There are two separate issues here, manmade global warming (although we don't call it that now, largely because it isn't) and continuity of energy supply. Even if you don't think global warming is an issue, the problem of energy supply remains.
I wasn't questioning your calculation of the volume of a cylinder, it was the bit about and the relevance of the weight of the entire atlantic pushing it. I dont know the volume of the ocean to calculate the force
My point was the use of tidal power in the right locations should not be discounted because the average tidal range isn't that high. We need a comprehensive range of power generation techniques, Nuclear (Fission and Fusion), Wind, Wave, Tidal, Solar, Hydroelectric and Geothermal power should all be invested in, both in research and infrastucture, to ensure we have adequate power generation capacity for the future.
There are still plenty of hydrocarbons to burn - gas, coal and whatnot. If climate change (assuming it's real...) is not influenced by what we burn, just set fire to them and your energy problem largely goes away.
OK i OVERSIMPLIFIED IT, DAMN caps. Sorry I need caps when I am in CAD. The mass of the water ebbing and flowing acting over the area of the tube is the pressure. That mass of water in a simplistic way is the mass of the atlantic. It isnt in reality. But its still shitloads.
I don't think burning coal is acceptable from a pollution perspective and hydrocarbons are becoming harder to produce at a time when demand has increased as the rest of the world raises it's standard of living. So even if we discount global warming it is not an easy solution.
i cross two bridges on the way home there is two more within several miles of where i live, they way the tide rips through it. dependable predictable. if you can get 650kw from the wee burn at my back door what can you get from that.,
Essentially, I look at it this way: The Earth is heated by the sun and it tends to get very warm in all sorts of places. Rain falls and produces rivers that flow to the sea. The moon creates tides and currents. Wind blows. The centre of the Earth is still very hot. I just don't believe it is beyond the wit of man to harness a smidgeon of this free and bountiful energy to solve his energy crisis in a way that will make economic sense and won't blight bits of the landscape we care about. I think it's a question of will. We are so sharp we can do pretty much anything we set our minds to.
i know i sound a bit militant these days(fall out from the referendum) but for as long as you have the sorry ass embarrassments we have in control it will never change until cash decides. make a stand now vote for your green party's instead of ukip if you want to make a protest.
650 kw from a wee burn ? That is 871 horse power !! Again I think a reality check is in order here unless you are talking about the Ben Nevis aluminium plant. But if I switch off pedant mode, I do take your point. A barrage across the Falls of Lora would produce useful energy but it wouldn't be cheap, the civil engineering would be very expensive. If it was easy it would have been done. The low hanging fruit has been picked. Yes it is easier to pick holes in other people's arguments but ideas have to be able to stand on their merits and I hear a lot of half baked ideas. Cheap and plentiful power is a thing of the past, we need to adapt and get used to using less of it.
Hubris Glidd. We are living in a world where not that long ago if you scratched the surface in West Texas oil gushed out. That was almost free and bountiful energy, now we are drilling for oil in thousands of feet of sea water. There will always be plenty of energy, or should I say fuel, for the super rich to fly their jets but without a game changer we need to enjoy our Ducatis whilst we can
duror hydro a wee burn. not as easy as removing peoples rights and drilling under their homes announced days after a referendum granted.
OK. That is an interesting scheme. It must be either a large volume of water, a pipe with a high head of water or a bit of both. Excellent if the topography can support it.
nope central belt, the very people that voted no. Edinburgh and surrounding area will be affected most. forgive me for still banging on about it.:Sorry:
if your ever up i will show you it. most of the west coast could support it. not much bigger than a shed with a pipe from a tiny wee dam.
