A Faster Way to Get to a Clean Energy Future | Ramez Naam | TED

When it comes to cost, clean energy is bound to beat out fossil fuels, says technologist Ramez Naam. But the hesitancy to build amid the prevalence of "not in my backyard" campaigns is preventing the creation of our sustainable future. Naam outlines the changes we need to make to get out of our own way and create a stronger, more reliable renewable energy grid. "It is time for us to build," he says.

Learn more about #TEDCountdown:

#TED #TEDTalks #energy

[glennr]

Every parking lot should be shaded by solar panels. We should never have to park in the baking hot sun. Nobody would complain about that.

[prilep]

Finally somebody who talks about solutions not just pointing about gloomy doomy future

[rmar]

Agrovoltaics are one of the answers to land availability. Many of the vegetables that we eat would have been understory plants in nature. Study after study has proven that they attain larger crop yields when grown under solar panel arrays. Furthermore, the shade reduces evaporation and therefore reduces water usage.

[windhunters]

Great speech! Thank you for your support of solar energy.
My company installing wind and solar since 2005, and I remember the time when solar panels were 15 times more expensive:)

[steverichmond]

A lot of nimby campaigns are promoted and funded by the fossil fuel industry. I worked for Shell and the amount spent was unbelievable.

[StarBoundFables]

Brilliant presentation, Ramez, thank you!

[Dgfrmxon]

In 2002 I went into nuclear engineering for a college major. It might sound ridiculous, but climate change really was a motivating factor in that decision... also some concerns about peak oil, which didn't age well. I perceived that renewables were not sufficient for the problem.

When the evidence changed, I changed my position. I am very sad that new nuclear builds have not panned out economically, but I can't deny it. Solar is the only type of energy that gets built on budget because the panels are all identical, you'd have to be a major idiot to project that wrong.

Yeah, managing solar availability is hard, but the costs are too cheap to avoid, and the problem is solvable. Organizations that refuse to entertain this will go the way of the dodo.

[Daniel-Six]

I went to college with Mez at UIUC ages ago. We used to play Dungeons & Dragons and get hammered on the weekends. It's a trip to see him again all these years hence.

[davidsiminoff]

If there ever was Must See TV, this is it.

[vaughanmoody]

GREAT talk. Awesome info, and very well delivered! Thank you for what you do Ramez!

[mv]

A key reason for silicon solar's success is that the silicon chip industry paved its way in both material science and manufacturing optimization.

[guntermaik]

What oxford study are you referring to in 9:37 min?

[neilifill]

I like what was said in this talk. Great information that’s got actual solutions attached. I’m concerned that, in the US, special interest groups who are vested in fossil energy spend much time, money, and other resources to influence the leaders who can enact these types of solutions. It’s to the point where ideas like these are tossed into political talking points and dismissed to garner votes. I’m not sure that Europe is very different.

[jhunt]

Tony Seba from RethinkX was not surprised

[CARL]

I and some of my neighbors have declared we own the Renewable Energy Rights and Air Rights on our properties here in West Virginia. The future is coming to where these rights will be similar to mineral rights.

[youdonthavetoreadthispost.]

Great teaching on a major and also very current range of topics. Many thanks if we don't support the grid ? The grid won't support us either. 10Kw Solar on my roof

[ErnieTracey]

We have the technology, with the cooperation and the right perspective it is possible. "Build it and they will come"

[andreazabranskyrodriguez]

Thank you, it was a very informative video and had clear data about renewables.

[schonezukunft]

Every single politician on the world should listen to this speech!

[nickkacures]

And we are still seeing remarkable progress in solar energy technology development like perovskites and battery storage the transition to an all electric economy is coming