O/T Frack me

[WanChaiMiller]

I knew it would only be a matter of time before a big business conspiracy theory appeared - it's the nature of political debate on here - the Right blame immigrants for the ills of the world, whilst the Left blame the wealthy and big business. God forbid that anyone accepts a bit of personal responsibility.

How do you say the shareholders of utilities are blocking a more rapid spread of solar? There's money to be made in solar, as Bramley appears to have found to his cost. That by itself would attract operators to it, if there were much of a market.

I was talking specifically solar to battery. You broadened it to 'solar'. No conspiracy theory. Just hard economics. Utility companies will not develop products that allow electricty flow to bypass their till.

[CAMiller]

I heard a stat the other day. We use more energy globally charging smartphone type devices than on air travel.

There are lies, damn lies and statistics. I'll believe that is one of the first two until someone shows me some evidence. A phone costs about 25c a year to charge and an iPad about $1.50 if you charge them every day.

[CAMiller]

I dont believe it costs 25 cents a year to charge a mobile!! Lol.

Maybe look it up then. It's actually 91c for an iPhone 6+ which has a bigger battery than most.

[WanChaiMiller]

Maybe look it up then. It's actually 91c for an iPhone 6+ which has a bigger battery than most.

I delete it because meant to say would never have thought it was that low (rather than dont believe you). There are 4.68 billion mobiles and 1.68 billion tablets worlwide plus other devices like kindles and laptops. Dont know how many planes.

[CAMiller]

I delete it because meant to say would never have thought it was that low (rather than dont believe you). There are 4.68 billion mobiles and 1.68 billion tablets worlwide plus other devices like kindles and laptops. Dont know how many planes.

No problem. Average of 10,000 commercial planes in the sky, 24h/day, burning an average of 750 gal/h = 180M gal/day. At $3/gal I make that just under $200B/yr so in $ costs air travel burning at least 20x device charging.

[WanChaiMiller]

No problem. Average of 10,000 commercial planes in the sky, 24h/day, burning an average of 750 gal/h = 180M gal/day. At $3/gal I make that just under $200B/yr so in $ costs air travel burning at least 20x device charging.

Lies, damn lies and statistics eh CAM. 😀😀

[KerrAvon]

I was talking specifically solar to battery. You broadened it to 'solar'. No conspiracy theory. Just hard economics. Utility companies will not develop products that allow electricty flow to bypass their till.

Businesses that can't smell change on the wind and adjust their operations accordingly don't do very well. Ask Kodak.

If your point was that the interests of utility company shareholders was blocking solar/battery, you still haven't really explained how so. Utility companies aren't the only organizations with R&D budgets. If there were a viable market there would be plenty of players wanting a stake in it.

[rolymiller]

Kerr you appear to be very scared that the solution to environmental crisis is socialism. I'm afraid old boy that some sort of environmental socialism IS the only answer. Capitalism will not solve it and you know it. So all you righties out there take your medicine like men and accept it. In fact, even without a serious problem such as this socialism has always been the answer for a better fairer world. You are just in denial. If we do get out of this mess it will be down to socialist policies or at least variants of them. Capitalist policies will take us over the cliff. You know it and I know it but it is too bitter a pill for you to swallow.

[WanChaiMiller]

Businesses that can't smell change on the wind and adjust their operations accordingly don't do very well. Ask Kodak.

If your point was that the interests of utility company shareholders was blocking solar/battery, you still haven't really explained how so. Utility companies aren't the only organizations with R&D budgets. If there were a viable market there would be plenty of players wanting a stake in it.

I said nothing about shareholders blocking solar battery. You're creating your argument against your own spun interpretation of what I said.

[WanChaiMiller]

No problem. Average of 10,000 commercial planes in the sky, 24h/day, burning an average of 750 gal/h = 180M gal/day. At $3/gal I make that just under $200B/yr so in $ costs air travel burning at least 20x device charging.

I just checked...

'...A 2012 US study found that the average mobile phone draws around 3.68 watts when charging, and around 2.24 watts when plugged in and fully charged.

Energy company NPower claims this equates to a cost of around £3.50 per year to keep a mobile phone charged...'

I use mine much more now than I ever did in 2012 and charge it twice a day. I know battery technology has improved.

This throws your calculation out by some considerable amount - I wont go into the stats!!