The Future of Energy | 2023 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate

Once a year is not nearly enough! Love these debates

I do live off grid using mostly solar panels where there is low light. The strategy is having enough solar panels to fill the batteries at 100% in a few hours only. So, whenever there is a bit of sun, you refill fast. The rest of the time, bi-facial panels will still generate a few kWh per day in the worst conditions. I made it through 9 days without sun this fall; +- 5kWh of production per day or less, still enough for internet and a computer!

Can you believe people still sit around and watch commercial television? - With cool interesting stuff like this for free 😁👍

Asimov was incredible, and this debate is the least we can do to remember him, his books will remain relevant for milennia to come.

1:05 Surely we'll all rejoice if that happens. But as much of an optimist as I like to consider myself, I have to tell you, if by 2050 there is ANY fusion power plant generating net energy, I will be SHOCKED. Any size, just one plant, price no object (for the time being). ONE PLANT. I won't say it's impossible, but that's really out there.

I wish these would happen more frequently than once a year! Great stuff! Thanks a lot!

My one major "complaint", if you wish to call it that, about Dr Tyson: he does not emphasize nearly enough that science is EXPENSIVE. That technology is EXPENSIVE. That one should NEVER EVER TAKE FOR GRANTED or ASSUME that some technology will continue to progress into the future. That technology happens ONLY because people CHOOSE to make it happen. They can CHOOSE to be STUPID, instead, and slow down progress.

Not a professional: What about the MIT roll to roll graphene production on a copper substrate. Dissolve some of that copper and expose the graphene to make a copper graphene copper pattern to make a Brownian battery? and using plasma sounds like an awesome idea, but go full circle. Chuck down trash and toxic waste ( past the water bed) and have usable products out of what effectively is a caldron of elements and compounds which you can collect by using heat and pressures. The plasma can be fueled by geothermal energy anyways even by solar and wind.

Closed loop systems don't have to use fracking for underground water system flow. Eavor (a Canadian company) use such a system and it becomes a very versatile system when you are not tethered to fracking for geo thermal.

Status of the Magma Energy Project Dunn, J. C. (Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM.) Abstract The current magma energy project is assessing the engineering feasibility of extracting thermal energy directly from crustal magma bodies. The estimated size of the U.S. resource (50,000 to 500,000 quads) suggests a considerable potential impact on future power generation. In a previous seven-year study, we concluded that there are no insurmountable barriers that would invalidate the magma energy concept. Several concepts for drilling, energy extraction, and materials survivability were successfully demonstrated in Kilauea Iki lava lake, Hawaii. The present program is addressing the engineering design problems associated with accessing magma bodies and extracting thermal energy for power generation. The normal stages for development of a geothermal resource are being investigated: exploration, drilling and completions, production, and surface power plant design. Current status of the engineering program and future plans are described. Publication: Presented at the Symposium on Geothermal Energy, New Orleans, La., 10 Jan. 1988

I've been waiting for this year's debate.

I hope the next one is about Technological Acceleration. Seems like a suitable debate that is currently taking place. Something that opened my eyes to e/acc were books by Alan Toffler titled, Future Shock, Third Wave, and Powershift. Not to mention Doctor Tyson's explanations of NASA spinoffs. The benefits of pushing our boundaries in how we got cordless drills and the like.

Tammy Ma's answer make me believe we won't have fusion in 2050, she is a fusion scientist, if she believe we can make it, she will just simply answer "Yes." But she is very coy about the question.

Have been waiting it all the year long! Yes, this would way better to have two conversations a year. But in any way, thank You! ❤

The only debate where the MC talks more than anyone else by an order of magnitude

One thing of substance in this show, at least: To sequester the excess CO2 already in the Atmosphere involves quantities, and costs, that are NOT prohibitive. Don't believe that. It's bunk. We have already extracted quantities of carbon out of the ground that are comparable. And unlike the original fossil fuel extraction, undoing that is NOT a mining operation. Complete the transition to carbon-free energy, and this is totally feasible. And for the most part, if we do it right, it only needs to happen once.

Love the annual debate ! But please give them comfy rotating chair ! :P

I like the systems mind of Anna but I just don't see that future being feasible with the state of our political/industrial complex. Olivia is spot on. We need sustainable mindset. We need to think long term but with focus on anythingnwe can do now, breaking through engineering political and corporate barriers. Also having energy systems won't be helpful if no one can afford it or won't be accessible in certain areas.. Thanks for the great talk!

I have found that, in these talks, the moderator doesn't disperse the conversation between ALL of the 'debaters' well enough. A very few of the debaters vastly dominate the conversation. Also, the constant interruption by the moderator is annoying and only sometimes as funny as might be assumed. I would like to hear from all of the guests in a more equal way. The interruptions by the moderator also, at times, cause confusion in the communication from the guests.

Awesome job putting this together again! Loved the panel and guest appearance of Jamie ☢️⚡️🧪