Germany sees offshore wind as it’s future energy source:
I predict disaster if that’s the case. Fortunately, Germany has the ability to import power from neighbours. That’s not the nation’s pollies taking proper responsibility for keeping their industry going.
They are on the European grid and can import power from where the wind blows, or sun shine. (Or Norwegian hydro electric power)
But it usually blows off the German coast,. (Both on the North Sea and Baltic side)
BTW; Surplus power from when the wind is strong and the demand low can be used to produce hydrogen, which can be used to produce power when and where needed.
The German Government is not run by Jugheads. They know what they are doing.
And what happens when those exporting nations want to keep their own power? Does Germany have the rights to imported power? What happens when Russia turns off the gas? Lots of questions not answered by your glib response.
My view is that each nation needs to be able to generate all its own power and guarantee its consistent reliability. Can’t be done if there’s any reliance on unreliable renewables.
Untested. Unverified. Expensive. My prediction; won’t work.
Mmmmmm. Perhaps the super-smart German government should have kept its nuclear rather than overreact to scares. They might think they know what they are doing. I suspect not. If they follow your prescription they shoot themselves in the foot. By the time they realise their error it will be too late.
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I would venture to say Chernobyl or maybe Fukushima scared them plenty enough. Nuclear power does generate “clean” energy during the life of the plant (one hopes). However, the legacy cost and clean up afterwards is the problem and it is no small problem. That really hasn’t been addressed anywhere and it is time to stop kicking the can down the road. I am a proponent of nuclear power but not in its current state.
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BW Group comes into Swire’s Offshore Wind company:
Just one more major shipping company that see opportunities in Offshore Wind worldwide.
Some of my trips took me by 3 mile Island. Just doesn’t resonate as safe power. Kinda liking those windmill things.
I felt the same way driving sailing by there as I did driving by the Texas City BP refinery on the way to work in Galveston after hearing that the 2005 explosion sucked so much oxygen out of the air that cars on the road stalled. Could be an urban legend but I still felt safer once I got past it.
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Lee, was never that cozy at BP Texas City either, don’t blame you. Not just an urban legend I don’t believe. Most delays while AT the dock was BP. While at anchor, Exxon Baytown fucked up a lot of my crew changes with delays, but most of the time loading went ok once we were cleared to arrive… Oil exploration not gaining much acceptance on East Coast, solar and wind power has less resistance. Curious how those Solar panels made out in North Carolina after this latest bout of wind and flooding. They have had a few setbacks. Decent progress being made on the wind power. Permit delays not helping.
Renewable energy set to overtake gas in 2023 and coal in 2024.
Will that open a lot of opportunities for mariners and maritime companies in the offshore wind industry?
It looks like a lot of people think so, all over the world:
Europe bet on offshore wind:
Just think of the number of continuous, reliable coal or nuclear plants that could be built for that (near) $trillion!
I would think they have considered that, as well as natural gas and all other fuel options available.
Surprise, surprise!! Not everybody look only at $$$ NOW. (AKA being short sighted)
They have considered the long term costs and consequences and reached a conclusion that spending money now is good for the future generations.
(Crazy isn’t it??)
Yes, we know politicians just love spending other people’s money on other people which, as we know, is the most wasteful way for money to be spent. They spend money to buy votes and virtue signal.
If we allow normal people to spend their own money on themselves - the most efficient way money is spent - and let them choose between wind power or continuous sources such as coal, gas, nuclear, they will always opt for continuous, reliable sources. People can make their own long term decisions and eventually they will turn against governments that waste their taxes for no long term benefit.
You sound like a person who wishes to impose your renewables philosophy on others by saying money isn’t important. I prefer individuals making their own choices including on how to save the world.
These companies make investments determined by the amount of money they can make. It is a purely financial decision. They may cloak it with platitudes about saving the environment but that is just PR. If coal or nuclear could get them as much return on investment they’d being doing that. Wind, solar and geothermal have now become cost effective. I have solar for my house. I actually save the local utility money. During the day when peak demand is high they have to pay for expensive coal generation. I relieve a small portion of that cost because during the day my solar panels are producing. At night the local utility can burn cheaper gas to satisfy the demand and reduce their costs. Of course the utility charges the same per KWH no matter the fuel so it’s a win for them.
No country or society has ever adopted that model. The closest I can think of is Somalia or Haiti. It sounds like an Andrew Dittmer fantasy where insurance companies will keep order.
It is the European Union (EU) that is planning to invest $940 Bn., not individual companies.
Did the EU ever have earned any money, to invest any where?
It is a political decision by the governments of the EU members, where they give an OK to expenses, with their own ‘money’ they never had, nor they have now. It is fully ‘working’ with the future taxpayer’s money, without asking their OK.
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