Top 15 things NZ must tackle ?

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jonb

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#103576 11-Jun-2012 14:08

A lot of technology related ideas in this piece from the Transit of Venus Forum

My submission would be to really push for cheap, renewable electricity. NZ has a natural advantage to achieve this due to its environment and low population density. Once achieved, we could be a trailblazer for electric transport, data centres, home technmology (and heating). Basically, have a national competitive advantage in cheap, renewable electricity.

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#638940 11-Jun-2012 14:10

Top 15 things NZ must tackle ?

15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Keith Earls, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Dan Touhy, 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.

(sorry couldn't resist!!)

LookingUp

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#638970 11-Jun-2012 14:48

I think Julian Savea took care of Rob Kearney on Saturday night, so maybe that leaves only 14?

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

Jaxson

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#638997 11-Jun-2012 15:21

The renewable energy bit is far more complex than people realise. It's full of not in my back yard issues, and typically requires sites that are remote from where the load is required, which means large infrastructure costs to transmit the energy to the main pipelines.

It's a nice idea, don't get me wrong.

Gareth Morgan's comments sounded good. I'd like to see us 'Clean and Green' by virtue of our present actions, not simply due to 'we haven't fkd it up yet'.

One thing that needs to happen, but won't/can't, is that we need to make the hard calls for the long term benefits, rather than short term calls to support chances of party re-election. I'm sick of hearing it will cost too much to fix/prevent this pollution, as if that's going to be an acceptable reason to change nothing. ie the current Manawatu river debacle...

mattwnz

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#639008 11-Jun-2012 15:29

jonb: A lot of technology related ideas in this piece from the Transit of Venus Forum

My submission would be to really push for cheap, renewable electricity. NZ has a natural advantage to achieve this due to its environment and low population density.? Once achieved, we could be a trailblazer for electric transport, data centres, home technmology (and heating). Basically, have a national competitive advantage in cheap, renewable electricity.

I was listening to radio NZ, and one of stories they had, was that the renewable energy situation will be solved once the price of creating electricity from photo voltaic cells, becomes cheaper than gas, which they predict will happen within the next 10 years.

BlueShift

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#639040 11-Jun-2012 15:51

mattwnz:
I was listening to radio NZ, and one of stories they had, was that the renewable energy situation will be solved once the price of creating electricity from photo voltaic cells, becomes cheaper than gas, which they predict will happen within the next 10 years.

The main problem with electricity from phovoltaics is that it only works when the sun is shining, and that tends not to be when the demand is. Finding a correspondingly cheap and safe way to store the sunlight from long hot January days to use on long dark June nights is the real hurdle for solar power.

Wind has a useful tendancy to be stronger when the sun isn't on, but it still subject to inconvenient quiet spells.

An option that could be ideal for NZ is tidal generation. Whack a few seafloor turbines in Cook Strait, or even better in the narrowest part of the isthmus between Tamaki & Manukau harbours. Completely regular, fully predictable, absolutely safe & renewable power, right in in the middle of where its needed.

kiwitrc

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#639041 11-Jun-2012 15:54

BlueShift:
mattwnz:
I was listening to radio NZ, and one of stories they had, was that the renewable energy situation will be solved once the price of creating electricity from photo voltaic cells, becomes cheaper than gas, which they predict will happen within the next 10 years.

The main problem with electricity from phovoltaics is that it only works when the sun is shining, and that tends not to be when the demand is. Finding a correspondingly cheap and safe way to store the sunlight from long hot January days to use on long dark June nights is the real hurdle for solar power.

Wind has a useful tendancy to be stronger when the sun isn't on, but it still subject to inconvenient quiet spells.

An option that could be ideal for NZ is tidal generation. Whack a few seafloor turbines in Cook Strait, or even better in the narrowest part of the isthmus between Tamaki & Manukau harbours. Completely regular, fully predictable, absolutely safe & renewable power, right in in the middle of where its needed.

Saw the OP post on energy and thought TIDAL but you beat me to it, so +1.

Ragnor

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#639048 11-Jun-2012 16:02

By 2022 NZ must have transitioned to a save as you go (SAYG) superannuation scheme instead of the current pay as you go (PAYG) system which covers less than half the cost and will fall over then there are less and less workers per oldie receiving nz super.

Regarding micro generation of power (solar panels on every home), it makes no sense until the efficiency of panels is cost effective vs traditional generation. Also more importantly there needs to be a cheap reliable way to store up excess power which doesn't exist yet.

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MikeSkyrme

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#639054 11-Jun-2012 16:07

BlueShift:
mattwnz:
I was listening to radio NZ, and one of stories they had, was that the renewable energy situation will be solved once the price of creating electricity from photo voltaic cells, becomes cheaper than gas, which they predict will happen within the next 10 years.

The main problem with electricity from phovoltaics is that it only works when the sun is shining, and that tends not to be when the demand is. Finding a correspondingly cheap and safe way to store the sunlight from long hot January days to use on long dark June nights is the real hurdle for solar power.

Wind has a useful tendancy to be stronger when the sun isn't on, but it still subject to inconvenient quiet spells.

An option that could be ideal for NZ is tidal generation. Whack a few seafloor turbines in Cook Strait, or even better in the narrowest part of the isthmus between Tamaki & Manukau harbours. Completely regular, fully predictable, absolutely safe & renewable power, right in in the middle of where its needed.

Yay, tidal.

Unfortunately, this option is not supported by environmentalists (I am using Kaipara Harbour as an example), and that is the other problem with developing renewable energy sources. They are not always seen as 'green'.

Michael Skyrme - Instrumentation & Controls

mattRSK

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#639056 11-Jun-2012 16:08

+1 for the superannuation. I will spend my whole working career paying for superannuation and most likely there wont be anything there when I retire.

I would like to see more hydro power stations built. They provide a security of supply which will encourage development.

mattRSK

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#639057 11-Jun-2012 16:10

Yay, tidal.

Unfortunately, this option is not supported by environmentalists (I am using Kaipara Harbour as an example), and that is the other problem with developing renewable energy sources. They are not always seen as 'green'.

I think you will find that no option is supported by environmentalists.

Hydro, NO! (Mokihinui)
Wind, NO! (Canterbury plains)
Coal, Nuclear, Gas...........

tdgeek

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#639059 11-Jun-2012 16:10

Anything we can do to pioneer home generation will be great. Help to reduce grid source power, make us feel green, help drive more innovation in this space. Solar. Tubes thru roof to drive small turbines. A smallish windmill in the yard. All this will only support certain smaller voltage uses, but its a start and if the general populous actually are experiencing this rather than listening to scientists battle politicians it will get traction. I assume battery storage has evolved, but its a start.

The other issue is our economy. We are affected by global goings on. Aside from that effect, lets try and run the country's finances like a home does. Live within our means. Borrowing is a temporary thing, then you need to borrow more to pay more interest on past borrowings. Give the populous a lay view of the Income and Expenditure, find a govt that will actually run the country's affairs, not run the affairs for the upcoming votes.

Zeon

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#639063 11-Jun-2012 16:15

TBH in my mind its people's attitudes around the feeling of entitlement and lack of responsibility. It's already been mentioned on here:

- superannuation
- not in my back yard for power generation etc.

It's like people who throw their trash out of the car window or people who get pissed, get in fights and got o hospital every other week when they don't have to pay for the treatment....

I think this is also what leads to parties not being voted in for long term thinking and people getting stuck up on the most miniscule of issues. E.g. for Labour at the last election the superannuation age was a solid, visionary policy whereas GST on fruit and veges got 10x more attention? Seriously WTF?!

Speedtest 2019-10-14

Jaxson

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#639066 11-Jun-2012 16:17

tdgeek: find a govt that will actually run the country's affairs, not run the affairs for the upcoming votes.

You only get in, and stay in, on popularity.

tdgeek

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#639069 11-Jun-2012 16:22

Jaxson:
tdgeek: find a govt that will actually run the country's affairs, not run the affairs for the upcoming votes.

You only get in, and stay in, on popularity.

Exactly right. The challenge is to challenge the public. Convey to them in lay terms where we are at and where we are heading. Analogise that to their home. Salary+bills = Income and expenditure. Try to get everyone to go for the greater good. But my glass half empty side feels the attitude of some will be, not me.

kiwitrc

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#639084 11-Jun-2012 16:25

Jaxson:
tdgeek: find a govt that will actually run the country's affairs, not run the affairs for the upcoming votes.

You only get in, and stay in, on popularity.

And you can blame the voters for that.

Hey I dont want to take this off topic, but while we are on the subject of renewable, take a look at this for an idea for simple free home heating. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLNViUsRCVU&feature=related

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