If we ever manage to generate all of our power by renewable means?

Question

If we can imagine a time when all of our energy is generated by renewable means, will we reach a point that we are degenerating the ability to renew? For instance, if you imagine a windmill generating X amount of electricity, the wind power that went into that amount of electricity is now lost to the environment at large. If you imagine a world-wide landscape of windmills, then is it possible that these very windmills will one day absorb a measurable fraction of the atmosphere's wind energy? And what will this do to the environment overall? The same thing would apply to any kind of scheme to harvest tidal energy. After all, the human race uses an awfull lot of power. I don't suppose this will actually be a problem soon. It'll take centuries, most likely. To me, though, it seems like a good reminder that you can't get something for nothing and we'd be wise to keep that in mind.

thanks for answers so far. a few of you have suggested that any energy we take could be replaced by a large "pool" of potential available energy (if I'm paraphrasing correctly) and this is a good point. And if we ever develop the technology to get this far, then we can likely start intercepting solar energy that would otherwise miss the Earth. I doubt if we could deplete that in the time remaining to the Sun.
This probably isn't a huge worry.

Answer 1

It doesn't work that way. Wind isn't powered by "wind energy." Wind itself is renewable because it's caused by other things, like gravity and the distribution of heat accross the planet. Amoung other things.

So you can't deplete wind energy exactly. Now, that isn't to say you couldn't disrupt airflow such that it would cause harm to the planet, but it would take more than windmills to do so. A windmill disrupts such a small amount of air that it has only a very small effect. If you covered the world with windmills it still woudln't have a large impact.

Other energy sources work the same way. Solar doesn't deplete the sun, because the sun is giving up that energy anyway. The planet needs heat energy, but even if we built billions of solar panals we wouldn't be using enough of it to make any sort of difference.

Answer 2

I agree! Right now, renewable energy is a small part of all our energy needs, so it has little impact. Once upon a time, petroleum was such a small part. Back then there were no concerns about CO2 because so little was being made. Back then there was no worry about running out because use was so low that it would have lasted 100,000 years! We cannot know the environmental consequences of any power source until it is BIG. In 100 years big solar may be though of the way we think of big oil today.

Answer 3

Before we get to the point where we cover the earth's surface with wind, solar fields and tidal generators. We will have solar collectors in space that will microwave electricity down to earth.

Also environmentalist what to stop power production because; wind power is killing birds and bats, tidal generators might have an negative effect on ocean habaitats and solar fields can effect plant life under the panels.

Answer 4

The moment we manage to create something that will allow us to create our own energy efficiently and cheaply, some corporation will pay billions to own the patent and then sue anyone that attempts to use it only to cause us to make the sheet heads richer and our life well "puppeteered" and miserable, keeping us always on the brink of bankruptcy.

Interesting video out about the electric cars that were all recalled and destroyed, start there as an example of why we wont ever see a manageable means of renewable energy.

But anyway, I agree, you cant get something for nothing. Wastes, cause and effect, etc. all have to be considered not just now but also the potential future.

Answer 5

Don't agree that we will be short of wind or tidal energy as the imbalance in the atmosphere has also given a impetus in the growth of these two sources,moreover due to global warming the colder regions which were unable to generate solar energy are now used to it.

The Conclusion:
We will never fell short but our dependency will go on increasing with time on these sources of energy as Gas & Petroleum extinct.

Have a nice time.

Answer 6

you cant get something for nothing you say ? i disagree , what about the sun ? perpetual motion is only around the corner from dark and light matter and if you want to use the imagination imagine thousands of "mini suns" about the size of golf ball`s each creating more than enough energy to power huge cities , once we understand the infinite magnetic perpetual motion of the sun we can re-create it on a miniature scale , " you did say use the imagination"

Answer 7

no offeense but it just sems like it too be mem after reading all that it just seems liek a bunch of mumbo jumbo your not trying too make it pint pr anything seemeslike your just talking too talk