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[–][deleted] 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

The problem with Solar (and Wind) energy is that is creates a giant energy storage problem the grid is not equipped or designed to solve.

Problem: Energy usage spikes at 11PM. Standard power plant solution - increase production near 11PM. Renewable solution - store a shitload of energy at X loss rate so that you have enough to handle 11PM.

Trying to set up an offgrid solution even for your own home quickly makes it apparent that the most costly and difficult to maintain and continually replace parts are the immense battery arrays - and you can still expect to need a consumable powered generator for when the elements don't agree with you. I'm assuming in renewable world this would be coal plants since they are the easiest to "spin up" and "wind down"?

As a result of these infrastructure and logistical challenges thorium based nuclear has always looked like the most feasible and clean solution to me; but any solution is "cleaner" than ordering a gazillion rare earth batteries every year from China - which is what nationwide solar would look like unless we have some sort of clean energy storage breakthrough.

[–]JasonCarswell 10 insightful - 2 fun10 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

This is not really true, but a common excuse. Storage is not necessary, routing is. The "smart grid" was never built, other than to spy on us. They don't want solutions. Period.

There are an abundance of authentic solutions that could be implemented everywhere. Ireland is leading the way with some great submersible turbines that are nothing new except that they are implementing the old idea and refining, finessing and optimizing it.

The ocean currents are perpetual.

Every great river is perpetual.

Niagra Falls is just one location of many but that same St. Lawrence Seaway flows a long fucking way. The Detroit River wraps around Windsor, "Motor City Canada" and we could have countless turbines in the water - one for each person, much like automobiles - but "they" want the centralized power paradigm limited and under their full spectrum dominance.

IMO, everyone should have a turbine. And, everyone should have a home server, like any of the other home appliances. And, everyone should have a hydroponic garden. Done right they don't take much space at all. But our system is for creating obedient worker/servants, not independent individuals in strong communities.

And then there's thorium... Wherever there's mining there should be thorium extraction.

[–]now 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Hi! Great reply. I know this may be off topic from the OG post, but care to share some links (why/how) on a home server? Maybe a recommended subsaidit? I have a beautiful new Tomato Router with USB attached storage capabilities and have been thinking hard on how to set up NAS storage, etc. I'd love to kick the Google cloud to the curb, set up auto torrent downloads via Sonarr/Radarr, and more. Thanks!