Practical Aspects of Renewables

What is one of the main challenges mentioned in the text regarding the switch to carbon-neutral technologies?

• Lack of public awareness

• High cost of implementation

• Insufficient government support

• Limited availability of raw materials

According to the text, what is a limitation of solar energy?

• It is too expensive to produce

• It is not accessible at night when demand increases

• It produces too much carbon dioxide

• It cannot be used for heating homes

What is one of the solutions mentioned for capturing and storing carbon dioxide?

• Using electric cars

• Implementing carbon capture technologies in factories

• Increasing the use of wind turbines

• Reducing the use of fertilizers

What is a challenge for the transportation sector in becoming carbon-neutral, as mentioned in the text?

• Lack of lightweight materials

• High cost of electric vehicles

• Need for drastic changes in transportation methods

• Limited availability of solar panels

What is one of the benefits of solar and wind power mentioned in the text?

• They can produce electricity at a similar price to coal or natural gas

• They are available 24/7 without interruption

• They do not require any storage solutions

• They are the only sources of carbon-neutral energy

What is one significant cost associated with implementing new technologies to reduce greenhouse gases, according to Plata?

• Increased labor costs

• Millions of dollars for infrastructure

• Higher energy consumption

• Increased raw material costs

What is one example of a political solution to incentivize companies to become carbon neutral?

• Reducing taxes for green companies

• Providing subsidies for renewable energy

• Charging companies for the greenhouse gases they emit

• Offering grants for research and development

According to the text, which technologies are still far from being used to their full potential?

• Nuclear power and biofuels

• Wind and solar power, carbon capture, and electrified heat and transportation

• Geothermal energy and tidal power

• Hydroelectric power and biomass energy

What are scientists and engineers working on to address the climate crisis, as mentioned in the text?

• New approaches to energy storage, manufacturing, and transportation fuels

• Developing new fossil fuel extraction methods

• Increasing the efficiency of coal power plants

• Expanding the use of natural gas

What does Plata suggest about the role of young scientists, engineers, and policy architects in solving climate problems?

• They should focus on traditional energy sources

• They have limited impact on solving climate issues

• They can contribute in many ways to solve important problems

• They should prioritize economic growth over environmental concerns