I would ask: why? If it really was possible to replace nuclear with a practical number of panels and flywheels (for example), that's what we should go for ASAP. I'm not even thinking about climate change (I'm not a follower of that particular religion); but just at the level of knowing that energy is guaranteed forever, we should do it if the numbers add up.
Few things, we've hit "Peak Oil", meaning we've past the point at peak oil production, and now is in decline, year over year. Not by crazy amounts, but it is in decline. Our demand has finally outstripped our energy supply. The only way to remedy this, is "fix" demand.
Second, renewables pale in comparison to non-renewables. The startup costs are enormous currently by relative comparison, and the land-use required to replace non-renewables simply doesn't exist (you can't just plop down wind farms wherever you feel like, likewise I need not mention how this applies to solar panels), they're simply not reliable with current technological status of those technologies. So barring any discovery of an energy source as net-calorie rich as oil is, these forms of energy are simply not viable on a plant racing toward 8 billion. I'm not even going to mention hydro and such, it's caveats have been understood far longer.
Third, nuclear stands to eliminate this energy issue, but it faces a crisis of stability. Basically like solar panels in a sense, but just all the start-up costs and time multiplied thousands fold. To get a power-plant up and running from idea, to serving a grid or so.. is a decade + ordeal when you have to adhere to safety standards (of which we all agree is something no one should be skimping on when dealing with nuclear). So it takes forever to get up and running, costs billions, and is still concerning if a meltdown (or goodness forbid an explosion occurs).
Also global warming isn't a religion (so I hope this was said colloquially, but in a slightly degrading tone to make joke of the stereotypical hippy-type person global warming proponents have been childishly painted as).
At any rate, none of the current solutions will ever replace the ease of energy afforded to us by the discovery of oil and non-renewables. There are those in denial saying we will never actually run out, or that there are vast stores still possibly present at the polar regions, and things like the Canadian Tar Sands. First off, if there was much oil left, companies wouldn't be shelling out $200 million per off-shore oil rig, that alone is enough evidence to demonstrate that land-based reserves are in acute decline. Second, with current political climates, and the ACTUAL climate, prospecting and actually producing something viable from the northern reserves is such a monumentous effort, it seemingly is impossible without encroaching on massive costs (where it basically isn't worth taking the oil out of the ground even if it is there, which is basically what is mean't when people say we've run out of oil.. not technically, but in practice when the cost to get it out outpaces the the price it can be sold for to the worldwide market). And finally, the Canadian Tar Sands are an ecological disaster that even the most staunch deniers of global warming admit the fall-off will be great if they are exploited.
There are lots of talks about what should be done, but VERY little talking about getting anything actually done. When you have the buffoonary displays of for instance Trump leaving the Paris Climate Accords, you're basically providing the litmus test at just how seriously we're going to be fucking ourselves. And the "told you so's" at that point will pale in comparison to the every progressing suffering that will ensue. I am very pessimistic about the whole ordeal partly due to the human element and stupidity, and any prospect of discovering another Oil, is not a very realistic expectation to base any of your optimism in. The destabilizing effects are currently being felt as we speak, both environmentally, and economically when you take a look at the per-emptive hoarding of resources on an Empire level. Lots of superpowers not willing to budge on territories and lots of bullshit threats neither sides are prepared to back their words up with. These escalations will only progress as time goes on.
- you have a proper day out.
