Freewill
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- Oct 26, 2011
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I have wondered about this for some time. How much energy can be extracted from the wind before it has an effect? Or is it impossible for it to have an effect? I also wonder about the millions of gallons of water vapor cooling towers put into the air.
Wind and wave farms could affect Earth's energy balance
The idea that we can draw endless supplies of clean energy from the wind and waves just doesn't add up
WITNESS a howling gale or an ocean storm, and it's hard to believe that humans could make a dent in the awesome natural forces that created them. Yet that is the provocative suggestion of one physicist who has done the sums.
He concludes that it is a mistake to assume that energy sources like wind and waves are truly renewable. Build enough wind farms to replace fossil fuels, he says, and we could seriously deplete the energy available in the atmosphere, with consequences as dire as severe climate change.
Wind and wave farms could affect Earth s energy balance - environment - 30 March 2011 - New Scientist
Wind and wave farms could affect Earth's energy balance
The idea that we can draw endless supplies of clean energy from the wind and waves just doesn't add up
WITNESS a howling gale or an ocean storm, and it's hard to believe that humans could make a dent in the awesome natural forces that created them. Yet that is the provocative suggestion of one physicist who has done the sums.
He concludes that it is a mistake to assume that energy sources like wind and waves are truly renewable. Build enough wind farms to replace fossil fuels, he says, and we could seriously deplete the energy available in the atmosphere, with consequences as dire as severe climate change.
Wind and wave farms could affect Earth s energy balance - environment - 30 March 2011 - New Scientist