Johannesburg

Monday

Scattered showers. Morning clouds. Mild.

15°C
26°C

7 day forecasts

Craig

South Africa
News24 User

'Something is really wrong'

by Craig
2009-07-10 07:52

Dear Editor,

I write today to say that something is really wrong. Not only in our actions, but also in that which we do not do for the sake of corporate well being.

For as long as I have lived, human beings have relied on oil and coal to provide the necessary energy to fuel our ever increasing needs as a society. We have always been told that the solution to our energy problems is in forward thinking, innovation and a lower carbon footprint.

I am talking about energy production - cheap energy production. If our governments are really worried about global warming, we would have water wheels, wind turbines and solar energy panels scattered all over.

Yes, many of you say it takes time and money - I agree, but when that becomes the excuse for trashing every eco-friendly initiative to come across the table - only to turn BACK towards fossil fuels boggles my mind no end. In terms of the infrastructure for fossil fuels, we are, no doubt, saturated, there is a petrol station pretty much every five kilometres in towns and cities.

What I am saying is this, in the past, money making endeavours such as the use of fossil fuel have been preferred to systems using less energy (that produce less profit). Which is fine, we needed to advance technologically to get to where we are today and we could never have done that without energy.

But when things like the Falkirk wheel pops up, I turn cold, knowing we have the technological capabilities to create vast amounts of energy, using simple theories such as Pythagoras' - but fail to do so because corporate can't make a high profit.

The Falkirk wheel - a type of boat lift in Falkirk - is able to lift 302 tons. It takes just 22.5 kilowatts to power the electric motors, which consume just 1.5 kilowatt-hours of energy in four minutes, roughly the same as boiling eight kettles of water.

Most will know that if you slap a couple of magnets on a circular disc and cause the disc to rotate around metal - you get energy. It's no secret it really does work, how else do you think they got those nifty little shake torches to work?

I am no rocket scientist or engineer and I may be missing something here but from my perspective, a combination of the two technologies described above would provide ample energy.

Does anyone want to tell me why a non-engineering/physicist has thought about this before any actual physicists and scientists?

I smell money, and it's eating away at ingenuity.

Craig

Get published on MyNews24 by sending your letter, story or column to us.
Send us your news photos

Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.

Add your view to this conversation - comment below

Rate this story:

Comment on this story


Jacman 7/10/2009 8:03:56 AM
I work in alternative energy. What they say about it being expensive is very true... But only when you buy high quality A-grade equipment. They should just start using the taxpayers money for this instead of stealing every cent possible.

krrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!... 7/10/2009 8:11:44 AM
good article...bro!

Bongani 7/10/2009 8:16:52 AM
it beginings with you. As people we just keep on pushing the blame to the next person. what have you done to make things better.Why did the chicken cross the road?

Wisdom @ Jacman 7/10/2009 8:17:16 AM
The tax payer's money is wearing very slim, I don't agree with on that. I agree however that we need to look at environmental friendly initiatives. Maybe giving the tax payer relieve when using alternative energy.

Tsotsi 7/10/2009 8:20:17 AM
OH Please that will mean that they should actually do some work! How bizarre a thought of a working parlementarian.

T 7/10/2009 8:25:31 AM
The problem is these idiots have to wait for the real scientists abroad to invent something so simple because they have monkeys manning these stations.

apie 7/10/2009 8:28:03 AM
global warming cannot be solved unless overpopulation is addressed. its very simple. too many mouths to feed, too much energy required. the earth can only sustain so many beings. humanity is going one way, and thats towards extinction. the environment will always survive.

Craig 7/10/2009 8:29:18 AM
Corporate greed standing in the way of our efforts to clean up the world and use cleaner fuels is evident in almost every commercial product today. Hemp paper, for exampe, is kept from being utilised by corporations because it has negative ties to Marijuana - if we can sell other toxic chemicals for non drug related use, like Benzine or methalyted spirits, the same should appply for hemp. Its like that all over - the only ones who are going to increase the DEMAND for this are us the consumers. Without our DEMAND, the SUPPLY will never appear. So demand what you know to be a better option - otherwise you will pay more and without doubt you will harm the earth.

Kickerk 7/10/2009 8:29:47 AM
Many people have asked the same question over and over. And it's like you said, corporate can't make money with this new technologies. Same with hybrid cars. The technology has been available for many many years, but there is no profit in it. And because governments don't promote this, it only means that they have corporate needs at heart before the the masses. And they will rather kill this planet and make money, than produce this cheaper and safer technology. It's what the system is all about. Produce things that are scarce, so people can compete for it.

gavin 7/10/2009 8:31:59 AM
Human induced global warming is one of the most elaborate hoaxes of our time. We are in a natural warming cycle and there is nothing we can do about it. Man contributes only fractionally towards it. Live with it...........

@APIE - Craig 7/10/2009 8:37:13 AM
Yeah, I used to think like you did, I also thought that over population was going to be a problem, but you know what? It doesnt have to be. I guess you already know that the majority of people live in the city and that th majority of farm land is in well, the country side. If we can solve the energy crisis, we have a chance. If we can get free cheap energy, everyone can and should be able to grow their own food, as electricity can be used to grow the foods indoors. I think we can expect very soon - organic foods, being grown everywhere from huge silos in the city to peoples back garden. Nothing stops someone from using 60 X100watt light bulbs, the energy is cheap. To me, this along with the use of interest in banking is our last step towards freedom - something we dont have yet.

Greg 7/10/2009 8:38:14 AM
We could have had cars that ran on water decades ago. We could of had alternative power decades ago. It is the motor, oil and mining companies and governments that put a stop to this by buying out or killing the inventors of alternative energy. Alternatively can you imagine how many people would be out of a job if free energy was available to everyone on the planet. Governments would go bankrupt as they would not be collecting tax revenues from these companies and us. Why do you think Alcohol and Tobacco has not been band. Its all about the money.

Anonymous 7/10/2009 8:41:44 AM
I have been trying to get information from Eskom about alternative energy, they have an email address solar@eskom.co.za as their contact, yet no responses. Strange! With the amount of hours of good sunlight we have in South Africa why do we not have a system in place for the private home owners to install solar panels and feed power back into the National Grid during the day and feed off the grid at night when required? In the US this has been in place for some time now and it could save the individual on electricity costs every month, and save Eskom from building new power stations which are detrimental to our environment. When are the powers that be going to realise we have a wealth of sustainable power sources that are not being used? Even just to power our street lights at night via a small panel and battery would save us in the long run.

@CRAIG - apie 7/10/2009 8:46:35 AM
i hear what you are saying, but all i'm saying is, the room has only so much space. what is the earths population limit? 10 billion? 40 billion? 80 billion? 160 billion? it will keep growing exponentially, and somewhere along the line the bubble will burst. its inevitable, unless the world starts to limit the number of children you're allowed to have.

LoudP 7/10/2009 8:48:56 AM
@T. Some of best scientists in the world are from SA and some of the most important scientific advances have come from SA (eg. heart transplants, etc.). Don't blame the scientists, blame the bureaucrats/funding agencies/government/etc.

@GAVIN - Craig 7/10/2009 8:49:44 AM
Gavin, I have heard that before, the earth does go through these cycles of cooling and warming, but the "half truth" has gotten to you. The fluctuations of the past have had scientific causes - its a well studided concept that the Dinosaurs died due to a huge meteor crash - is it any wonder that a meteor crash causes the sun to be blocked out for years and induces cooling on a global scale? EVERYTHING HAS A CAUSE - and our contributions of Co2 to the balanced nature of our Biomes, is really starting to mix with our air ratios. Besides, even if Co2 did increase naturally in the planet, why in the world would we want to accelerate it? We know its causing global warming and thats going to affect us negatively - why contribute? Also, just to clarify - the temperatures are not going to go up gradually - its going to happen in spikes of highs and lows. Ie.take an egg and subject it to intense direct sunlight - now go put it in the fridge, repeat twice. Crack open egg- if you can. :)

Simphiwe 7/10/2009 8:53:32 AM
Why is it the gorvenments fault, how much did you contribute to global warming this morning? you probably drove to work, heated your bath/shower water, lighting in your office, your computer is on. come on man we(everyone) should take reponsebilty for our own actions, we demand and claim its our right to have electricity so we ultimetly force for more electricity plant to be built, our own cars are causing more pollution in one day than a person make in a lifetime, IT BEGINS WITH YOU,what are you doing to help?

green 7/10/2009 8:56:28 AM
Gavin go back to sleep. The issue regarding the use of coal for powerstations goes deeper than just the cost and availability. The majority of the new coal mines which are now developed, are owned by BEE consortiums. I doubt if goverment will change to cleaner technology while at the same time granting mining rights to their mates.

@apie - Craig 7/10/2009 8:59:14 AM
100% - although I dont think the earth will sustain any more than 8 Billion people. SO yes, we are @#$% close! Can I tell you something that no one wants to hear? We have an over population problem already - and Governments are already doing something about it. Think HIV, think H1N1, Ebola, think H5N1 (bird flu) - now think about the timing of these inflictions. Is it not suspicious that these are appearing now? Governments are actively allowing these to propogate becuase they have no ideas on how to reduce populations effectively. Interstingly, the larger the population the larger (or rather more powerful) the people in charge have to be...

Sinudeity 7/10/2009 8:59:18 AM
CT might not have enough land available for wind turbines, but we need underwater turbines.

Jorg 7/10/2009 9:02:13 AM
i got to agree with bongani. it starts with ourself. there are solarheaters available and the do work.thats free hot water and with the money i save i treat the wife, everybody wins.

This should be SPARTAAAAA!!! 7/10/2009 9:08:59 AM
THE ONLY THING WRONG HERE IS....HUMANS IN GENERAL! Too many people that we don't really need using the resources! I say bring back the Sparta way!

KK 7/10/2009 9:10:52 AM
Gavin, you are an idiot...i would hate to be your employer with such ignorant views. its people like you that will cause this planet to destruct!!!!

Judith 7/10/2009 9:14:55 AM
Our problem is firmly in the hands of the multinationals. Our power is as yet untapped as consumers as we are behaving like sheep, instead of protesting and pressurising for clean power. I was one of about 20 people at the Pelindaba open day and we have lodged objections to the EIA for the new pebble power plant and incinerator. Nuclear is not clean!

To gain a voice, join EarthLife Africa, CANE and Greenpeace. Let's change the status quo and save our lives and those of our children

Gmeister 7/10/2009 9:21:37 AM
do some more research. if 1% of the global GDP is spent on renewable energy it would meke a significant difference - instead money is wasted on defence and arms. eskom has some ideas but are struggling just to survive the peak demands by buying more coal

lexm 7/10/2009 9:21:47 AM
It's too late. We should have started to fix the problem 30 years ago. The planet is going to heat up like an oven. Once the process has started, it's going to be hard to stop. See Venus for a sneak preview of a future Earth.

@SIMPHIWE - Craig 7/10/2009 9:23:23 AM
Its governments fault because they are the ones who are in control (when I say government - I dont mean just SA, I am talking World wide.) If government doesnt grant funding into research for these types of endevours, we will never get them, WE NEED GOVERNMENT TO COME TO THE PARTY, bring our taxes and fund some research. The reasons they dont do this now - because we live in a capatilstic country, where individual demand is seen as confirmation for the product in question. Do me a favour and google Nikolai Tesla (its his Bday today BTW) his research was the laughing stock of the scietific community (in AMERICA) - now they have based their newest scietific research tool (HAARP) on electricity creating techniques he developed. If his theories were so wrong, how did they end up in a US government research programme? Sorry, but if you dont get it, then just say baaa baaa...

GP 7/10/2009 9:26:21 AM
Good article Craig. I must agree with apie on the over population thing though. I am involved in the agricultural industry - and boy, we can not produce enough to keep-up with the population growth. Yes there are reports that say the population growth in SA is declining, but it only means that it is increasing at a lower rate than before. We could increase food production by a mere 10%, while the population is still increasing at 32%. Go make your calculations - population growth needs to be addressed. In this regard, government is not helping as the biggest part of tax money is distributed by grants. In our population you get breeders and feeders. The breeders out-number the feeders by far. Ai Gavin - smell the coffee, its burning already. Golden rule is to give more than you take.

@simphiwe - Craig 7/10/2009 9:27:18 AM
And BTW, I ride a bicycle to work, grow my own vegetables and even make my own energy, so I can guarantee you, my carbon footprint consists of the air I exhale and thats about it. EVERYONE DO THEMSELVES A FAVOUR AND CHECK OUT DAVID SUZUKIs WEBSITE -

www.davidsuzuki.org Learn more and do your bit.

Robin 7/10/2009 9:31:41 AM
The whole concept of "global warming" is terribly flawed as is the idea of switching over to costly energy alternatives. Explain to someone in a khaya out in the styx that he can no longer cook his food over a wood fire but instead must buy 'clean' electricity!

tjk 7/10/2009 9:37:44 AM
The Falkirk wheel is a simple balancing act, nothing special about it. Regarding alternative energy, research is still required to mainstream other techonologies. A lot of our power does come from natural sources, and is expanding with more hydro project in northern part of south africa. Solar, nor wind power is consistent enough for a main power source, and nuclear has its own problems. Yes, I believe we will see electrical vehicles, but only when it is actually "greener" than our new vehicles, meaning greaner in the whole life-span, including mining resources, building, and reusing of materials. Remember batteries currently has a limited lifetime, causes a lot of polution and the energy comes from a powergrid, hydrogen is too unsafe for mainstream use. So, my opinion, read up, and actually understand why things are not happening, and not join the choir of people always believing that every corporation is a the son of the devil himself.

@Robin -Craig 7/10/2009 9:43:25 AM
Oi Robin, did you read the article? I am not trying to get the bushman to change his ways, he has been cokking like that his whole life - I am talking about modern society, the real contributers to global warming, what was the stat again? if every one on the planet lived like the Australians or Americans in terms of energy consumption we would need 4-5 more earths! So clearly its not the bushmen causing the problem now is it? Its the western way of life, ie. exploitation over assistance for money. Besides, if we could generate cheap energy then it might not be so difficult to get the bushman from using wood (which is cheaper to acquire than parafin or other combustables)- did you ever think about that?

Andrew 7/10/2009 9:45:20 AM
You are right. There are plenty of things one can do right now to save energy. Install a solar water heater. Eskom apparently will subsidize the installation. Turn your geyser off during the day. Hang washing out to dry instead of using a tumble dryer. Use energy saving light bulbs. Here is Grahamstown there are plans to put up wind turbines. So things are happening in some places. I can’t understand why Government has not put solar panels on RDP houses?

Carl Muller 7/10/2009 9:48:39 AM
I have put my geysers on time switches. My current savings is about 50 %. ESKOM was here and took photographs. They took my story. However, they do not want to get people doing it because imagine everyone saving 50 % on their electricity.
An electrician installed 2 swimming pool timers on my 2 geysers, costs R1200. I have saved about R500/month on since May 2007.

GP 7/10/2009 9:50:48 AM
On a lighter note - the people in the industrial areas are very lucky. They can actually see what they inhale.. The rest of us still have to guess what we inhale. Unfortunately there is a lot of truth in that as well.

Jenny C 7/10/2009 9:55:02 AM
Excellent Article

Pierre 7/10/2009 10:01:06 AM
What rubbish are you writing? The little shake torches converts the energy you put in by shaking it to electrical energy it does notcreate it from nothing.

Poloyatonki 7/10/2009 10:07:52 AM
western inventions (Cars, airlines, Trains, etc) are killing our planet, do we really them...... OOOh i forgot that fat people are also killing our planet...

Piet Pompies 7/10/2009 10:08:38 AM
Firstly we don't have enough wind power for wind farms the only place in SA with high enough wind velocities for them to be economically viable is in the western cape where a project is already running. With solar panels the problem is that the cell produces less energy in its lifetime as it takes to produce the solar cells and your idea of combining the two technologies wont work because it goes against the laws of thermodynamics. Your talking in the line of perpetual motion which is impossible. At the moment its all economics if you want cleaner energy then you must be happy to pay 10 times what you are paying now for electricity.

Mumbojumbo 7/10/2009 10:09:41 AM
Alternative energy is unfortunately still too expensive. We will need a lot more people in our country to actually pay or be able to pay for relatively cheap fossil fuel energy, before we can ever think of any more expensive alternative energy sources. The vague references to methods of creating cheap/free energy in the article, is drivel. If it was so easy to create free/cheap/clean energy, the whole world would have been powered by it . Large scale cheap energy would possibly rake in higher returns for big business and goverments because more people will be able to afford energy. So lay the conspiracies to rest and start building a replica of Tesla's Wardenclff tower in your backyard.

Kevin 7/10/2009 10:10:14 AM
Very good article...co-incidence that today is the birthday of Nikola Tesla and your article is about alternative energy etc... :-)

SimonP 7/10/2009 10:11:20 AM
@Bongani, do you not think the govt should do anything about the issue? You cant tolerate anyone asking your ANC to actually do some work.

David 7/10/2009 10:16:55 AM
"Does anyone want to tell me why a non-engineering/physicist has thought about this before any actual physicists and scientists?"

Well I am an engineer and ill tell you why no one has done that. It won't work! What you are describing is a system with more than 100 % efficiency which from the principle of conservation of energy is impossible.

SimonP 7/10/2009 10:25:59 AM
@Poloyatonki, thats right blame the evil west.

DavidL 7/10/2009 10:36:10 AM
The ability to generate FREE energy has been around for much longer than we think(eg.Nicolia Tesla).The reason that this technology gets suppressed is indeed ,CORPAORATE COMPANIES GREED.
think about it -If everyone started using Magnetic motors to genrate their own Electricty-WHAT WILL ESKOM DO?
(Lastly-some information:
In some US states it is illegal to harvest rain water.)

MJR 7/10/2009 10:37:17 AM
@Craig: I have to agree with you. Apart from the clean energy issue that you addressed, there is obviously the issue of pollution in general.

How could it ever be seen as acceptable to pump waste into the ocean and air? I mean, we have limited space on earth, and we are filling it with rubbish - that's ludicrous! What we are doing is exactly the opposite of sustainable: we are “slowly” (and how “slowly” is clearly a moot point) destroying our own habitat. And sure, we should all try to do our part in stopping this, but governments have to realise that they need to use their power and resources to do some good for a change. And if you have faith in humanity they will change the world, but if you are more cynical like me the outcome seems to be: the toughest will survive and the rest will die.

LEANNE 7/10/2009 10:39:01 AM
good article cc, very interesting. lets hope we can all make a diff. peace

Karen @apie 7/10/2009 10:39:51 AM
Nature is trying to limit the number of children born. More and more people are infertile or battle to have a successful pregnancy, but scientists - in all their wisdom, try to outsmart nature by inventing all sorts of ways for people who nature never intended to reproduce, to go ahead and do it anyway. Man thinks they are too smart for their own good. Nature is the only perfection on this planet, well-balanced and always one step ahead, but along comes man and is continuously trying to beat the balance, thereby throwing things out of whack. Nature however is ever changing and will always try to keep one step ahead and try to restore the balance. Nature is smarter than man - it will recover even if that means it must destroy man.

Capital Q 7/10/2009 10:44:16 AM
Man-made global warming is a scam. It's all about global 'green tax' and our carbon footprint. It's money, money, money. Natural global warming is occurring. In fact - the earths temperature has risen 0.74'F since Al Gore's movie was released. strange.

Amber 7/10/2009 10:47:23 AM
@SimonP-Do you have to try and politicise the issue? Why are you bringing ANC into the picture? The gvt is led by the ANC but made up of all the other parties we voted for including our DA.
You are such a poof,this is going to go down the racist route all because a stupid you,the likes of Polo,Halfw,CTK will capitalise on this.You're the most stupid person on earth.

T 7/10/2009 10:54:15 AM
you are asking for miracles. They are stealing every minute

kyle_logan 7/10/2009 10:57:58 AM
@gavin You twit... we are in a natural cooling! or ment to be... Go study some more, we should be in a cooling stage now but instead because of global warming we are not.

AJ 7/10/2009 11:04:36 AM
@Gavin & @KK

Good article Craig & sound concerns. Gavin – right on – at least it seems you are informed to some extend. KK – Death is no cure for ignorance. The absolute vast majority of people lives in a haze of ignorance, false perceptions and religious dogmas – not knowing who really controls the financials, religions, politics, medicine, transport, education, minerals, etc. etc. Go on – drink your diet or lite or zero sodas & use your aspartame based sweeteners & see how intelligence is inhibited. No criticism – but an urgent wake-up call.

kyle_logan 7/10/2009 11:08:13 AM
@Capital Q.... did you suck that from your thumb to sound impressive? We should be in a natural cooling stage... try doing some research before speaking... the reason why people are concered is becuase the temp is rising instead of cooling... if you actually did some research instead of thumb sucking you'd know that.

Sigh 7/10/2009 11:14:16 AM
Did you know:
It takes more energy to produce a solar panel, than that panel will produce in its entire lifetime.

Falkrik wheel... so you want to put some magnets on a wheel to generate electricity. That same wheel will also require power to turn? Didnt you learn in grade 6 that energy cannot be created, only converted? With all the resistance your magic wheel will consume more electricity than it uses.
There is no such thing as free energy. No such thing as a silver bullet.
According to the link below,"Wind Turbines in Europe Do Nothing for Emissions-Reduction Goals"
http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,606763,00.html
Letters such as the above is exactly what we get when non-engineers try to act smart.

lhf 7/10/2009 11:16:33 AM
I am an inventor and am working on a solution - free electricity for life. Single upfront capital layout and then free for the rest of your life. Upfront capital cost can be done with Carbon trading - we can electrify EVERY house in a developing country with overseas money (No sunlight,wind,gas,fuel,nuclear,batteries or infrastructure required. The problem is that without BEE partners research funding/grants is a huge problem.

Tyler 7/10/2009 11:19:32 AM
Hey, why are people having a go at Gavin? Because he makes valid points and us as individuals would rather criticise him than take some responsibility and change our lifestyles? Ha! To think that some of you actually have the audacity to call him stupid

Fred Basset 7/10/2009 11:21:01 AM
@tjk
Nail, hammer, head. Wish more people could see it your way.

jen 7/10/2009 11:21:23 AM
good article. renewable energy may be more expensive in the short term, but in the long term we really have no choice. Hopefully we will see that before its too late.
Wish eskom would put more into finding renewable energy sources instead of building more coal fuelled power stations.

blink 7/10/2009 11:40:39 AM
Its all about making money. Oil rules the world. The technology to create very large amounts of energy out of nothing, was discovered many years ago, but the american goverment destroyed the technology, because it couldn't be measured and thus it couldn't be measured and they couldn't make money by using it. Humanity could have been MUCH more advanced, but its about money and military power

HC 7/10/2009 11:48:15 AM
@Simphiwe - please refrain from always covering for an incompetent government. Reference in this article was to goverments in general!! By the way, kindly provide more details regarding your wind-driven computer that you used to post your comment.

GP 7/10/2009 11:55:37 AM
Not to politicize the problem, but I would also like to know why our dear SABC (which is now entirely in the hands of the ruling party)is closing down an informative program like 50/50? Might it be that they are informing public about money making events like mining and misuse of public resources at the cost of our environment?

Jacques 7/10/2009 11:57:03 AM
Resources are dwindling. I think Eskom has got a backup plan for the day that natural resources, like coal, run out. Having said that, this backup plan has probably been filed away back in the 80's. The current crop of Eskom execs are more bothered with their first class cabins on the gravy train to give it a second thought. Even if they took the time the try and figure out alternatives, they'd probably draw a blank. In essence their grey matter does not matter....

@Poloyatonki 7/10/2009 11:57:55 AM
Give us all a break and stop using western inventions eg your computer.

Dustin 7/10/2009 11:59:00 AM
The amount of stored carbon dioxide in dams with related volcanic origin far exceeds any industrial induced release of carbon dioxide. Just look at lake Monoun and Nyos in Cameroon, these two lakes contain just under 1 billion cubic metres of carbon dioxide.

Now some brilliant minds have decided that this stored carbon dioxide could be a threat to humans living in the area, so they embarking on projects around the world to release all this CO2 into the atmosphere. If we just stopped them from venting these dams and rather sealed the CO2 or pasted it through a scubber, we might not be experiencing climate change.

If you dont believe me see the following site: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/mhalb/nyos/nyos.htm

Bruce 7/10/2009 12:00:29 PM
Actually scientists have thought about this and have discarded it. Falkirk works because both sides are kept perfectly balanced and it requires very little energy to rotate such a balanced system. Think of a heavy door balanced over an central axis that you can move with one finger.
The problem comes in with electrical generation. Yes, putting magnets on a disk and spinning it around wires generates power, but the using of the generated power results in an effect called back-emf where the flow of the power out of the generator, to the devices and then back to the generator causes a magnetic field rotating counter to the generating magnets. A lot of energy from whatever is driving the rotation is required to overcome this back-emf.
Since Falkirk is balanced, you can get away with the electrical equivalent of a small finger pushing the structure around and it would probably be able to spin an unloaded generator. But draw on the generator and the back-emf resists the rotation, requiring more energy to be put in from the motors and it rapidly reaches the point where you are putting more power in than you are getting out.
Falkirk is a nice example of brilliant engineering, the concept dates from centuries back, but as a way to generate vasts amount of power from a small amount, it isn't even a possible application.

@ jen - L Savage 7/10/2009 12:04:04 PM
The reason Eskom is building coal power stations is that we need the electricity yesterday. They had this idea of using green energy to expand their capacity, but ran out of electricity before they managed to find a feasible solution. Part of the issue is that planning and building a renewable electricity generation infrastructure is a LOT more complex, difficult, costly and time intensive than anyone realised when they started thinking about it.

RobC 7/10/2009 12:09:48 PM
@blink
There is no such thing as free energy. Not in this Universe ruled by physics as we know it.
It is however all about economics... currently fossil fuel is the most cost effective source behind Atomic but alas the Greens have killed that goose.

craig 7/10/2009 12:13:17 PM
Well said! What about the carebon footprint of all the big 4x4's the gvt drives around in? It would be a easy place to start changing the mindset of bigger and more expensive is better.

kyle_logan 7/10/2009 12:24:09 PM
@L Savage.... The reason Eskom is building coal power stations is because they and our ANC goverment F-ed up badly... 10years ago they where told to start building new power stations and our goverment refused... now they in a rush... it's that simple.

Jacques 7/10/2009 12:37:33 PM
A ggod start would be limit speeds on vehicles to 120km/h. (Excluding police and emergency vehicles.) There is absolutely no good reason to be travelling at 150km/h and at the same time using more fuel.

Cliff Bradley 7/10/2009 1:25:48 PM
BONGANI- Do You Want To Know Why The Chicken Crossed The Road- Because Some Idiot From The Government ( ANC) Was Going To Eat His Ass And Then Blame Apartheid

Eric 7/10/2009 1:54:10 PM
If you want to see how badly we've been robbed do some research into Tesla. He offered basically free power at the turn of the century but thanks to a few industrialists we were all denied this...

Foresight and Prepare 7/11/2009 10:47:10 AM
I recently made a transatlantic voyage on a brand new very high tech deepsea oil discovery ship. Out of interest, I raised the question of "Fossils fuels and Global Warming". Every single reply, bar none (and their were some very clever chaps on board)..debunked my suggestion ,for various reasons, as a myth!

Makes one think...doesnt it !

Expert 7/12/2009 2:47:29 PM
little knoledge is dangerous.
Most of you have no clue of what you are talking about

expert 7/12/2009 2:52:14 PM
Perhaps you should have worked a bit harder at school and listen to your science teacher

expert 7/12/2009 2:56:37 PM
Sigh
Misconception 1 (ref Sigh comment)
A solar panel today delivers 4 to 5 time the energy it took to made

@ Karen 7/13/2009 6:33:30 AM
Karen, I hear what you are saying, but it seems to me that nature is targeting the women who can afford to have kids, and who only want maybe one or two. Those that breed continuously year in and year out are as fertile as the garden of eden. If I struggle to have kids one day, I'll certainly go the scientific route...

Guy 7/13/2009 5:38:37 PM
I can tell you why it wont work. Im not going to be the party pooper, just a realist. Corporate mission statements should red "maximise profit regardless of the social or environmental cost" (read that again, let it sink in). You see the problem is that we as a society have become so dependent on the major corporations for our everyday needs, and of course they will take advantage of this situation by holding back technology that would further our growth as a population. I agree completetly with your comments. Winter storms have pelted the Cape Coast for the last few weeks, 60km/h winds, and not a single wind turbine in sight. The Northern Cape in Summer has nothing but Sun, not a single solar panel, Huge waves battering the coast where wave turbines should be in place. But wait arent we building a new pebble bed reactor? Oh, its been tendered to an overseas company. It all makes sense now...
All RDP houses built should have three basics included (forget cost, think long term): Solar panel (energy) a fruit tree (food and preservation of topsoil) and a small domestic wind turbine (energy)- its never going to happen, but I can dream cant I?

GKM 7/14/2009 5:48:00 AM
When I ride around and see all the RDP houses being built, I wonder "why not with solar panel?". Yes I believe they are expensive, but surely the long term benefit will far outweigh the cost, particularly if installed at initial contructiion. Also one immediately educates a new generation in energy saving.

Perpetual Energy 7/19/2009 10:45:15 PM
MMMMph a RDP house with a solar panel, Ha! I own a house and would love the government to give me one too then, whats fair is fair! One for me and one for you, oh but it doesnt work that way cos if you can afford a house then you can afford your own. But at the end of the day, unfortunately it is mankind that is only destroying this planet with "his" creations. Mother Nature will force her way back to the way she wants it, no matter what we do. And yes, currently it does still cost more to make the solar panel than what it can save you in its total lifetime. And for those that think there is free hot water, lets just requote that, nothing is for free! You got solar power to heat your water you still pay for. Just playing on the words there, so nothing is for free, yes you paid for the solar panels or the solar geyser not so?

One thing is for certain - the population does need to decline as the energy demand is not equal with the supply. Way too many people mean producing more electricity.Same with food and water, just way too many people point! Im all for alternate energy sources but make it clean and cheaper and reliable. One thing a lot of people forget is that society has made electricity a basic need. Water is a basic need to sustain life! And if Escom wishes to help save electricity from some households only to give or sell it to others, then all your efforts are still in vain. Besides that said, if they wish you to consume less electricity then they should install these timers etc for free anyway.
Your name
*
Email
*
Comment
*
  Sign up to our daily newsletters...
  Sign up for mobile alerts...
 

inside news24

Cpt: 14-18°C Showery. Morning clouds. Mild. Pta: 17-29°C A few showers. Broken clouds. Pleasantly warm.
Jhb: 15-26°C Scattered showers. Morning clouds. Mild. Bloem: 13-25°C Heavy rain. Morning clouds. Mild.
Dbn: 19-31°C Rain late. More clouds than sun. Warm. PE: 15-22°C Numerous showers. More clouds than sun. Mild.
7 day forecasts...
Western Cape Eastern Cape Kwazulu Natal Gauteng

Germiston - 18:42:48 PM The bridge over the N12 Highway is closed for roadworks until 17th January 2010 - traffic is being re-routed to cross the Highway via the Sam Green Street bridge or the Kraft Road Interchange More traffic reports...

Here are the winning Lotto numbers from the Saturday, November 7 draw.

18, 24, 25, 31, 35, 42 Bonus 38

Lotto plus: 4, 14, 17, 20, 21, 34 Bonus 3

SMS the word Lotto to 31222 to get lotto numbers sent directly to your phone. The service costs just R10 per month. 
More lotto numbers...

Jobs - Find your dream job

Plant Engineering Superintendent

Gauteng
Hire Resolve
R35,000-45,000 Per Month

Data Analyst

Western Cape
MC²
R25,000-30,000 Per Month

Finance Director

Western Cape - Cape Town
Hire Resolve

Browse more jobs...
Register your CV...
Advertise a position
Job alert e-mails...

Cars - Search 1000's of new and used cars

AUDI

2008 A4 1.8T Multitronics from R 269 000

TOYOTA

Yaris T3 1.3 5-dr AC
2007
R 99,990.00

VOLKSWAGEN

CitiGolf 1.4i CitiRox 5-dr
2009
R 90,499.00

AUDI

Q7 3.6 FSi Quattro Tiptronic
2009
R 619,000.00

Property - Find a new home

SAFARI GARDENS EXT 8

Single Residential R1,194,000

KLEINBAAI

Single Residential R1,530,000

DIAS

Multiple Unit R1,465,000

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Enjoy a week long tropical escape from only R8 156 per person sharing (includes accommodation, return flights, airport taxes and transfer, non-motorised watersports, breakfast and dinner. Book now!

Free Games - TOO MUCH NEWS? TAKE A BREAK!

Zuma

Play Now »

Twenty20 Cricket

Play Now »

Bejeweled 2

Play Now »

Mahjongg Fortuna

Play Now »

Diner Dash 2

Play Now »

More Free Games