Smart Grids Versus the Achilles' Heel of Renewable Energy: Can the Needed Storage Infrastructure Be Constructed Before the Fossil Fuel Runs Out?

摘要

In this paper, prima facie evidence is presented to demonstrate that, by the close of this century: 1) the world will be approaching exhaustion of its supply of recoverable fossil fuel; 2) the energy shortages engendered thereby can reliably be avoided only if immediate massive steps are taken to actualize the development and manufacture of important, as yet unproven, components of a global smart energy system; and 3) the world over, there is little evidence (as measured by funding committed for development and demonstration) that the key governments are seriously concerned.