A Little Explanation: A Blog about Energy in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

3/29/2012

Kaohsiung Harbor at dusk

Kaohsiung: Renewed, but renewable?

The solar scales of the dragon-shaped Kaohsiung National Stadium
is a stunning example of forward-looking city beautification

In a new city, on a new trajectory, I was very excited about the possibilities of what alternative energy can accomplish in a city that seems to be willing to invest in its infrastructure. Not only is Kaohsiung building various solar and wind facilities, it has also significantly cleaned up the rivers, only recently opened an extensive subway system, engaged in widespread city beautification, and generally left behind its well-deserved image as a smog-ridden, dirty, industrial town. Although some days pollution can be so bad even the massive 85 Building becomes a hazy shadow of its 高 (the Chinese character for tall it is said to resemble) self, it is a city that is clearly on the rise. I have chosen this flawed, lovely city located on the near-tropical southern coast of Taiwan and awash in ripe renewable energy to be my blogging base of operations.

Kaohsiung's tallest skyscraper, "The 85 Building"

A stunning view of the Love

Boat docks at night

A line of solar streetlamps just

beyond one of the centrifuges that

have kept the river free of

household waste since 2003

Formosa Boulevard MRT station 

is an impressive non-green

recent addition

What This Blog's All About

Alternative energy has long fascinated me as both an avid technology reader and a clandestine activist, but practicality prevents me from completely embracing the green paradise that this movement is running towards. Solar and wind sound great, but a complete transformation in the timely fashion required to mitigate climate change would cause massive blackouts, economic distaster, and widespread famine. The world, however, is becoming aware that the supply of fossil fuels is finite and the atmosphere cannot sustain indefinite abuse. Simply because of sheer necessity, it seems our only path is an inexorable advance to a society completely run on renewable and clean energy; the only remaining questions being when and how.

The Practical Argument

The main reasons we cannot make the shift this minute of this hour of this day are all related to feasibility in one sense or another. In the case of solar energy, this has to do with high prices and low yields, needing more time and widespread application to improve the technology and let economies of scale drop prices. Wind is in slightly better financial standing than solar, but faces a lot of resistance even by its most ardent supporters like the Kennedy's and John Kerry (who later flip-flopped, cementing his record as one of the best) when its in their backyards (or in this case, in view of their Martha's Vineyard mansions). Nuclear has come a long way with new safety measures and nuclear reprocessing limiting waste, but these are being implemented too slowly and most reactors are still using out-dated technology.

Value vs Values

The one factor that is keeping the world from pushing renewable clean energy is cheap access to fossil fuels. One thing humanity has proven over and over again is that anything is attainable, but my economic background reminds me that in large groups, people move towards what is easy and what is cheap. Subsidies and tax breaks are currently pushing most development, but at some point, we will cross a line and alternative energy will move forward on its own momentum. As alternative energy technology and prices improve and fossil fuels become more expensive with increasing demand and a slowing supply, we are constantly moving closer to this convergence.

Purpose

The purpose of this blog is to document this process and see where we are, practically speaking, on the road to mass adoption of clean renewable energy. This is the angle that I find the most important for understand our use of energy and also the most intensely interesting. I hope you enjoy the blog and question, comment, and criticize to your heart's content!