Greener Energy Systems

9 The fallacy of renewables

The Green activists, almost to a man, are against the energy technologies which have served us well over the last 150 years, and advocate an energy policy of conservation and renewables. Most people would not argue with conservation which has been a driving force behind a lot of technical developments over the years.

Before the industrial revolution, which began at the end of the 18th century, renewables were the only energy forms we had. Wind propelled ships around the world and wind or water mills ground corn. Biomass (firewood) provided heat and transport was on horseback or in a horse-drawn vehicle. The global population was less than 1 billion and it was only because population began to increase as the result ...