The profitability of green energy …show more content…
There are few weaknesses in this area, but some include grid integration costs, which is becoming negligible as the flexibility of the grid is quickly adapting these concepts and the waste of producing specifically solar products which is become less important as new efficient manufacturing processes are being developed. Another weakness in relation to wind turbines is when they fail, which they often do, the giant propeller can create so much friction that it starts on fire and can fall off completely, which is a tremendous danger especially when the internal brakes fail. The biggest weakness is location, as some places receive less sun or less wind, but there are other options too, such as geothermal, hydro, and natural gas. Some opportunities include investing in the planet, meeting environmental regulations set by the EPA, government cost offsets and tax credits, and research fields for new innovative products and manufacturing and production techniques. The single most threat is the boom- bust process that threatens many industries. This is further exacerbated in that the Tax credit is due to expire at the end of 2016 and if it isn’t renewed, our goals to fix our grid may have a huge setback …show more content…
I’ve seen everything from a tree with solar and wind generating leaves to vibrating ribbons (Windbelt), solar panels that use more than just a couple wavelengths of sunlight, generators that run off of Ocean waves, and potential concepts like extracting ionized energy out of the ionosphere such as Tesla proposed, Thorium salt breeder reactors like those that were built before nuclear went Uranium in order to be weaponized, and Fusion reactors, which is still in the concept phase. Personally I would like to see some of these newer, more compact, safer, and less wasteful concepts being manufactured as a way to remove some of the more destructive and wasteful techniques being used in energy production. I find it very disheartening that our country is so far by behind in such a necessary industry for survival in the future. Renewable energy has a set place in the future and I hope to eventually see our country and the world completely switched over to this sustainable goal with actual long term viability vs fossil