Climate Change / Global Warming Discussion

[mspohr]

Climate emissions shrinking the stratosphere, scientists reveal

Humanity’s enormous emissions of greenhouse gases are shrinking the stratosphere, a new study has revealed. The thickness of the atmospheric layer has contracted by 400 metres since the 1980s, the researchers found, and will thin by about another kilometre by 2080 without major cuts in emissions. The changes have the potential to affect satellite operations, the GPS navigation system and radio communications. The discovery is the latest to show the profound impact of humans on the planet. In April, scientists showed that the climate crisis had shifted the Earth’s axis as the massive melting of glaciers redistributes weight around the globe.

 

[eevee-fan]

Breakthrough in reverse osmosis may lead to most energy-efficient seawater desalination ever

Making fresh water out of seawater usually requires huge amounts of energy. The most widespread process for desalination is called reverse osmosis, which works by flowing seawater over a membrane at high pressure to remove the minerals.

techxplore.com

What?!? It was that simple to increase RO efficiency? We have lots of space, if this takes more space for the same output.

 

[eevee-fan]

Business Insider: In a report suppressed under Trump, the EPA has said for the first time that humans caused the climate crisis.

In a report suppressed under Trump, the EPA has said for the first time that humans caused the climate crisis

The EPA's annual Climate Change Indicators report came out on Wednesday after a four-year pause during the Trump administration.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[JRP3]

Interesting solution to storing excess renewable energy for long term storage as heat: Hot sand.

 

[eevee-fan]

Interesting solution to storing excess renewable energy for long term storage as heat: Hot sand.

Lots of hot sand in Vegas right now, LOL.

 

[ggies07]

Interesting solution to storing excess renewable energy for long term storage as heat: Hot sand.

That was great, thanks! It never dawned on me to put two and two when talking about heat and sand. I know that the Turkish use sand to heat their coffee, but never thought about taking excess renewable energy and storing it in sand.....duh!

 

[ohmman]

Yeah, I don't chime in here much anymore, but that was a great video. Thanks for posting, @JRP3.

 

[traxila]

Interesting solution to storing excess renewable energy for long term storage as heat: Hot sand.

This definitely appears to be part of the solution to me.

 

[ggies07]

It really makes sense - what is sand made of? Si. What is Tesla trying to add more of in their anode because it stores more energy? Si.....man! Hahaha

 

[mspohr]

Interesting solution to storing excess renewable energy for long term storage as heat: Hot sand.

Probably very inefficient. Only makes sense if have a large amount of free electricity to make heat. Don't think they could make electricity from the heat without huge losses.

 

[traxila]

Probably very inefficient. Only makes sense if have a large amount of free electricity to make heat. Don't think they could make electricity from the heat without huge losses.

Is not for electricity. It is for providing heat. You heat it with excess renewables as in a battery to use later.

 

[JRP3]

Though they did talk about using it in conjunction with batteries that require high temperatures to operate, so it would serve a double purpose. I also wonder about using it with heat pumps to increase efficiency above 100% for heat.

 

[ohmman]

I also wonder about using it with heat pumps to increase efficiency above 100% for heat.

That's the first thing I was thinking when they went on and on about resistance heating. Sure, it's 100% but.. heat pumps!

 

[eevee-fan]

Interesting solution to storing excess renewable energy for long term storage as heat: Hot sand.

For a home, when properly designed, this storage can be under the foundation... imagine, warm foundation that keeps the house warm in the winter!

This is usable every day for commercial/industrial buildings that need hot water too.

 

[winfield100]

For a home, when properly designed, this storage can be under the foundation... imagine, warm foundation that keeps the house warm in the winter!

This is usable every day for commercial/industrial buildings that need hot water too.

what is old is new again

http://www.solartour.org/pdfs/2019_solar_tour.pdf

these folks (below) heat their studio with a solar heated sand bed, warm floors, no frost heave foundation due to heat leakage from sand bed, (i seem to recall it’s a somewhat counter current system with fluid filled pipes running through the bed, 40 degrees north latitude so moderate winters (bit north of Washington DC)

Planning & Designing Sustainable Green Homes Gaithersburg

The Best Eco Friendly & Energy Efficient House Plans. Find Small, Sustainable, Net Zero, Passive Solar Home Designs Call Us Today to Get a Free Quote.

sustainabledesign.com

 

[mspohr]

The UK’s Brilliant Plan To Repurpose Abandoned Coal Mines | OilPrice.com

The pilot project will involve the drilling of two wells to transport water from the flooded mines, with drilling and testing for viability expected to be completed by Q3 2021. Dunelm Geotechnical and Environmental Ltd hope to extract the water via vertical boreholes at a depth of 300-400 meters. A heat pump will be used to extract heat from the water, which will be compressed to a higher temperature. A powerplant on the mining site will distribute the energy to heat local buildings, such as residential tower blocks. The plan is to use solar panels and a combined heat and power unit to generate electricity to power the system.

 

[winfield100]

The UK’s Brilliant Plan To Repurpose Abandoned Coal Mines | OilPrice.com

The pilot project will involve the drilling of two wells to transport water from the flooded mines, with drilling and testing for viability expected to be completed by Q3 2021. Dunelm Geotechnical and Environmental Ltd hope to extract the water via vertical boreholes at a depth of 300-400 meters. A heat pump will be used to extract heat from the water, which will be compressed to a higher temperature. A powerplant on the mining site will distribute the energy to heat local buildings, such as residential tower blocks. The plan is to use solar panels and a combined heat and power unit to generate electricity to power the system.

this is a bit confusing
what is being compressed?
the heat?

 

[mspohr]

this is a bit confusing
what is being compressed?
the heat?

It's poorly worded. They are installing a ground source heat pump.

 

[eevee-fan]

Solar + storage projects to drive utility-scale deployment of batteries: Navigant

As storage-plus-renewable-energy project prices drop and adoption expands, a report finds storage-plus PPA prices are already able to compete with combined cycle gas plants.

www.utilitydive.com

 

[eevee-fan]

The Guardian: Australia’s first fully renewable ‘hydrogen valley’ slated for NSW coal heartland.

Australia’s first fully renewable ‘hydrogen valley’ slated for NSW

Consortium plans to produce green hydrogen with wind and solar energy as a potential replacement for Hunter Valley’s coal industry

www.theguardian.com