Image: Getty Images
More In This Article
CHONGQING—This year china surpassed the U.S. as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. And coal is largely to blame. The dirty black rock is burned everywhere, from industrial boilers to home stoves, and generates 75 percent of the nation’s electricity. More than 4,000 miners die every year digging the fossil fuel out of China’s heartland. One consequence of the country’s reliance on coal is most visible in the air. Smog cloaks cities, reducing the sky to little more than a blue patch amid a blanket of haze. As the pollution builds, it forms a brown cloud, visible from space, that in a week’s time crosses the Pacific Ocean to the western U.S., where it accounts for as much as 15 percent of the air pollution.
The haze means no true horizon can be seen when one is walking the streets of Chongqing, an inland port city on the Yangtze River that produces most of China’s motorcycles as well as other industrial goods. It seems the entire Rust Belt of the U.S. has been crammed into this “furnace of China,” as it is known—a single community of more than 30 million people, twice the size of the New York City metropolitan region.
This article was originally published with the title China's Energy Paradox.
See what we're tweeting about
8 Comments
Add CommentOnce again, the author (Mr. Biello) denigrates the advantages of hydroelectric power by, for one, entitling the last section of this article "Water Power Be Damned". I believe he thinks this is journalistically cute; and that he is environmentally biased against large dams. If that is the case, he should state his bias before writing the article.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe Three Gorges Dam was built primarily as a flood control structure because over 300,000 people have been killed in the twentieth century due to floods of the Yangtze river. The electrical power produced, and the enhanced navigation were very positive ancillary benefits that allowed the approval of the large dam to pass thru the political maze; and resulted in its construction.
The fact that a large dam structure to prevent flooding has resulted in the resettlement of 4 million people, and some associated environmental problems, should not detract from the fact that it will result in the saving of many thousands of lives during the next major Yangtze flood. The choice was clear. Do you build a large dam to save thousands of lives; or do you continually kill thousands of your own citizens during the flood season. China would, in fact, have been derelict in its duties to its citizens if it had not built the dam. The problems associated with the dam have to be addressed, but the dam had to be built.
Further to the electrical energy portion of the article, hydroelectric energy is the most efficient "renewable" energy source. It's efficiency, from the potential energy of the stored water to electricity is greater than 85%. This should be compared with wind energy's 50% maximum (the absolute max. is the Betz coefficient of 59.3%), and solar enegy's 15-20% efficiency. In addition, the reservoirs associated with hydroelectric power plants can provide the following benefits, which neither wind nor solar can provide:
a) drinking water for the nearby cities
b) irrigation water for farms
c) recreational areas for boating and fishing
One final point: The installed capacity of the Three Gorges Project (Reference Wikipedia) is 22,500 MW, or more than 11,000 two MW wind generators; and the electrical power produced is much more reliable (you can produce it when you need it) than wind or solar with lower annual maintenance costs.
It would be surprising if the Three Gorges Dam does not cause enormous methane gas emissions, as most dams do.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSecondly, if human lives are so precious, why aren't safety measures imposed in coal mines to save the lives of thousands of miners every year?
It is to be hoped that China does not adopt the same energy-wasting policies the West has followed for decades.....
I live in West Virginia where they say coal is the new black gold. This new black gold has caused West Virginia to become number 1 in the nation in chronic childhood diseases and the coal smoke from the power plants have given the governor such brain damage that he wants to build a three billion dollar coal-to-liquid plant that will increase coal pollution as much as 40% throughout the nation and as much as 400% in state. We have the most intelligent governor in the nation.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiseco-steve
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo my knowledge, methane gas emissions "may" be emitted from hydro reservoirs just like they are from natural lakes, wetlands, forests, rice paddies, etc by fermentation of submerged biomass. However, the parameters in the various processes to emit methane have not been quantified and/or measured to date because of the following:
1) Biomass:
the amount of the biomass depends upon the terrain, and how much cleaning of the hydro reservoir bottom area was performed prior to filling of the reservoir.
2) Methane Production: depends upon the temperature of the reservoir water, input of CO2 from upstream, rate of water flow thru the reservoir, siltation rate, ambient temperature etc. etc. in addition to the decomposition of the flooded biomass. To resolve how much methane is produced is a very theoretical process at present. I reference HRW magazine, "Greenhouse Gas Emissions", Nov 2005, which states "The parameters in the aformentioned processes "might" be quantified better if and when the details of the phenomena involved are better understood, and could turn out very similar to that of natural lakes."
3) Measurement: Both Manitoba Hydro and Hydro Quebec are presently using automated systems to monitor CO2 and methane at their hydro reservoirs to help resolve the issue of amount of methane gas emitted by large reservoirs. The equipment utilized is custom made, and is being refined by various entities, including public and private institutions. (Reference Hydro Review magazine, Sept 2008).
So, in summary, the Three Gorges dam may or may not produce enormous amounts of methane gas. However, the specific quantities produced cannot be quantified (theoretically calculated with assumptions, yes) because the methane process is complicated, and the methodology and measuring instruments do not exist.
In reference to your other argument, which basically states: Because China still kills thousands of people in the coal mines, they should also continue killing thousands of people with floods. I find it lacks coherency. If human lives are precious, we should attempt to save them whenever possible. Just because we cannot save them "all" at the same time, or improve "all" manufacturing systems at the same time, doe not mean that we should stop our efforts to eliminate the loss of life where we can.
"china" is mean "China", if you mean my country
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI just want to say what the author write is not the true or the real China.The true China is much better than what the author said. I hate the western talk about China like this. They always choose the dark side of China.Do not you know that the USA has made the most pollution in the world during its developing period? China just began to develop in recent years. The pllution that China has produced is very little compare to the USA. I want to tell you American ,Please blame yourself first before you blame China or other countries .
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTotally agree with the drift of what you say, but need to point-out "details" regarding "wind energy"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFirstly the % conversion of the winds k.e. to say input to the alternator - of "modern wind turbines" is vastly less than 50% - even at low winds where the Betz coefficient - and the "flow-around the disc" of the air is graeatest the maximum obtainable % in PRINCIPLE (not theory !!) is 1/3 of the k.e. of the prevailing wind transfered to the rotor. If you like I can send you the algebraic, physical analysis to show that this is so. It took me about 3 months - on and off - to sieve it out of the atrocious blurb in "Wikipedia". The remainder of the 59-odd% gets lost to the wind. This is so because at max poss. transfer, the speed ratios of Prevailing : Directly in front of rotor : Just downwind of rotor are 3:2:1 - strange as this may seem, it's so !.
Operating at constant revs reduces this transfer coefficient progressively towards higher winds. This fact, combined with the third ? "design stupidity", increases the time taken to recoop the energy put into building the "farm" to totally un self-sustainable "lengths of time". Hundreds of years. This 3rd? "stupidity" is the Size of the things. T-A devices exhibit a necklace-shaped "economy of size" because the T and the A have Opposite "E of S" !! The lowest cost of facing any given area of weather is with TADs of a size where T costs about the same as A. This happens at around One metre dia. ! Just under this and the gearbox ratio becomes 1:1 !
As for the "irony" of "Clean cities run on dirty coal" - well; it's of course just another example of the in-escapable, and dreaded, - but very worthwhile being aware-of (some days) "2nd Law of "thermo" !!
Schools in all Nations need to Teach more on Solar Energy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhen this Old World starts getting you down. From Pollution the cost of OIL,
Heating Fuel,The Fuel you put in your Vehicles, You Electric Bills from
cooling air conditioners and lights not to speak of the Evil. The TAX that all
Governments Federal, State, County and City put on everything they can thing of.
They are supposed to serve us. Not put a burden on its people. That they are
elected to serve all the people you, not their own Pocket Books.
The Wicked keep putting higher taxes on everything. Making it a Heavy
Burden on many that are already struggling just to put food on the table.
Too many Americans and People of all Nations have lost their home to the tax collector or to foreclosures
from the unjust bankers greed. More are out of work and lost their homes then
in the GREAT DEPRESSION,in the last ten years. All Americans and many Nations
need good jobs and more of them. Not more TAXES and Wars.
There is a Industry that will employ workers and is growing by more then 50%
every year. There is a clear way for all up on the roof the Sun Light is free
fuel from GOD. Some wicked in Government have been backing Coal, Oil, Gas and
the Nuclear industries for too many years. These kickbacks to them were called
Subsidizing Industry Technology. Most all Wise Men and smart Economist and
Environmentalists call this padding their pockets and subsidizing back to the
Stone Age.
This might even been funny in the 1960′s. If it were a Fred Flintstones and
Barny Rubble Movie. About How to aggressively systematically work with the rich
to Pollute Ground Water quality to the point it is unsafe to drink or use.
So to they make a law you can only buy water from their pipe line. And to make
the air we breath full of Toxic Gases, Sulfur Dioxide and more Radioactive
and Acid Rain. Injuring all living things on Earth.
With Fred Flintstones to the Rescue. To help create a Healthier Environment.
For all Future Generations. By spotlighting Renewable Energy and Free Energy
like Wind and Solar. On his and his neighbor Barny Rubble’s roof. Even though
the greedy wicked would do everything to stop or slow them down.
Just imagine a dream that a 100 years ago one of the smartest man to ever
live had. A dream after working with Sun Light. That all on Earth would use
Free Energy Solar Energy.
That Dream also shared by a man that dreamed this over 2,250 years ago.
Both These men showed the world in their days. That this dream of Free Energy
Solar Energy World wide was very possible. Both of these two wise men had
first hand worked and researched their experiments for not just days, weeks
put for many years.
One of these men used chalk on Black Board the others board was a black
stone table or floor covered with white sand and used a stick. One of these
two Brilliant men had Kings from all most every Kingdom on Earth come to him
for advice.
The other went to almost every nation on Earth. Freely on his own dime
Teaching All that had ears to hear. He would win the Nobel Prize for doing so.
For his work on Solar Energy. Only after years of doing research and when most
Scientist on Earth would not take the nomination for the Nobel Prize in 1921 and knew
it clearly belonged to this Brilliant Scientist, this Brilliant scientist was then awarded it in
1922 for the 1921 year.
Now if this was just a Pretend TV Show or a Movie from a dream. This would
be a great Sci Fi Story Line. In the 1960′s or even better to day. Sci Fi story
Movie or dream No.
All that i Have told you did actually really happen. Albert Einstein won the
Nobel Prize for what? When Government leaders asked him to go on stage. To
address the Scientific Community and the World. About what he was given the
Nobel Prize for. When Albert Einstein Had done so. He addressed them with his
other accomplishments. For years most Governments did not have a ear for
Einstein’s Dream.
Archimedes around 250 B.C. was know most of the World over as a great
Mathematician. One of the first Scientist and Inventor of many things. Even
the first Laser Ray from the Sun’s Energy. Science Fiction is what you would
have though you were seeing if you could go back in time, it was real.To day
we call it The LASER, Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission. Back then it
was just called Amplification of the SUN, Archimedes Death Ray.
Thousand of years later it would be a Laser. That Albert Einstein help
make possible. That would unlock one of the first books on Earth.
The METHOD written by Archimedes. Then over more then 250 years later. When
well Faded was cut from a scroll and put into a book form, to be easier to
hide from the Romans by St. Paul. This book sold for over 2 million dollars.
In New york at Christie’s Auction House.
These two are at the top of the list of the World’s Greatest Scientists,
Viewed by Scientist around the World.
Sad that for the last 25 years or so of every teacher asked no matter what
Grade k through 16. At least 80% of them did not know Archimedes. Even sadder 90%
of them could not tell you what one of the most Brilliant Scientist to ever
live on Earth. Won the Nobel Prize for.
It was for the work Albert Einstein did to show the World it could get
Free Energy, Electric from the SUN. (THE PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT).
You ask this question to any Military general 95% of them will get it right.
Even more surprising 99% of them will know more about Archimedes then most
Teachers on Earth. Generals know Energy is the key to Winning.
At almost one thousand to one Archimedes always won against what all knew was
impossible odds. Archimedes home town city of Syracuse was victorious against the
greatest Kingdoms Armies on earth many times. Syracuse once was one of the most
powerful cities in the World.
I can only ask you to please look into Solar Energy, Solar Power, Solar Panels
and Solar array on the internet under Images. To see and explore for your self
then you be the JURY.
More then 10 years ago the Internet became most of the World’s Universities
Learning Platform. A Modern Day Archimedes Resource Center.
The Solar Energy Industry in the year 2010 and 2011 has leaped ahead farther and
faster then any other industry on Earth. The Solar Industry in the
United States of America alone, has grown by more then 50% in 2010 and
that number has gone up even higher this year 2011.
The strong benefits of Solar Energy is Clear Clean Air viewed in major cities
as improving air quality. Clean Cities. By all that use there brain for good .
View it as protecting the environment and Freedom from OIL , Coal and other Dirty Energy.
While many Governments has eased the Taxes on Renewable Energy . Some cities in
the states that these Legislators come from have
worked against these tax credits.
By doing so they are showing their true objectives. That they have stock in some
power plants and do not want to lose all that Money they have been taking out of
your pocket books for too many years. By taxing you on your Energy Bills. They want
to Control Power and Tax Everything they can. Not let People be free to get their
own power from the top of their own roofs.
By adding their own taxes to them. These wicked leaders think that this will take
away the incentives to harvest the Free Energy from the Sun.
The Public ability and awareness for all on Earth to use the Natural Solar Energy,
is Contributing to Production of Solar Energy Products. Making the Solar
Energy Industry the fastest growing on Earth. A Wealth of Free Energy From The SUN.
The more the wicked try to slow the Solar Energy Industry down, it only Enhances
involvement and the efforts of the Good at Heart.
through out History Many have tried to wipe the good from our history books.
Read the Bible Jesus will Bless you more then i can.
SolarWorld has been presenting a Einstein Award to personalities who have advanced
the use of solar energy – and helped our Planet Earth.
We all need to tell all our Teachers and Leaders to use our Nation’s Energy more wisely
and efficient. Start to Teach all our Young about Renewable Energy Solar, Wind, and so on.
Not to for get Flintstones, Fred well there are many the one that is in front of all others
Started back in the 1970′s and started a small catalog that has turned into a Wealth of
knowledge into Renewable Energy a book called REAL GOODS Solar Living Source Book.
By Mr. John Schaeffer.
The world is going more with SOLAR, Wind and Geothermal Powered Energy. Speaking of
Geothermal Curt Lubben is just one of many sales representatives that has sold over a
million dollars of Renewable Energy in less then 365 days in the year 2011. The day of the
need for Dirty Oil, Coal and Dangerous Nuclear Power are coming to a end fast. The Freedom Element
Living with Hydrogen That Dr. Addison Bain has showed the world will free most all of the
need for the Power Grid and Oil CEO's.
Very soon most of the world will not need Oil. Renewable Energy like Solar, Wind, Hydro and
Geothermal are now replacing dirty Energy like Oil. Solar Energy is growing World Wide at a
record pace.
Hybrid Cars are being sold all over the Earth. Soon Hybrid Vehicles that run on Electric /
Hydrogen, The Freedom Element. Will free the world from Oil. Thanks to a Great Scientist
Dr. Addison Bain’s Years of work for our Nation and with the Space Program on Hydrogen.
The day will come when many will see Solar Panels on most everything. What Free Electric
the sun makes will be used to split water into Hydrogen. The Hydrogen will be used to heat
our homes and to cook on and put into are Hybrid Vehicles that will run on
(The Freedom Element). Very soon most all will be filling up their Vehicles at Home.
Free from the Sun’s Solar Energy. Just as Dr.Addison Bain has done for years The Fist Hydrogen
Home Refueling Station in the World. That Dr. Addison Bain built by his self.
GOD Bless you for reading this.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
guide your Heart.
The Lord’s little Helper
Paul Felix Schott