Chairman & CEO, Saltmarch), A K Vora (Former MD, Tata BP Solar India, K Jairaj (Principal Secretary, Energy, GoK), Indu Britto (Group Publisher, Saltmarch Media), Shri. M N Vidyashankar (Ex-officio Principal Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka), K Subramanya, CEO, Tata BP Solar India Limited, Dr. Bhaktavatsalam (Former Chairman, IREDA, GoI), and Dr. Harish Hande – Founder & CEO, SELCO India.


For more information on GES contact the GES Hotline

Mobile: +91 99015 08099, Tel: +91 80 4005 1000
Email: info@greenenergysummit.comGreen Energy Summit

[NoahsDove]

From the front page.


http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg2 ... ?full=true

[thylacine]

Maybe it will work and maybe it won't. This looks like it's the resumption of trials that were started back in the late 70s, but were canned due to finance being pulled because of low oil prices. With a bit more foresight they could have figured out if this was a viable technology or a dead end 20+ years ago.

[Hermes]

"Massive Fiberglass Tubes". Clean? Not really.

And it's not unlimited. It's precisely as "unlimited" as solar panels are. An amount of time, energy and raw materials go into the system and an amount of electricity comes out. Just as this society could churn away making solar panels until doomsday and therefore have "Unlimited Energy" so could we churn away until doomsday making this geothermal thing.

Luckily it won't work.

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Hermes', '"')Massive Fiberglass Tubes". Clean? Not really.

And it's not unlimited. It's precisely as "unlimited" as solar panels are. An amount of time, energy and raw materials go into the system and an amount of electricity comes out. Just as this society could churn away making solar panels until doomsday and therefore have "Unlimited Energy" so could we churn away until doomsday making this geothermal thing.

Luckily it won't work.

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Hermes', '"')Massive Fiberglass Tubes". Clean? Not really.

And it's not unlimited. It's precisely as "unlimited" as solar panels are. An amount of time, energy and raw materials go into the system and an amount of electricity comes out. Just as this society could churn away making solar panels until doomsday and therefore have "Unlimited Energy" so could we churn away until doomsday making this geothermal thing.

Luckily it won't work.

[kublikhan]

It was already demonstrated to work in the 50-120 kilowatt range, but it looks like they are running into problems trying to scale it up into the MW range. I hope they can overcome the problems.

I did like the spinoff technology used in the Toronto air conditioning system though. Saving 60 MW of electricity in air conditioning costs is better than building a new 60 MW power plant. I would like to see this technology expanded. It would only be practical for cities near a lake or coast, but that is still a lot of megawatts saved.