What happens when renewable energy runs out?

Some politicians really do have shít for brains! :rolleyes:

Ukip candidate Victoria Ayling asks: 'What happens when renewable energy runs out?'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-candidate-victoria-ayling-asks-in-meeting-what-happens-when-renewable-energy-runs-out-10057008.html
A Ukip parliamentary candidate made a public gaffe this week by asking a room full of business leaders “what happens when renewable energy runs out?”

Councillor Victoria Ayling, who is vying to become MP for Great Grimsby, made the query during a Question-Time style debate on Monday, and it was reportedly met with “guffaws” from attendees.

Ms Ayling “spouted fiction and scientific incompetence” as she referred to offshore wind energy as a “fad” during the meeting in Cleethorpes, local newspaper Grimsby Telegraph reported.

The question went viral on Twitter after Guardian data editor Alberto Nardelli sent out a tweet that was reposted more than 2,000 times.

The_Valeyard

Ready to have a go at OP.


Reads post.


Nevermind then. Sees point.

BoJack Horseman

I wouldn't be too hard on her.

She went through her spiel without making a racial slur,

So for the kippers, its kind of a win;

SEPT 23 1989

They spoke up for us in Europe more than any Irish politician ever did

UCDVet

In fairness, they are correct. There isn't any known sources of renewable energy. Everything we have will run out, it's just a question of when. Some sources might not last too long, while others will almost certainly outlast the Earth.

But still, it's a real problem. Arguably the biggest problem humanity faces. If we can't solve it, humanity will end. Eventually.

BoJack Horseman

UCDVet wrote: »

In fairness, they are correct. There isn't any known sources of renewable energy. Everything we have will run out, it's just a question of when. Some sources might not last too long, while others will almost certainly outlast the Earth.

But still, it's a real problem. Arguably the biggest problem humanity faces. If we can't solve it, humanity will end. Eventually.

The sun has at least 2,000,000,000 years left.

Its probably OK to risk investing in Solar & wind energy.

endacl

UCDVet wrote: »

In fairness, they are correct. There isn't any known sources of renewable energy. Everything we have will run out, it's just a question of when. Some sources might not last too long, while others will almost certainly outlast the Earth.

But still, it's a real problem. Arguably the biggest problem humanity faces. If we can't solve it, humanity will end. Eventually.

Humanity will eventually end one way or another.

Outkast_IRE

UCDVet wrote: »

But still, it's a real problem. Arguably the biggest problem humanity faces. If we can't solve it, humanity will end. Eventually.

Assuming we dont make the leap into space in a meaningful way, then yes your probably right.

But humans are born explorers always pushing the limits, its only a matter of time before we send people out that will leave this planet behind for good.

Peregrine

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Some politicians really do have shít for brains! :rolleyes:

What's even more worrying is that some people will still vote for her.

UCDVet

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Assuming we dont make the leap into space in a meaningful way, then yes your probably right.

But humans are born explorers always pushing the limits, its only a matter of time before we send people out that will leave this planet behind for good.

Space travel would just extend the timeline, it won't solve the problem.

The Backwards Man

UCDVet wrote: »

Space travel would just extend the timeline, it won't solve the problem.

It's not something I lie awake at night fretting about.

Insect Overlord

Stunning. Just when you thought this stuff was reserved for The Onion and Waterford Whispers.

Geniass

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Assuming we dont make the leap into space in a meaningful way, then yes your probably right.

But humans are born explorers always pushing the limits, its only a matter of time before we send people out that will leave this planet behind for good.

The universe will end sometime and no matter (pun intended) how good we are at exploring our long term future looks grim.

UCDVet

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

The sun has at least 2,000,000,000 years left.

Its probably OK to risk investing in Solar & wind energy.

Well sure, it's not an immediate problem. But it does seem to have a pretty strict limit. The Sun is finite. It is non-renewable. It's burning up and nothing in our power can stop it.

I'm not a physics person but, to the best of my understanding, our options are to find another star (which is also non-renewable) or either add mass or consolidate mass to create a new star (which is also non-renewable).

It's a very serious problem; thankfully we've got some time, but no sense waiting until the last minute to address it.

BoJack Horseman

UCDVet wrote: »

Well sure, it's not an immediate problem.

I was wrong, I did a Google and our sun has upwards of 5bn years left.

So just 500,000 x the time our species has existed.

Don't worry lad.

Outkast_IRE

UCDVet wrote: »

Space travel would just extend the timeline, it won't solve the problem.

It will extend the timeline to such an extent that its impossible to even think about it logically. Sure we have plenty to worry about in the meantime, not going to fret on stuff that far in the future.

Actually, what she should have said is "What happens when the subsidies on renewable energy run out"

BoJack Horseman

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Actually, what she should have said is "What happens when the subsidies on renewable energy run out"

People would question why its only non-renewables receiving subsidy.

Any type of publicity is good publicity. I reckon she was fully aware of what she was saying and the publicity it would generate for UKIP.

johnny osbourne

then you but your water from uncle dennis, or **** oof

UCDVet

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

I was wrong, I did a Google and our sun has upwards of 5bn years left.

So just 500,000 x the time our species has existed.

Don't worry lad.

Sure but everything we know about energy and the universe says that the Sun will die. And when it dies, if we're on Earth, we're gone.

500,000x the time our species is one way to look at it. The other way is that the Earth is about ~50% of the way to not existing. The Earth is ~4.5 billion years old and we've got another ~5 billion. We're about half way until the literal and of the world.

And even if we get to another star, that star will die too. Eventually, there will be no stars left and everything we know says humanity will end. Assuming it hasn't already ended. But either way, everything appears to be finite.

UCDVet

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

It will extend the timeline to such an extent that its impossible to even think about it logically. Sure we have plenty to worry about in the meantime, not going to fret on stuff that far in the future.

I don't think we need to worry about getting into space then. I mean, we've got, at least, several billion years before we have any problems with the sun.

BoJack Horseman

UCDVet wrote: »

And even if we get to another star, that star will die too. Eventually, there will be no stars left and everything we know says humanity will end. Assuming it hasn't already ended. But either way, everything appears to be finite.

Well, if it happens I'll say you are right & I'll buy you a coke.

UCDVet

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Well, if it happens I'll say you are right & I'll buy you a coke.

Sure sure, but it's worth noting that most environmental issues/climate change/nonrenewable energy won't make much difference until after we're both dead too.

Fratton Fred

I get puzzled by Dubai, Bahrain etc.

I can understand the UAE looking to tourism as a source of income for when the oil runs out, but when it does, how the **** are we supposed to get there?

delw

Worth a watch but very doom & gloom worst case scenario stuff

Fratton Fred

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I get puzzled by Dubai, Bahrain etc.

I can understand the UAE looking to tourism as a source of income for when the oil runs out, but when it does, how the **** are we supposed to get there?

Oil (and gas and coal) isn't about to run out in the foreseeable future. It may however get more expensive if it get more difficult to extract but this will likely parallel greater efficiencies so that the net effect will be negligible.

jimgoose

UCDVet wrote: »

...If we can't solve it, humanity will end. Eventually.

This will happen anyway. Entropy, and what-'ave-yer. Physics is a bitch, and then you die. Thanks for playing!

Massimo Cassagrande

She sounds stupid enough to have a great career in Politics.

I swindled the NSA

Deleted User wrote: »

Any type of publicity is good publicity. I reckon she was fully aware of what she was saying and the publicity it would generate for UKIP.

Making a complete idiot of oneself = good publicity ???

Id like to subscribe to your newsletter ...Think I'm in for a good read !

Deleted User wrote: »

Oil (and gas and coal) isn't about to run out in the foreseeable future. It may however get more expensive if it get more difficult to extract but this will likely parallel greater efficiencies so that the net effect will be negligible.

Oil, Gas and Coal will never "run out" it will just become so difficult to extract and hideously expensive that fewer and fewer people will be able to afford the stuff. Given how fossil fuels are important raw materials for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries future generations will curse our insanity for actually burning such a valuable resource.

johnny osbourne

you'll pay unky d for your ****ing water

and any kunt who doesn't like it can **** off

Eugene Norman

I swindled the NSA wrote: »

Making a complete idiot of oneself = good publicity ???

Id like to subscribe to your newsletter ...Think I'm in for a good read !



Oil, Gas and Coal will never "run out" it will just become so difficult to extract and hideously expensive that fewer and fewer people will be able to afford the stuff. Given how fossil fuels are important raw materials for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries future generations will curse our insanity for actually burning such a valuable resource.

Unless we do what we always do and innovate. In any case oil and gas may not get too expensive but the opposite, get out competed by renewables so what ever is left is just used for chemicals and pharmaceuticals and that would be a glut.

Eugene Norman

UCDVet wrote: »

Sure but everything we know about energy and the universe says that the Sun will die. And when it dies, if we're on Earth, we're gone.

500,000x the time our species is one way to look at it. The other way is that the Earth is about ~50% of the way to not existing. The Earth is ~4.5 billion years old and we've got another ~5 billion. We're about half way until the literal and of the world.

And even if we get to another star, that star will die too. Eventually, there will be no stars left and everything we know says humanity will end. Assuming it hasn't already ended. But either way, everything appears to be finite.

Yeah. That's not going to keep me up at night. You couldn't even reasonably call our descendents human in 5B years.

El Weirdo

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

They spoke up for us in Europe more than any Irish politician ever did

If you really think Farage and his ilk give even the slightest of ****s about us Irish, then you must be deluded.

Guy:Incognito

I've been to grimsby. It's not that great

endacl

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I've been to grimsby. It's not that great

A bit grim?

tritium

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

It will extend the timeline to such an extent that its impossible to even think about it logically. Sure we have plenty to worry about in the meantime, not going to fret on stuff that far in the future.

Sure thats what the dinosaurs said ....

JJJJNR

There's an abundance of omega 3 on the moon, so we should just start whaling on the moon.

Calibos

Not sure if UCDVet is serious?

Earth forms 4.5 Billion Years ago.
Single cell life gets going almost as soon as Molten Earth cools enough for a solid crust 4 Billion Years ago.
Life stays single cell for the next 3.5 Billion years.
Multicellular Life only begins 600 million years ago.
Dinosaurs Die off 60 million years ago.
Primates that will evolve into humans 2 million years ago.
Homo Sapiens 200,000 years ago.

The Sun has about 5 Billion years left but Earth much less. The Sun will expand in Size and the Goldilocks Zone moves further out effectively putting Earth too close to the larger growing more luminous Sun. Earth will get too hot for life and effectively turn into Venus in about a billion years. So we're entering the last 20% of time there will be life on earth

But that billion years is still twice as long as there has been multicellular life on earth.

Asking what 'Humans' can do about this is a nonsense question.

It would actually make more sense to ask what the sentient life on Jupiters Moon Europa (that evolved from the fecal matter that a Human tech contaminated the Europan Space Probe with after scratching his arse) is going to do about the expanding Sun.

I swindled the NSA

JJJJNR wrote: »

There's an abundance of omega 3 on the moon, so we should just start whaling on the moon.

Helium 3 ?

Egginacup

UCDVet wrote: »

In fairness, they are correct. There isn't any known sources of renewable energy. Everything we have will run out, it's just a question of when. Some sources might not last too long, while others will almost certainly outlast the Earth.

But still, it's a real problem. Arguably the biggest problem humanity faces. If we can't solve it, humanity will end. Eventually.

The sun may burn out in a few billion years but I don't think this politician has any clue about that and to defend her is like saying Sarah Palin had a bad day on the many occasions she made retarded comments.

MrPudding

Seems like a reasonable thread to post this.

Worry not UCDVet, we have the answer to the last question.

MrP

JJJJNR

JJJJNR wrote: »

There's an abundance of omega 3 on the moon, so we should just start whaling on the moon.

This sounds a bit fishy to me.

UCDVet

Calibos wrote: »

Not sure if UCDVet is serious?

Earth forms 4.5 Billion Years ago.
Single cell life gets going almost as soon as Molten Earth cools enough for a solid crust 4 Billion Years ago.
Life stays single cell for the next 3.5 Billion years.
Multicellular Life only begins 600 million years ago.
Dinosaurs Die off 60 million years ago.
Primates that will evolve into humans 2 million years ago.
Homo Sapiens 200,000 years ago.

The Sun has about 5 Billion years left but Earth much less. The Sun will expand in Size and the Goldilocks Zone moves further out effectively putting Earth too close to the larger growing more luminous Sun. Earth will get too hot for life and effectively turn into Venus in about a billion years. So we're entering the last 20% of time there will be life on earth

But that billion years is still twice as long as there has been multicellular life on earth.

Asking what 'Humans' can do about this is a nonsense question.

It would actually make more sense to ask what the sentient life on Jupiters Moon Europa (that evolved from the fecal matter that a Human tech contaminated the Europan Space Probe with after scratching his arse) is going to do about the expanding Sun.

I'm 100% serious. The Sun is NOT a renewable source of energy. As best we know, there are NO sources of renewable energy.

Sure, sure, it's a long time before we have any problems with the Sun, but it still has finite amount of energy.

UCDVet

Egginacup wrote: »

The sun may burn out in a few billion years but I don't think this politician has any clue about that and to defend her is like saying Sarah Palin had a bad day on the many occasions she made retarded comments.

Eh - a factually correct statement, said for the wrong reasons, is still factually correct.

jimgoose

MrPudding wrote: »

Seems like a reasonable thread to post this.

Worry not UCDVet, we have the answer to the last question.

MrP

"Forty-two" said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.

Digital Solitude

UCDVet wrote: »

And even if we get to another star, that star will die too. Eventually, there will be no stars left and everything we know says humanity will end. Assuming it hasn't already ended. But either way, everything appears to be finite.

New stars are forever forming. I would be fairly certain that all life will extinguish before chemical reactions do.

jimgoose

Digital Solitude wrote: »

New stars are forever forming. I would be fairly certain that all life will extinguish before chemical reactions do.

...at an improbability level of <whirr-chunka-chunka-chunka> 117 Quadrillion to one.