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Comment by killingtime74 | Hacker News Reader

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killingtime74·

In a way hydro, solar and wind put us past this hurdle. I guess they’re coming!

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solar is the only one that doesn’t spin a magnet next to copper wires

It could if we would let it.

There's nothing wrong with spinning magnets.

i could totally see solar simply being an array of mirrors to point sunlight at some water to heat it up so the steam turns a turbine

https://www.seia.org/initiatives/concentrating-solar-power

Also known as Solar thermal power plants. Which in cases of some implementations even have option for limited storage.

Hydro is just a steam engine at non-steam temperatures.

And wind is just a steam engine with less steam.

And Solar is just a steam engine with less steam, and less engine.

No, hydro is mostly solar - the water wouldn't be flowing downwards to the sea if it wasn't for weather caused by the sun.

Solar isn't less steam and less engine, it's literally just solar, whereas everything else but geothermal and nuclear is solar with more steps. Natural gas and oil is just solar stored in paleo compost.

If that's true than, then your body is mostly solar with a bit of food chain, therefore making your comment above... Also... Solar.....

I need to go hug my wife and children

I don't disagree.

Isn't hydro more like gravity ?

Yeah it’s useful to have gravity on your side if your steam is liquid.

Hydro just uses gravity to make the pressure for the turbine instead of heat + phase change.

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