The Future Of Energy And Climate Is On The Line

"We’re back with another episode of our WITHpod 2024: The Stakes series, in which we choose specific areas of policy and talk to an expert about Trump and Biden’s records on the topic. This week, we’re discussing what’s at stake for an area of top salience: climate and energy. There’s a lot to unpack. David Roberts is the founder of the Volts podcast, newsletter, and community. He joins WITHpod to discuss the Biden administration’s record action on climate, rollbacks that would be likely during a second Trump term, why this moment is such an inflection point, and more."

Click on the link below for another podcast in a series analyzing the risks of another Trump presidency: 

The Stakes for Climate and Energy

Lithium Batteries: The Disposal Problem

"Currently, lithium (Li) ion batteries are those typically used in EVs and the mega batteries used to store energy from renewables, and Li batteries are hard to recycle.

"One reason is that the most widely used methods of recycling more traditional batteries, like lead-acid batteries, don't work well with Li batteries. The latter are typically larger, heavier, more complex, and even dangerous if taken apart incorrectly."

Click on the link below for details:

Lithium batteries’ big unanswered question

Gravity Batteries: Another Approach To Clean Energy?

"Could a cutting-edge technology that harnesses one of the universe's fundamental forces help solve our energy storage challenge?

There is a riddle at the heart of the renewable energy revolution. When the wind blows, the sun shines, and the waves roll, there is abundant green power to be generated. But when skies darken and conditions are calm, what do we do?

The answer, today, is to ramp up conventional power production, supplying the grid by burning fossil fuels. It is a 20th Century solution to a 21st Century problem – one that sits in sharp contrast with plans for carbon neutrality.

A cleaner future will mean focusing on ever-larger lithium-ion batteries, some energy experts say. Others argue that green hydrogen is the world's best hope. And then there are those placing their bets not on chemistry, but the limitless force that surrounds us all: gravity.

"Underpinned by Newton's immutable logic – what goes up, must come down – this new field of energy storage technology is, in principle, remarkably simple. When green energy is plentiful, use it to haul a colossal weight to a predetermined height. When renewables are limited, release the load, powering a generator with the downward gravitational pull."

Click on the link below for the details:

Can gravity batteries solve our energy storage problems?

Transitioning To Electric Vehicles

In the last few years, the media promotion of electric vehicles has seen a noticeable increase. However, what are the facts and realistic expectations regarding such? Click on the link below for a concise evidence-based analysis of the issue by Sabine Hossenfelder:

How realistic is the transition to electric vehicles?

Geothermal Energy: A Little-Talked-About Alternative To Fossil Fuels

"There is a lot of energy right under our feet, a relic from Earth's hot past as a ball of plasma. But how much can geothermal energy realistically do for us? What technologies are currently being pursued, what are the risks, and is it even carbon neutral? In this video, we have collected all the relevant facts and numbers for you." 

Click on the link below for another excellent "Science Without The Gobbledegook" video by Sabine Hossenfelder:

Geothermal Energy How Big is the Potential?

Hydrogen: Feasible As A Replacement For Fossil Fuels?

Out of all the alternatives to fossil fuels, hydrogen is not mentioned in the same breath as wind, solar, or nuclear. Sabine Hossenfelder goes in-depth in the video below to explain all of the pros and cons regarding it:

Hydrogen Will Not Save Us. Here's Why.