Podcast feedProf Mark Jacobson - Wind Power and Renewables expert to Al Gore
Mark Jacobson – Stanford University Engineering professor and expert on large scale wind penetration talks to the Beyond Zero team about what’s possible in the transition to a zero carbon future in 10 years, such as that being called by Al Gore’s We Can Solve It campaign.
Jacobson comments that Obama’s interest in a cleaner energy economy is pleasing but that it is important he be advised well. There are too many stakeholders for all to be listened to and Obama needs to be certain he focusses on only the ‘good’ options (and not the strong nuclear and coal lobbies).
Windpower has the potential to power the world’s energy supply five to six times over (where it is cost competitive). It is best combined with other clean renewables such as solar, geothermal and wave power. Currently it provides approx. 1% of US power but Jacobson states 33-37% US energy from wind is possible in the US.
Some issues with windpower:
- visibility (but this a reasonable sacrifice).
- irregular supply (but as it generally peaks at night and solar peaks during the day the combination resolves this issue).
- storage creates efficency loss (thermal storage options are good).
- land required ... (but requires 30 times less land than the ethanol alternative to power cars for example).
Al Gore now considers carbon capture to be a “false start” in dealing with climate change and is pushing for the renewables wind, solar and geothermal. He also advocates 80% renewable energy and the need for 80% reduction in carbon (see his Repower America website which relies on Prof Jacobson’s knowledge).