How to Kick Our Fossil Fuel Habit in One Step

Solar energy is clean, renewable and abundant—so why do we still burn fossil fuels to generate the majority of our electricity? En Español: http://youtu.be/MamiwkyoS3w
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After you watch, head over to NOVA Next to learn more about the current state of large-scale energy storage: http://www.pbs.org/nova/energy-storage/

Credits:
Direction, Script, Production
Jonathan Ellenberger (at)respondcreate

Script, Narration
Anna Rothschild (at)Anna_Rothschild (Check out her YouTube series, Gross Science: https://www.youtube.com/user/grossscienceshow)

Animation
Scott Benson (at)bombsfall

Sound Design, Music
Ned Porter

Production
Belinda Arredondo (at)BelindaArredond

Digital Executive Producer
Meredith Nierman (at)meredithnierman

Vice President for Digital
Alexis Rapo (at)arapo

Special Thanks
Linda Harrar
Amy Stahl
Alan West
Amy Green

A production of WGBH Digital in Boston, MA: http://www.wgbh.org

Major funding provided by The Kendeda Fund.

19 thoughts on “How to Kick Our Fossil Fuel Habit in One Step”

  1. There's no need to any longer in light of the mounting evidence for a mini ice-age to occur within only 15 years time caused by a reduction in the sun's luminosity and fossil fuels are not about to run out any time soon.

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  2. Solar can meet demands if electricity was globally connected and available to all. The conceivability of this is purely held back by privatization and the task of uniting world cooperation. The day-night cycle argument to defend use of fossil fuels is short-sighted when the goal of solar is still viable although a challenge. This without even considering geothermal, hydro-turbine, and aero-turbine electricity; further makes the usefulness of fossil fuel use as an electrical source obsolete.

    Reply
  3. …"the ability to hold lots of energy in a small space", like an atomic bomb? We don't have, or are capable to invent such a thing… Does this video involve economics?..

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  4. Ultracapacitor/supercapacitor; perhaps virus assembled supercapacitors.
    Alternatively orbital beamed solar power so you don't need storage of solar energy, since an orbiting satellite can have access to the sun 24/7/365.

    Reply
  5. As we can predict that technological advances will solve energy storage problems we can also predict that advances will solve efficiency and consumption problems. Imagine that in 25 years our consumption is halved. I'm optimistic.

    Reply
  6. I disliked the video and here's why.
    The title is "How to Kick Our Fossil Fuel Habit in One Step" and provide very few potential solutions. There is multiple solutions, batteries could and will be part of it, some people mentioned Tesla but they are only one player in this growing industry.

    Sea water could be pumped during the day using solar power to fill reservoirs and released at night to power turbines, generating electricity. All it needs is concrete, water pumps and turbines, no rocket science or futuristic technologies. There is also many similar ideas like this.

    Also, a more realistic approach would be the harm reduction approach. If you manage to live all day on renewable energy, this is a 40 to 70% harm reduction scenario, considering we use less energy at night.

    Reply
  7. Energy density (Wh/l, or the amount of volume a particular battery will take) is usually not as critical factor as specific energy (Wh/kg, or the the amount of weight a particular batter will take). SE is usually more important in mobile platforms. 
    Real estate being expensive is not the driving factor as there is plenty of space to put batteries in a stationary application. 
    The vid didn't mention nuclear energy, which is abundant and has manageable waste issues. 
    There wasn't any "one step" as the title advertised. 
    The vid had nice animations; otherwise, it was terrible.

    Reply
  8. Tesla looks strong. With its Powerwall, Gigafactory and stuff. But yeah, there is a long way to go, but it is definetely doable

    Reply
  9. what if we install giant orbital solar power plants that beam energy back down to earth? then there's no need to have giant batteries for rainy day usage!

    Reply

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