Bill Gates Talks About the Future of Energy

Bill Gates talks about the future of energy usage and his investments in alternatives to fossil fuels. He speaks with WSJ's Alan Murray at the 2012 ECO:nomics conference.
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[@hrthrhs]

This was 8 years ago. If we all just starting constructing nuclear plants back then, by now most of that first wave of plants would have been finished, and most countries would now be generating mostly co2 free, cheap power like France is.

[@yengsabio5315]

It's 10 years ago at this point. Here in the Philippines, I've been saying more than a decade back that my country must start investing in nuclear energy. Up to now, I'm still saying it!

[@Jim54_]

Society’s rejection of Nuclear power was a massive mistake, and the environment has payed dearly for it as we continue to rely on fossil fuels for our electricity

[@keithfullmer1058]

Having worked in nuclear industry, in R&D, I have a different opinion. There were problems with the plant designs which small modifications could not address. My opinion is, the US politics and industry momentum, following TMI and even today, would/will not allow the development of new/Gen 4 reactors - reactors that are walk-away safe, address waste storage, and other benefits was/is not happening in the US. Also, even if we had the design it is unlikely it could profitably be licensed and built in the US. For example, the CEO of chevron recently said that it is unlikely we will ever build another oil refinery in the US. Again, my opinion, but I believe that there some possible real benefits to our current condition. It doesn't look like the US will, but other nations are working much harder to design Gen 4 reactors - the US is doing better, but there's still great resistance. The fact that this was years ago but limited progress is significant. I'm hopeful for Gates in Wyoming, but... I'm hopeful we'll see some 'real change'. There are a lot of people working to make it happen.

[@susanrobinson9670]

| CAME HERE TO LEARN HOW TO INVEST AFTER LISTENING TO A GUY ON RADIO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING AND HOW HE MADE $460,000 IN 4 MONTHS FROM $160k, SOMEHOW THIS VIDEO HAS HELPED SHED LIGHT ON SOME THINGS, BUT I'M STILL CONFUSED, I'M A NEWBIE AND I'M OPEN TO IDEAS...

[@ethanmartin7904]

Investing in stocks or crypto is a good idea, a good trading system would put you through many days of success.

[@sebastianrichardson5631]

Most people are scared because of the chance of loss incurred while trading

[@laurenpelletier5379]

I'm thinking of investing in the crypto market, but I'm taking my time to understand how it really works

[@liambrown2909]

It is possible to produce superior performance provided you do something different from the majority. However most of us tend to pay more attention to the shiniest position in the market to the cost of proper diversification.

[@carlosrobertovega8200]

@@liambrown2909 Exactly, the trick is to diversify your investment, don't panic when everyone else is and invest consistently.

[@sergioleoz5998]

alguien sabe como se llama el título del libro que mencionó sobre autos y casas?

[@douglasforeman8627]

Maybe easy code loop estimate # of evergreen pine needles time configuration. Useful BTU return s.

[@Meatchop]

What stops hydro storage in Japan?

[@jb678901]

The sad truth is that we already had a GENERATION IV reactor design prototyped at ORNL back in the 1960's and it successfully ran for about 7 years. Too bad Bill doesn't invest in the LFTR, because it avoids the transuranic waste and proliferation issues associated with Uranium/Plutonium Fast Breeders, avoids solid fuel designs (expensive, in efficient), and uses a base fuel (Th-232) which is much more available and can be applied in a low cost, passively safe, lower pressure (near atm) design.

[@joshuatree9037]

there are more of us than we realize, thank you.

[@jlnewsonjr]

anybody can tell me the name of the book that he mentioned

[@sergioleoz5998]

do yoy know right now what book it was ? i am looking for the title too jaja

[@dragon90815]

The Tera-Watt Generator should install the Cabling under the Ground for safer distribution,.

[@cerverg]

How about Thorium and LFTR ?

[@samuelforsyth6374]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/laDYkKuprKdlmJI

[@samuelforsyth6374]

closest thing to market in us..

[@hrthrhs]

No need. Uranium is just fine.

[@cerverg]

@@hrthrhs Uranium 235 is in very limited supply and it's expensive, creates a lot of pollution to extract. process and enrich. Thorium, on the other hand, is just a waste product of existing rare earth extraction processes and it's 100% Th232 - no need for enrichment

[@samuelforsyth6374]

@@hrthrhs it is running 'spent' fuel.. the molten salt instead of solid fuel is the gen-v part

[@richard-social8125]

his thoughts are so clear

[@vamseekotha]

people might be ranting about how bill gates don't know about lithium batteries , but it is not economic to build batteries. lithium batteries have very limited life and building hydrogen plants is extremely difficult. He did his research and invested billions. Educate yourself people.

[@Juventinos]

wood chips.... killing the forest for energy YAY that's the green revolution we all want...

[@bretonkyle]

"his ability to breed woodchucks...." lmao

[@yoice2k]

3:52 teehee he said hard and long.

[@CamburCom]

A lot has changed since 2012!

[@Rayquesto]

"In terms of the first derivative... time rate of change" haha

[@ravindertalwar553]

Yery useful information and discussion in this event.

[@dickhamilton3517]

'will' at end of 46th minute: doesn't come through competition, Bill, it comes about because of crisis.

[@naimulhaq9626]

Bill is honest about how difficult it is for new forms of energy that is cheap and environment friendly. 50 or 75 years is a good estimate for the future.

[@kevinkinney737]

+Naimul Haq Not when it's has already been developed and ready to be designed into a working application from a portable system, to powering a refit power plant. The difficult part is trying to tell people and getting people like Bill Gates to hear about it. When did Fukushima melt down? I designed a new power system back the to re-power that island nation. I tried the .W.H., Oprah, Al Gore, and so on to interview the project, zip. Mr. Bill Gates many times. zip. They are all set on the course they want and being rich, all of them, look at to future bottom line on their investments, all part of their entertainment. To show a possible risk to investment, is not going to go over well. Hence no reply's. Crazy inventor, me? In case your wondering, no, passionate - driven to get true green abundant energy out in the world today. God Bless, Kevin Kinney

[@naimulhaq9626]

Kevin Kinney The truth cannot be hidden, it will come out. Is it possible to outline your invention of 'abundant energy'?

[@kevinkinney737]

Naimul Haq It's not only possible, but it is easy to do. I could do it, to be so crystal clear, a person who knows a screw driver is a Drink, would get it, so you bet, I could. Thanks for asking.

[@ve9jonny]

He talks very knowledgeably about energy for someone who started out in computing

[@ulizez89]

When Bill Gates have something to say: you sit down and listen =)

[@GeoLawson]

everything Gates says about vaccines are LIES!

[@jc2k1]

What makes you say that?

[@Nexfero]

did anyone else catch the math reference at 5:40?

[@tsaigillian8838]

windows is long time...some ppl think his product is cheap...so...i dont know bill more..but windows with notbook is nice for media...still use windows..hope he can still give new job ...

[@Bosshogg386]

There hasn't been increased temperatures since 1997.

[@HafizBahar]

do we have the technology to do it currently? and how much would the "lightning power plant" cost

[@kimteangchou87]

Best team is the team that understand about best market that get alongside of power and respond.

[@SHINNBUCKED]

Questions from the audience give great insight into why the world is so messed up.

[@LaidBackTechTalk]

your so right one good deed does not make up for a lifetime of wrongs

[@world123cc3]

If anybody ask for me James.,i think you all must ready fund or money in our Faudation WSJ in THAILAND too..TQVM All in the World

[@rachelwren-vipond6029]

has he not heard of artificial photosynthesis.dan nocera? et all?

[@ThanosSofroniou]

So solar, wind and wave energy are not good ways of sustainable energy?

[@chris24hdez]

20:09 🤣

[@bhadreshthummar1367]

The interviewer should learn to listen

[@ThanosSofroniou]

Btw I don't know much about the subject but wikipedia says that after the Fukushima nuclear accident, Germany and Italy will close all their nuclear reactors. The problem with solar from what I know is capturing the energy, storing it and also using it efficiently but there's actually a tremendous amount of it so it's not that solar is not good but we suck on using it. Also there is a list on wiki again on nuclear and it's pretty big...it's not an aircraft accident or something small is nuclear

[@TheSpartanburger]

Jesus Christ that first question could not have gone on longer and been more confusing.

[@jean-claudeb3235]

Mr. Eugenics. He's on a mission. For himself - Turn down the sound and watch his body language..

[@SeijuroRen]

We should rename high pressure nuclear contained nuclear.

[@samurai1999]

If you google 'thorium reactors' you can see the latest developments - it looks like there is growing momentum for Thorium around the world!

[@Nagarajukuruva]

Sir, we are working towards a technology which can replace the conventional sources of energy in the future. can we get funded for this project.

[@douglasforeman8627]

Similar to private Doodle briefcase.

[@starsnstrife]

I think that solar energy, wind energy and tide energy should all be used as a supplement. But not as the main source of our energy.

[@paulwarren796]

IS THERE ROOM FOR THE CALIBUR OF FRIENDSHIP ?

[@bobo888bobo]

It seems to me with the prices for electricity in places like california (0.35 to 0.51 per kwh) for the top residential rates then the payback period for $2/watt solar panels you can buy from amazon is under 6000 hours of use. if you figure 200 x 10 hour days per year, that would be 3 years payback. if if you say you only get half of rated output, that is 6 years. also Solar thermal is very inexpensive for the heat energy produced. It does not seem impractical to me

[@darwinjina]

how long did it take for your solar panels to pay back?

[@JeremyFisher78]

LFTR Reactors are actually quite small. They don't have those great big cooling towers that Uranium Fast Breed Reactors have to steam cool the chamber. We don't have the technology to have powerful and efficient Solar Panels, but there is study into Nantenna and i do support the research into it. But LFTR technology exits now, is far more efficient than current Solar Power Technology and has been dismissed for far too long.

[@CalebMcFarland]

Hey, not too far from that 2022 timeline.

[@dekubaner]

i fear the guy doing the interview has no clue, minimum background or basic knowledge about energy. gee!

[@jamesmorton7881]

50% NEVER.

[@buckeye200175]

No energy no development

[@mrme8795]

is he talking about thorium riacter

[@verticalFarm0]

no

[@antred11]

Has anyone managed to make thorium reactors economically viable? If this is so safe and easy, why hasn't anyone done it yet?

[@Bosshogg386]

Read about it

[@user-mg5hu7qm2k]

遇到困難 就像拳擊手出拳擊開問題見隙間走下去

[@13publictelevision25]

Bill gates is a great humanistic person-we need more national leaders like him

[@zapfanzapfan]

In the spring of 2012 there was about 100 GW installed solar, now it is over 300 GW, so triple in 5 years. Installed wind power in the past 5 years have gone from about 250 GW to 500 GW, so double. CO2 emissions world wide seems to not have grown for the past 3 years. Changes can come faster than we think, I'm cautiously optimistic.

[@Apjooz]

"...I'm cautiously optimistic." Me too. If the biggest wind farm in China gets its planned expansion then it will be the biggest "powerplant" in the world at 20 GW of capacity. These are impressive things. And I think that once we achieve peak fossil fuel demand then many more people will become aware and motivated by it and new goals will be laid out.

[@1692shannon]

how much energy is spent on the millions of x box machines every day?

[@douglasforeman8627]

Good luck Landshark Boss. shares.?

[@zinaj9437]

Sierra Energy! Their concept is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!

[@keithfullmer1058]

Thanks, there's a great opportunity.

[@MrKorrazonCold]

"Bill, we have a hugh energy problem! The work for energy compression or contraction. Electrical potential comes from light+waves from surrounding masses (Faradays Law) compressing the wave+amplitude the shorter the oscillating wave-lengths the greater the mass or energy! From surrounding masses compressing gas and oil to atoms from active cores of galaxies because Mach's Principle "All inertial ref-frames determind by the composite matter of the universe is the Basis of Einsteins relativity."

[@tempersne]

Lol.. why do you need to reduce carbon? Carbon is plant fuel..

[@josephsigelman6599]

He is great as usual!

[@geetapathak2346]

rafimohmand

[@highwaykill98]

metal.

[@Bloated_Tony_Danza]

The comments from the audience were irrelevent and uniteresting.

[@Bloated_Tony_Danza]

Ross Rain is a simpleton

[@daydreamer5580]

I like this but he says 'the entire history of the planet'. Problem is we DON'T KNOW what the 'entire history' of the planet is. We just have emotional people and need more rational team players.

[@joshuatree9037]

your not doing your research on solar and storage cells as well as wind power and hydro power. The whole earth is solar powered, if you use the same amount of space to put solar panels rather than a nuclear plant but would power a fairly large city.

[@alessandragomes7499]

Qui ótimo.

[@physicsimpossible73]

How on earth did Bill actually understand half them questions?!?!

[@ganymede242]

He is incredibly clever. When you consider that this isn't even his main area of interest and he is involved in so many other projects - his depth of knowledge is incredibly impressive.

[@jawelNeezeker]

He has alot of knowledge. He said in an interview that he reads a few books a months and always takes notes of what he's reading.

[@juancarlossande1360]

Quiero hablar con usted de economía xD

[@RurickTheGreat]

You have to mine thorium while waste uranuim is with us now and avaliable, plus development of thorium reactors, though long-term is a great idea, short term its a money pit that no body really wants to put their money in.

[@jacknisen]

Carbon capture is a total waste of time.

[@JurijFedorov]

What a brilliant man. One of the greatest living minds.

[@h.tomaszgrzybowski4140]

Most likely a hypocrite who knows that there are phenomena which violate the law of energy conservation, some of them PRACTICALLY USEFUL. My email: [e-mail]

[@abz998]

Lol to above. One of my favourite living human bean.

[@arthurzettel6618]

One day there will be Wireless electricity. When this happens there will be no more electricity bills.

[@tompalmer5986]

One of the most profoundly beneficial things wealthy philanthropists could do for humanity would be to create a billion dollar prize for anyone who can find a cost effective way to desalinate sea water. (By "cost effective" I mean competitive with the watershed in temperate climates. Also, disposal of waste brine would have to be figured in.) Look at how much land would become arable if we had this. They say that water will be more precious than oil in the next century.

[@erikm9768]

Hes adamant , as he was when he proposed that no one will ever need more than 10kb memory.

[@douglasforeman8627]

Miracle. Nice quoter. Just got my work done could be millions of dear. Miracle machine bank.

[@nonchalantd]

Why can't the plants just be put in some deserted place?

[@stephencurry5728]

The problem is every day, whether in this decade not achieved To curb global warming, the XXII century will unbreathable.

[@oshanerichardson]

This guy is fucking smart. damn!!

[@johnnastrom9400]

No.... he is an idiot (and one who got very lucky with his daddy's help). And so are you and idiot for thinking he is smart.

[@oshanerichardson]

It's one for disagreeing with me & giving me your opinion or critixizing mines. But there is no need to call me an idiot. Just like anyone else the foundation off my knowledge starts somewhere.

[@TheChristianRight09]

John Nastrom I am the daddy,of 7 sons...

[@johnnastrom9400]

TheChristianRight09 And your point is?

[@artpixie4467]

this guy has an answer for everything, energy, vaccines, technology(5g) tesla had put together the use of free energy and we/re following these muppets dc

[@dr.mimibee2895]

Ikr.... they're hanging on to every word like he is god... not. This guy bill gates has a nefarious agenda.

[@Mrbfgray]

A lot of what he says is laughable, literally funny.

[@etbadaboum]

Forget Amory Lovins and other fairy tall tellers, read Vaclav Smil!

[@paulg4621]

good idea。

[@chvandorp]

Nuclear vs. conventional power is like airplanes vs. cars: a lot of effort is put in making the first category safe. However, when things go wrong, in the Nuclear/Airplane case, accidents are often REALLY bad.

[@SkyPilot54]

Zero Point energy coupled with graphite capacitors

[@Henriburger1]

Zero Point energy is fake techno jargon from movies. It doesn't exist at all in any sense. Just like light sabers aren't real, sorry to burst your bubble.

[@myztic123]

wow the questions at the end are absolutely awful.

[@douglasforeman8627]

What is possible. Steady pace preface numbers. Original reinventing fire. Return on BTU s. The father here might imagine. Terrawatts. Connasuor not quite the word. What happening others not so aware creation also participants.

[@aldosalthren]

this video is clearly above your level of comprehension

[@samurai1999]

What about Thorium, Bill?

[@ThrallsBoys]

He's to honest

[@ivanamarjanovic6372]

well....nobody is laughing now

[@RurickTheGreat]

Cheaper once its avaliable to build - but not cheaper to develop, but still we need another billionair to take care of the thorium design.

[@alisonmez6713]

Awesome amazing beautiful people amazing beautiful places ❤

[@jacknisen]

Gates is wrong about the 10,000 year life of carbon thing. Atmospheric atomic tests have shown that the lifetime of excess atmospheric carbon is about 20 years.

[@user-dn5mc5rc6k]

,,한국ㅡ미국에서 공개입찰 시행도 가능합니다ㆍok

[@douglasforeman8627]

Maybe advice too moderator of discussion. Do you have you work done existing have good and problematic. What are we talking about from existing.

[@douglasforeman8627]

I am not making fun of this. Father that's genuiusville dialogue.

[@highwaykill98]

in my thoughts nuclear energy has one flaw where will you get the uranium 235 once it runs out , uranium 235 by itself is already toxic to bio material. so my idea wich is safer and less expensive is too harness the power of the atmosphere by taking the power from lighting and recycle it in a reactor using atoms to keep the energy in a flux in my theory. okay now your A's and Q's Question 1: How would you get the lighting into a proper containment Answer 1 ; All lighting is attracted to

[@jcauc1464]

Extremely successful and intelligent man who has a good grip on the impossibility of "farmed energy" versus "intense energy production" that is needed. I can not see the propagation of his vision for nuclear energy (plutonium "bomb" producing reactors) into the 3rd world (Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea as just a few, all need electricity) as being successful. Has he even heard any arguments for a Thorium reactor that produces no bomb material, and in actual fact destroys those materials? Come on Bill, let someone spend 5 minutes with you to explain the process where your vast wealth would be better used!

[@Brainbuster]

In the _decades_ of of using "bomb" producing reactors, as you rudely mocked them, has there been even one instance of using the plutonium to make a bomb? No. I agree that thorium reactors are better than old-fashioned reactors, but Gates here was referring to 3rd generation breeder reactors, which are FAR better and far safer than the reactors that caused upset. As Gates rightly stated in the video, many more people die from coal and wind than from nuclear, per energy unit produced; yet the public still has a phobia around nuclear energy.

[@robertweekes5783]

Totally agree !! How does Bill G not understand the amazing potential of thorium molten salt reactors ?? He knows about them, how would he not take a day to immerse himself in the research? Drip info to Bill (and other influential people) on Twitter ;)

[@chapter4travels]

He must have been reading your comment because he has started investing in MSR's as well. Also to be clear thorium is just one type of fuel for a molten salt reactor, the reactor design is the important part, not necessarily the fuel.

[@chwest31]

THANK YOU for making this statement. I agree totally. I also want to thank you for allowing me to not have to watch bill gates blather on about something he doesn't know enough about but we listen because he was on the computer wave at the right time. He's just as smart as most of us.