Comments on: The Multidisciplinary Challenges of Clean Tech http://greenresearch.com/2009/09/26/the-multidisciplinary-challenges-of-clean-tech/ Understanding energy, clean technology and sustainability Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:29:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: David Schatsky http://greenresearch.com/2009/09/26/the-multidisciplinary-challenges-of-clean-tech/#comment-230 David Schatsky Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:14:01 +0000 http://greenresearch.com/?p=273#comment-230 There is a fair amount of research going on to try to understand human perceptions and motivations around environmental issues. One interesting organization doing this research is the <a href="http://www.cred.columbia.edu/" rel="nofollow">Center for Environmental Decisionmaking (CRED)</a> at Columbia University in New York. Thanks for writing. There is a fair amount of research going on to try to understand human perceptions and motivations around environmental issues. One interesting organization doing this research is the Center for Environmental Decisionmaking (CRED) at Columbia University in New York. Thanks for writing.

]]> By: Leslie Forman http://greenresearch.com/2009/09/26/the-multidisciplinary-challenges-of-clean-tech/#comment-228 Leslie Forman Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:36:45 +0000 http://greenresearch.com/?p=273#comment-228 Agreed! I stumbled upon your blog today via Twitter and cleantech has caught my attention for much the same reason. I live in Beijing and today I had a long conversation with a journalist about gas-to-energy power plants and the protests that have surrounded them in the southern city of Guangzhou. This is not just about power or money, it actually touches on the question of what development truly means, for the local people and the government. Trade-offs, science and trust are all huge issues here. I am particularly interested in studying what flips the switch from general obliviousness to deliberate action, in citizens' minds, when thinking about the environment. Thanks for raising these interesting questions. Agreed! I stumbled upon your blog today via Twitter and cleantech has caught my attention for much the same reason. I live in Beijing and today I had a long conversation with a journalist about gas-to-energy power plants and the protests that have surrounded them in the southern city of Guangzhou. This is not just about power or money, it actually touches on the question of what development truly means, for the local people and the government. Trade-offs, science and trust are all huge issues here.

I am particularly interested in studying what flips the switch from general obliviousness to deliberate action, in citizens’ minds, when thinking about the environment.

Thanks for raising these interesting questions.

]]> By: Matthew Roche http://greenresearch.com/2009/09/26/the-multidisciplinary-challenges-of-clean-tech/#comment-186 Matthew Roche Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:23:57 +0000 http://greenresearch.com/?p=273#comment-186 And as far as demand response goes, without a price signal, smart meters are just a way of getting into the home to cut off usage. Curtailment is an ugly outcome for something that seems as innovative as the smart grid. And as far as demand response goes, without a price signal, smart meters are just a way of getting into the home to cut off usage. Curtailment is an ugly outcome for something that seems as innovative as the smart grid.

]]> By: Matthew Roche http://greenresearch.com/2009/09/26/the-multidisciplinary-challenges-of-clean-tech/#comment-185 Matthew Roche Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:22:39 +0000 http://greenresearch.com/?p=273#comment-185 The capital problem has two other dimensions that are troubling: 1. The utilities, especially the big ones, have the lowest cost of capital, making it hard to compete at return on invested capital level. 2. The utilities rate base is built up from their capital outlays, making anything that is low-capital unattractive for them. The capital problem has two other dimensions that are troubling:
1. The utilities, especially the big ones, have the lowest cost of capital, making it hard to compete at return on invested capital level.
2. The utilities rate base is built up from their capital outlays, making anything that is low-capital unattractive for them.

]]> By: David Schatsky http://greenresearch.com/2009/09/26/the-multidisciplinary-challenges-of-clean-tech/#comment-173 David Schatsky Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:35:42 +0000 http://greenresearch.com/?p=273#comment-173 Totally agree. This is definitely something to watch. I blogged on this a while back as well <a href="http://greenresearch.com/2008/12/16/is-lithium-better-than-petroleum/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Thanks for writing. Totally agree. This is definitely something to watch. I blogged on this a while back as well here. Thanks for writing.

]]> By: Ted Dann http://greenresearch.com/2009/09/26/the-multidisciplinary-challenges-of-clean-tech/#comment-172 Ted Dann Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:28:18 +0000 http://greenresearch.com/?p=273#comment-172 Another political challenge: the availability of new resources en masse. Lithium for example, is there enough lithium available to support clean-tech advances on a large scale? Does lithium become the next oil if A123 batteries become the standard in every new car? This article comes to mind when considering scaling up to support the car industry: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/world/americas/03lithium.html?_r=1 Just a thought. Another political challenge: the availability of new resources en masse. Lithium for example, is there enough lithium available to support clean-tech advances on a large scale? Does lithium become the next oil if A123 batteries become the standard in every new car?

This article comes to mind when considering scaling up to support the car industry: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/world/americas/03lithium.html?_r=1

Just a thought.

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