The end of the Fossil Fuel era is upon us; what next-?

[tooldtocare]

The end of the Fossil Fuel era is upon us so what are we going to do next-?
Energy information Administration Official Energy Statistics from the US government
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html

The above report indicates that the US will be using primarily oil as our main energy source through 2030.

The world's total declared reserves are 1,317,400,000,000 barrels (January 2007).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves

World oil consumption 2005 is 80,290,000 barrels per day or 29,305,850,000 per year
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2174rank.html

Dividing annual consumption into total reserves gives us 44.9 years of oil supply at the current consumption rate.

That was eleven (11)years ago, we are not changing your habits and this spells doom for us all.

Do you have any suggestions--?

Libya will be an interesting place to watch.

• Libya’s current production rate is 1.8 million barrels of oil a day

• At that rate Libya will exhaust all its reserves within 63 years

• Existing oil fields undergoing a 7–8% decline rate

They have highways and freeways and use cars and trucks just like the rest of us do. But up until now gas was pretty much free. If there is going to be a drive to manufacture electric and hybrid cars for local consumption now is the time for Libya to use its cash reserves and invest in local production of the next generation power systems. At least in the US we have the cash and will to build a new future for America and the people are willing to do their part too. Anyway I hope people are trying to think this through? So far I have read some great posts from others in this forum and they have been great reading.

Thank you all for participating in this discussion—

 

[tooldtocare]

In 44 years the oil will be all gone, in 22 years half gone so now is the time to make the needed changes or else our children will have an uncertain future

 

[Goonie]

In 44 years the oil will be all gone, in 22 years half gone so now is the time to make the needed changes or else our children will have an uncertain future

And if climate science is correct humanity cannot afford to burn all of it anyway. It's time to invest in non oil based energy, and technology.

 

[LionL]

That's why we've been gradually introducing renewable energies for decades - at least we have in Europe...

 

[tooldtocare]

At this moment in time I am watching "Mad Max"; the movie while I exchange thoughts here

WOW such contrast -

 

[777Sloan]

.

 

[Goonie]

Coal.

Not a solution.

 

[redleghunter]

The end of the Fossil Fuel era is upon us so what are we going to do next-?
Energy information Administration Official Energy Statistics from the US government
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html

The above report indicates that the US will be using primarily oil as our main energy source through 2030.

The world's total declared reserves are 1,317,400,000,000 barrels (January 2007).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves

World oil consumption 2005 is 80,290,000 barrels per day or 29,305,850,000 per year
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2174rank.html

Dividing annual consumption into total reserves gives us 44.9 years of oil supply at the current consumption rate.

That was eleven (11)years ago, we are not changing your habits and this spells doom for us all.

Do you have any suggestions--?

Libya will be an interesting place to watch.

• Libya’s current production rate is 1.8 million barrels of oil a day

• At that rate Libya will exhaust all its reserves within 63 years

• Existing oil fields undergoing a 7–8% decline rate

They have highways and freeways and use cars and trucks just like the rest of us do. But up until now gas was pretty much free. If there is going to be a drive to manufacture electric and hybrid cars for local consumption now is the time for Libya to use its cash reserves and invest in local production of the next generation power systems. At least in the US we have the cash and will to build a new future for America and the people are willing to do their part too. Anyway I hope people are trying to think this through? So far I have read some great posts from others in this forum and they have been great reading.

Thank you all for participating in this discussion—

Good. Now the civilized world will not sell their sons and daughters lives to nations stuck in the 7th century.

 

[Paradoxum]

Renewable energy, then fusion.

 

[timewerx]

I am working on a practical solution based on the latest discover in thermodynamics.

http://newatlas.com/nanoparticles-violate-law-thermodynamics/31491/

In reality however, I've been working on the theory since 2009. I might have a working prototype in the next few years.

If it works, it basically harnesses ambient heat of the environment into energy. Energy that could be easily converted into electrical or mechanical energy. It doesn't require any fuel but indirectly the heat coming from the Sun (mostly). Since it harnesses ambient heat, the "exhaust" is nothing but chilled matter. For example, if you use water as a medium, the by-product is simply chilled water.

It will only stop working at temperatures close to absolute zero (zero Kelvin or - 273 Celsius). Of course greater power output is expected in hot tropical climates and less energy output in the winter/arctic conditions.

Consequently, it cannot be used to power spacecraft operating in deep space but it can be used to efficiently convert the ambient heat of the equipment and any radioactive power source into energy.

In hot tropical climates, it can be used both as power source and air-conditioning/refrigeration unit. Or basically an A/C that gives you power at the same time.

It is not a Stirling Engine because the heat flow is reversed - cold-to-hot.

But zero radiation, zero fuel, works day and night as long as the temperature is hotter than a few dozen degrees above absolute zero (which is still way colder than the Arctic!)

It could power cars, even aircraft, submarine. It will only not work in the deep cold of deep space.

 

[RedPonyDriver]

Coal.

Coal IS a fossil fuel.

Got any more suggestions?

 

[Waterwerx]

I'm sure they already have a handle on the next source of energy, otherwise all of these non-hybrid combustion engines would be capable of 5 or more times the mileage they're currently getting. The idea that pretty much everything else has become gradually more efficient while non-hybrid automobiles still only get around 20-40 mpg is just... stupid, and VERY fishy. Granted, while the reaction between a hydrocarbon + oxygen + heat has not changed, we have come a very long way in organic and biochemistry with regards to catalysts.

 

[Winken]

Obama's solar energy and windmills. How are they doing?

 

[Waterwerx]

Obama's solar energy and windmills. How are they doing?

Not sure how solar energy & windmills are doing, but I'm positive we could've received more energy from just burning $500 million worth of 1-dollar bills instead of giving it away to Solyndra.

 

[ml5363]

I'm sure they already have a handle on the next source of energy, otherwise all of these non-hybrid combustion engines would be capable of 5 or more times the mileage they're currently getting. The idea that pretty much everything else has become gradually more efficient while non-hybrid automobiles still only get around 20-40 mpg is just... stupid, and VERY fishy. Granted, while the reaction between a hydrocarbon + oxygen + heat has not changed, we have come a very long way in organic and biochemistry with regards to catalysts.

Theres big money In the oil industry why there isnt a race

 

[Waterwerx]

Yes, big oil and no race. To me, it is all just a big disgrace.

 

[timewerx]

I'm sure they already have a handle on the next source of energy, otherwise all of these non-hybrid combustion engines would be capable of 5 or more times the mileage they're currently getting. The idea that pretty much everything else has become gradually more efficient while non-hybrid automobiles still only get around 20-40 mpg is just... stupid, and VERY fishy.

What you said here is true. Not entirely fishy but still fishy in some ways.

One thing is that a highly efficient car design would look ugly, have weak acceleration, and the ride is possibly going to be harsh in ill-maintained or old roads. It's going to look like an airplane without wings running on bicycle wheels and the tires on that thing will be made of pure rubber (no air) and would depend entirely on the suspension system to soften the ride.

Such thing will get incredible mileage by at least 100 mpg (or an incredible range with a normal fuel tank)......

Car manufacturers will have no problems mass producing such cars. But it's the market demand why our cars look and perform as they are. Market demanded vanity and comfort way above fuel efficiency. People wanted to hip on the road instead of looking like a nerd.

It's really our fault for pushing the market in the wrong direction due to vanity. Another thing is the combustion engine. It's really quite inefficient. I won't bet on it, even if it's running on hydrogen, even if we're getting our hydrogen for free. It's still a pollution source and that pollution is waste heat.

 

[4x4toy]

Genepax ..

 

[Armoured]

Dynamos powered by huskies in giant hamster wheel treadmills.

 

[Radrook]

Well, one problem seems to be that the people who are presently in charge won't probably be here by that time or else will be on the verge of crossing the bar and that causes them not to really care. Let the future youth and the living deal with it seems to be their motto. True, there are token efforts which if fully implemented might come into effect on time. But the general trend seems to be a wait and watch policy which will result in a drastic stop-gap, emergency reaction when the long-festering environmental manure starts to hit the fan.