Someone ought to inform German energy policy administrators about the process that turns coal into natural gas underground. No mining, no mess to get rid of as is the case with coal gasification, and the natural gas can be used in solid oxide fuel cell turbines at 75% efficiency.
These fuel cell/turbines can run on powdered cellulose or biogas from manure, sewage, garbage, and waste digestion with the CO2 feeding algae in solar collectors that make biodiesel and cellulose fuel.
Fuel cells of this type make an excellent backup for wind, solar, and water power. Electrical energy storage and distribution can be combined with high voltage DC transmission lines that store power by acting as huge capacitors.
Germany could make this work. Maybe show us all the way to win this fight against global climate disaster, perpetual oil war, and terminal nuclear proliferation.
Furthermore: The reason AC power lines are difficult to bury, is the problem of capacitance losses between the conductor and the ground shield. Higher power carrying lines have very high losses when they need to be buried.
With high voltage DC current at 500,000 volts in the current long distance electric power transmission design, the energy storage potential is huge. And you CAN bury them, getting rid of a lot of the NIMBYism around power grid upgrades.
http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2007/02/germany_countin.html#comment-60722606
Good going Germans!
The demise of nuclear power is coming. The age of renewable energy is starting.
Will nuclear winter cancel civilization first? Unless US foreign policy changes immediately that is a distinct possibility.
How many think nuke-u-ler bunker busters are all locked and loaded ready to descend on Iran? Raise you hands.
How many think congress will stop them?