New book called life after the oil crisis..

[Fluff]

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/Introduction.html

I might have a read of this book.

[Technoid]

That guy is the latest ina looooooooong row of crazy paranoid domsday screamers

[rylan]

I stopped looking at the stuff on that page when he quoted a link from Michael Moore.

[windigo]

Ive seen an interview with this guy on TVO(public ontario tv) i think he makes a good arguement for switching to hydrogen fuel from oil now while we have the oil reserves to spare, rather than waiting for then to run out.


(lol Micheal moore scares you that much hehe)

[rylan]

Problem with hydrogen is you have to make it somehow, either by using oil to get hydrogen from it, or water electrolysis... and you need energy from someplace (oil power plants) to run the electrolysis plant.

No michael moore doesn't scare me, but it kind of ruins this guy's point when he references a source that doesn't know crap about geophysics for oil.

[windigo]

were running out of fuel either way and something has to be done solar and wind wont be enough and nuclear omg can this ever get working properly?

[agallag]

There was an article recently on Slashdot about using solar energy to run stirling cycle engines. The mechanical energy resulting from farms of these engines can be used to generate electricity at 30% efficiency (twice the efficiency of photovoltaic after conversion to grid-ready AC current).

The resulting electricity ends up being significantly cheaper than any other method of generating power.

If this experiment by the DOE becomes a reality, we'll have a relatively cheap way to make hydrogen using the resulting electricity. Of course it's also a good way to generate general purpose electricity for the grid, which could lessen our dependence on coal and oil in the long run.

I also read a cool article about using stirling cycle engines for general aviation. They can burn just about anything for a heat source, they're almost silent, and they get more powerful as the temperature and air pressure drop. Also, since they're totally sealed, they're virtually maintenance free.

[Marshmallowman]

I think the best effiecency I know of for photvoltaics is 22%, this effieciency actualy increrases if you use concentrators (mirrors..etc)

Did read somewher the maximum theoretical effiecency for photvoltaics is about 30% (40% in concentrator setups)

These cells have avery long life, and quite low maintenance cost. The most expenisive bit is keeping the cells/mirrors clean.

edit : to correct

[KvHagedorn]

We need fewer people. This will occur, but in no resemblance of an orderly fashion.

[SpiralDragon]

Originally posted by KvHagedorn
We need fewer people. This will occur, but in no resemblance of an orderly fashion.

that is unfortunatly true

[KvHagedorn]

We need to learn the ways of the Amish. They were right all along.

[Technoid]

Didn't Dr Mordrid post some article from scientists that didnt believe that oil was a fossile fuel and that it was created by ongoing geophysical reaction in the earths interior?

[Brian Ellis]

The doomsday scenario about after-oil is common, but ridiculous. It is not as if all the oil taps are closing tomorrow. The problem is not the overall quantity of available oil over the next few decades, but the increasing difficulty of extraction, which means that the market-driven price will increase progressively as the flow rate decreases (it is possible that we may have already reached the peak, but 2008 seems to be the consensus year of peak, just now). At the moment, we are coasting along on a flat plateau of maximum extraction quantities, but it will certainly go down shortly.

Yes, it will have economic repercussions and it will hit hardest the countries with the biggest consumption. As the largest consumer has been economically spiralling downwards over the last three years or so with the largest public debt and a deflating currency, it is easy to see where it will head. Some other countries, heeding Kyoto, have targets to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 60% over the next decades and will obviously be much better prepared for the rise in oil prices.

Some analysts predict oil may reach $100/bbl by the end of next year or shortly thereafter.

Hydrogen for cars is simply not a practical proposition. To produce enough means doubling or tripling the electricity production and there is quite simply not enough platinum in the world for the fuel cells. The only technology we have available just now is a massive reduction of consumption by using small hybrid vehicles (e.g., Toyota Prius), while scrapping all SUVs, Hummers etc. This will come about as the gallon of gas reaches $5 to 10, and that scenario is not too distant.

Whether we like it or not, the future lies largely with nuclear fission. The alternative is exponential recession and a return to the Amish style of life, within the lifetimes of many living today (not me, thank goodness!). Or worse

Yes, Technoid, there is some crackpot theory of oil not being a fossil fuel, but it is not possible, according to our knowledge of geochemistry. It depends on a combination of pressure and heat acting on methane in the presence of water and some minerals. Unfortunately for these guys, the action of heat on organic matter is exactly the opposite of pressure. The theory was developed because an oil well on the Mexican coast appeared to be "magically" replenished after it had been exploited to exhaustion. However, it fell down when seepage through porous rock explained the phenomenon.

Renewables will help but are very limited in application. We need to expand more into recycling.

[Technoid]

Brian, I have a distinct feeling that when I reach your age there will still be those kinds of doomsday sayers, and they will still be moving the date for "the end" forward

[Jessterw]

I'm having thoughts of Mad Max

Though in all honesty I'm sure we'll all survive with modern civilization intact.