[BowBun]

Agreed. Even solar + wind - when the buzz started it was all rainbows and butterflies because we found a silver bullet to energy!

There is no such thing as free lunch. If you start absorbing massive amounts of solar, you will have some effect on the environment that we have absolutely no clue about. Same with interfering with wind patterns and ocean currents, which would happen with energy generation at true humanity-scale.

Critical thinking left the room a long time ago.

[XorNot]

What do you think happens to solar energy which doesn't land on a solar panel currently? Say it lands on a dark coloured roof?

[DarmokJalad1701]

> What do you think happens to solar energy which doesn't land on a solar panel currently

It magically disappears from this universe of course. The photons know if it is actually being of use to sentient humans and decides to wreak havoc (in some as yet unknown fashion) only in that instance.

[seb1204]

Not sure what to make of your comment. Are you suggesting we don't use any technology? All our actions have consequences on the planet. However your comment seems to suggest that by adopting wind and solar we are buying into an issue we would not have otherwise.

[BowBun]

Absolutely not, I can't believe you would take my healthy skepticism as a dismissal of technology. As I said, critical thinking is gone.

I suggest nothing other than what I said - discussions around new technologies, particularly those in response to perceived crises, rarely receive the scrutiny they deserve and rarely show both sides of the coin. This makes me immediately suspicious for the same reasons history has already shown time and time again.

[luis8]

Looks like nuclear with proper waste disposal is they way to go

[seb1204]

It is not. Proper waste disposal is an unsolved issue that extends beyond so many human generations. Also I suspect that social licence and NIMBYism will make it impossible to build them in time to save us from global warming.

[margalabargala]

Based on the conclusions in this comment thread, any energy source more exotic than a wood campfire is unacceptably damaging.

[badtension]

I get the joke but let me just mention that wood campfire is one of the worst solutions (if done at scale). This may sound idealistic (like the other comments mentioned) but I think we just have to reduce our energy footprint and then many solutions will be green again.

One great example (some will say absurd and impractical) is just using energy whenever it is available, with minimum storage. That means cooking, heating water etc. during the day (or when the wind is high) and only using lighting and low-energy devices at night. Factories could work on a similar principle (producing more in the summer) but then we would have to rearrange a lot more stuff to suit the seasonal renewable energy production capabilities.

This may sound absurd but it only shows how much we are locked in our way of thinking about how reality is supposed to work, not what it is. There's no reason to have high quality on-demand electrical energy available 24/7/365 other than convenience. Convenience that fossil fuels brought us.

[margalabargala]

What sort of onboarding path do you see to get a majority of the energy consumers (both the populace and industry) willing to accept this? How could the public will to make that change be created?

This feels like about as useful a solution as saying "the US could balance their budget by simply disbanding their military". Would it work if implemented? Sure. Would the resulting world be arguably better than before? Quite possibly. Is there a path to that outcome from the present day with a nonzero chance of success? Well...

[badtension]

Dynamic energy pricing with smart power-hungry appliances controlled by the energy producer would be a great start.

[badtension]

Not sure if absorbing solar in particular has some unforeseen consequences but I saw an interesting article the other day:

Tidal Energy Is Not Renewable

https://cs.stanford.edu/people/zjl/tide.html

We really have to think this all through before jumping 100% on any particular bandwagon. Researching, testing, seeing how it goes and adjusting is a must.

[BowBun]

Absolutely agreed. Beyond the need in the name of science, you're more likely to bring every onboard with an idea if you transparently study and share the pros and cons.

[gmadsen]

with global warming, shouldn't absorbing massive amounts of solar be a good thing?