Comments on: Three Existing Technologies that Will Make Oil Obsolete http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete Geography at its Finest Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:51:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jonathan Haeber http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2926 Jonathan Haeber Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:49:18 +0000 http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2926 Thanks RHB, and Eric. I think both of your stances' hold their valididity. I tend to think that photovoltaics are a good short-term solution. However; in order to make it competitive with coal, oil, nuclear, we'll need to adopt new technologies. Thanks RHB, and Eric. I think both of your stances’ hold their valididity. I tend to think that photovoltaics are a good short-term solution. However; in order to make it competitive with coal, oil, nuclear, we’ll need to adopt new technologies.

]]> By: RHB http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2911 RHB Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:51:05 +0000 http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2911 Probably fusion is not so practicle, it is indeed very seductive, but a long way off, it has been the panacea of the future for the last 40 years or so. Algae? interesting but not going to get the funding it needs and it is land intensive, something that the growing developing nations don't have, population growth is the issue at the root of every current issue with energy, food supply, and environment. In asia there is a rice shortage in some parts, (Philippines) the likelyhood of diverting land to biofuel production is slim. That said there is a growing interest in Ethanol in parts of Asia, but again the returns do not reflect any great saving of petro fuels as they are required to make it, transport it. Photo votaics hold promise if the efficiencies and costs can be reduced. Probably fusion is not so practicle, it is indeed very seductive, but a long way off, it has been the panacea of the future for the last 40 years or so. Algae? interesting but not going to get the funding it needs and it is land intensive, something that the growing developing nations don’t have, population growth is the issue at the root of every current issue with energy, food supply, and environment. In asia there is a rice shortage in some parts, (Philippines) the likelyhood of diverting land to biofuel production is slim. That said there is a growing interest in Ethanol in parts of Asia, but again the returns do not reflect any great saving of petro fuels as they are required to make it, transport it. Photo votaics hold promise if the efficiencies and costs can be reduced.

]]> By: Eric http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2909 Eric Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:29:29 +0000 http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2909 Very interesting - one thing to consider. The energy problem may be solved in somewhat more conventional means. Obviously as we start to see strains on energy AND agricultural resources it becomes evident that we've been able to successfully contain and/or delay major epidemics that kept things in check in the past. There are checks and balances in the natural course of things. The flu pandemic of 1918 killed 20-40 MILLION worldwide - a 2.5-5% global mortality rate. Something like avian flu could do the same, or worse. And that's not even mentioning the nutjobs with chem/bio weapons in development or at their disposal. We only face shortages today because the global population has boomed in the last two decades. Some natural or man-made event which has major population effects makes the energy issue somewhat less pressing. Very interesting - one thing to consider. The energy problem may be solved in somewhat more conventional means. Obviously as we start to see strains on energy AND agricultural resources it becomes evident that we’ve been able to successfully contain and/or delay major epidemics that kept things in check in the past. There are checks and balances in the natural course of things. The flu pandemic of 1918 killed 20-40 MILLION worldwide - a 2.5-5% global mortality rate. Something like avian flu could do the same, or worse. And that’s not even mentioning the nutjobs with chem/bio weapons in development or at their disposal. We only face shortages today because the global population has boomed in the last two decades. Some natural or man-made event which has major population effects makes the energy issue somewhat less pressing.

]]> By: Jonathan Haeber http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2903 Jonathan Haeber Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:58:07 +0000 http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2903 Thanks Andy. I think algael biofuels hold the most promise, but fusion holds the best long-term promise because algae is very water intensive and the Western U.S. is missing much of that. I'm interested in seeing how things progress. Thanks Andy. I think algael biofuels hold the most promise, but fusion holds the best long-term promise because algae is very water intensive and the Western U.S. is missing much of that. I’m interested in seeing how things progress.

]]> By: Andy Frazer http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2899 Andy Frazer Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:31:29 +0000 http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/three-existing-technologies-that-will-make-oil-obsolete#comment-2899 Thanks for this info. It's the first uplifting information I've heard all month. The algeal biofuels are interesting because they could make use of all the arid BLM land in states such as Nevada. I'm going to read up on this. Andy Thanks for this info. It’s the first uplifting information I’ve heard all month.

The algeal biofuels are interesting because they could make use of all the arid BLM land in states such as Nevada. I’m going to read up on this.

Andy

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