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rewebster
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I think a sub-forum to discuss solar, wind, etc. may be interesting. I wouldn't know which category to place it in, though. Threads pop up in quite a few and seem scattered right now.
russ_watters said:Most of that would be covered by the existing engineering disciplines, like mechanical (which includes thermodynamics) and electrical.
vanesch said:I'm definitely against it, as "alternative energies" by themselves is (to me at least) a somewhat politically charged term (the "good new oppressed" against the "bad, old, traditional"). So in order to be classified as "alternative", you'd have to get a kind of grassroots approval or something, while in fact we are talking about different energy technologies. To see the silliness in this proposal, look at wind energy, it is one of the oldest forms of energy usage by humankind (sail boats, wind mills), but it is "alternative". Nuclear usually doesn't qualify for the grassroots label, although it is one of the newest forms of energy production by humankind.
Usually it is understood to be essentially wind and solar and maybe biofuels, so as others pointed out, general engineering can be suited for that, unless the subject addressed is more specific, such as materials or mechanical engineering for instance in wind energy, or some or other aspect of solar or... If it gets down to the physical principles, the physics section can be used.
rewebster said:so, do you want to name the new sub-forum:
Wind and Solar and maybe Biofuels
instead of "Alternative Energies"
vanesch said:And then we will get discussions if "fossil fuel with carbon sequestration" is to be discussed there ? Is hydrogen-related technology to be discussed there ? I'm afraid that this is just a "politically green approved" kind of energy technology. THAT's what "alternative energy" seems to stand for.
One could think about an "energy engineering" subforum, considering all energy producing technology. I don't know if that makes sense, as this is mostly covered by the already existing engineering forums. That said, because energy is an important engineering question, it might eventually get its own forum. But I see a lot of double usage with the existing fora.
Astronuc said:I would recommend just starting a thread on alternative energy, either in Mech & Aero Eng or Eng. Sys. & Des., and perhaps parallel threads on specific technologies that could be linked in the AE thread.
:rofl: :uhh:Redbelly98 said:If I understand you, the actual discussions would be spread around among different subforums. The thread you speak of would just contain links to those (which people would have to post there).
Or as J. R. R. Tolkien might put it:
"One thread to rule them all, one thread to find them,
One thread to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them."
Gokul43201 said:I was initially somewhat drawn towards the idea of an Energy Science and Technology forum, but I now think it will cause more classification problems than it alleviates. For instance, where does one pose a question on electric transmission line loss (in ES&T or in EE)? Or a question in control rod design (in ES&T or Nuke E)? Or one on solid electrolytes (in ES&T or Chem E)? Or one on direct bandgap photovoltaics (ES&T or EE/Materials)?
Whilst I understand that a dedicated forum to discuss these so-called alternative energy solutions would be desirable, I simply can't see the need. Admittedly, I don't spend much time in either Engineering or the Other Sciences, but I simply haven't seen a large enough number of threads discussing alternative energies to, in my opinion, warrant a dedicated forum.rewebster said:Well, whether its a sub-forum, or whatever, the whole 'energy conservation', 'green', 'alternative energy' and its relevance to global warming, etc. 'area' just seems to be one of the most pressing issues of our times, and I just thought it should be of interest to a lot of people. Who knows, maybe some connections can be made through the Physics Forum that couldn't be made other places due to the people that gather here.
I was thinking it could be a sub-forum, under 'Other Sciences', along with and like Chemistry, Biology, Medical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Earth.
taylaron said:i suggest using google to search for alternative energy (on this site only). use advanced search. it's 10 times better.
im not sure i understand your question, personally I've never heard of PhD comics but I am not educated yet either..."I don't know--do you think that 'PhD Comics' is more important to have its own sub-forum to the world and of physics than 'alternative energy' is right now?
"What if the words 'alternative energy' isn't used? What about solar panels, photovoltaic, solar water heater, bio diesel, or any or the other words are used under the umbrella of 'alternative energy' and NOT the words 'alternative energy' ? Do you know how many searches that would involve?"
Alternative energies are sources of energy that are not derived from traditional fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. These sources include solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass energy.
Solar energy is harnessed through the use of solar panels, which contain photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The panels are typically installed on rooftops or in large solar farms, and the electricity generated can be used to power homes or businesses.
Wind energy is a renewable source of energy that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions. It is also cost-effective and can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, wind turbines can be installed on land or offshore, providing flexibility in location.
Some potential drawbacks of alternative energies include high initial costs for installation and infrastructure, intermittent availability (depending on weather conditions for solar and wind energy), and potential impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
Alternative energies play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change. By shifting away from fossil fuels, we can reduce our carbon footprint and slow the pace of global warming. Alternative energies also promote energy independence and security.