User:Macquigg/Sandbox/Sustainable power

Fig.1 Sources and uses of power in an all-electric world

This article is a brief summary of the status of technologies that may provide a solution to our global warming problem.

World Power Demand

The demand for clean, carbon-free power is huge. Fig.1 shows one vision for the future. The primary source of energy is expected to be electricity from either fission reactors or renewables. Either way, there will be a need for high energy density liquid fuels. This article will explore the various options for renewable sources. For nuclear sources see Nucleae Power Reconsidered.

Renewable technologies

Hydrogen, Ammonia, and Synfuels

Hydrogen production using Sulfur-Iodine thermochemical process

Figure shows a possible process for generating zero-carbon hydrogen using heat from an HTGR (High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor. Could this work also with Concentrated Solar Power?

Batteries and other storage technologies

Batteries are currently too expensive to be the only backup on a grid powered only by wind and solar. Batteries may not be needed however, if electricity is cheap enough to generate hydrogen, ammonia, and synfuels.

Further Reading

https://ourworldindata.org/cheap-renewables-growth