TED Talks Daily A faster way to get to a clean energy future | Ramez Naam
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Apr 4, 2023 Ramez Naam discusses the rapid cost decline of clean energy technologies like solar and wind, highlighting their potential to outplay fossil fuels. He tackles the societal opposition that hampers progress, emphasizing the need for a stronger renewable energy grid. The conversation includes exciting advancements in battery and hydrogen tech that address clean energy intermittency. Naam also envisions a continent-sized energy grid to enhance efficiency, while urging the swift development of transmission infrastructure to harness the benefits of recent legislation.
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Clean Energy Cost Decline
- Clean energy technology costs have drastically decreased, like solar panel prices dropping from $100/watt in 1975 to $0.20/watt in 2020.
- This 500-fold drop is unprecedented in energy and infrastructure, surprising even clean energy optimists.
Clean Energy vs. Fossil Fuels
- Clean energy technologies, like solar and wind, behave like technologies with exponentially decreasing costs as they scale.
- This contrasts with fossil fuels, which are commodities with fluctuating prices, impacting growth estimations.
Texas: A Clean Energy Example
- Texas, despite lacking climate policies, leads the US in solar and wind power due to its open electricity market, easy permitting, and transmission infrastructure.
- This demonstrates how these factors can accelerate clean energy adoption even without subsidies.