What technologies could we use to replace oil?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060616165836AACihbL&pa=FYd1D2bwHTHwIbpjFOg4QFp3KB.11MJTlMdMKY07aIUhCw--

Geothermal power, solar power, radio signals, microwave lasers,
how could we end the use of fossil fuels in the next 20 years and
still have a booming economy and civilization? How do we create a balanced ecosystem on earth? What specific things might we do to restore ecological balance? How do we create a balanced ecosystem in space?

"To create a balanced ecosystem in space, shouldn't we take care of us here on earth first? " Yes, but see, machismo gun weilding fascist halfwit monkey throwback men won't actually bother to solve real world problems unless you couch those problems in interesting science fiction
terms.

"Radio signals? Microwave lasers? What are you talking about?" Two methods of moving energy for use in other systems once it is generated. For instance, orbital Solar power and a microwave laser downfeed.

"Also, a balanced ecosystem in space? Nothing lives in space, how can we even have an ecosystem in space let alone a balanced one?"

Capture Cruithne. Hollow it out and melt it solid. Spin it fast enough to provide an internal centripetal pseudogravity. Start sending up soil.

"""Note: You probably want to avoid the nuts who go off saying outrageous things like ..........."The problem with this is that the engines degrade far faster using such fuels."::"""
I agree completely with my refactored statement. lol.

Answer 1

Ethanol is promising, also various hybrid engines are helpful. If governments weren't so reliant on the taxes on gasoline (that's right, I said it) and the sellers of it weren't so greedy, I suspect we already could have converted much of our technology to electric or solar. Also, hydrogen could be used if a better way to utilize it was found.
The only way we could have a balanced ecosystem in space would be to find places where the raw materials we need (minerals, metals, etc) were readily available, or else all the materials we need will be coming off of Earth, and supplies are limited here.

I think on of the main problems standing in the way of us as a planet converting to better energy sources then this are red tape, and overall, greed. If people weren't so set on squeezing money out of the industry (it was only a few years ago oil was $30 a barrel) engines with a higher efficiency could have been in cars and equipment for decades probably. Car engines currently only use about %10 of the gasoline, the rest is wasted. But how would companies make the money if you only needed a 3 gallon tank?

sorry to get a bit ranty.

Answer 2

Radio signals? Microwave lasers? What are you talking about?

We probably won't have a "booming economy and civilization". Fossil fuels have been a great source of energy for the world and replacing it won't be easy and most likely won't come at such a cheap price. The answers to these questions surely won't come from people on yahoo however. We'll need a new source of transportable energy such as hydrogen. We're already running into huge roadblocks with that. The hope is that we can solidify or liquify it and use it in hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen combustion. Of course, this will all be worthless to the environment if we don't create a clean method of creating hydrogen. There lies yet another problem. We need a way of creating tremendous amounts of energy to replace things like coal and the small % of power created by fossil fuels. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric won't cut it. Things like fission nuclear reactors need to be built or, if there is a God, we can achieve sustainable, economical, commercial grade fusion nuclear reactors

Also, a balanced ecosystem in space? Nothing lives in space, how can we even have an ecosystem in space let alone a balanced one?

Note: You probably want to avoid the nuts who go off saying outrageous things like vegetable or corn oil powering automobiles. The problem with this is that the engines degrade far faster using such fuels.

Answer 3

OK, now please keep in mind I work in the oil field, and it provides for my families well being. I think the best course of action for our country would be to spend alot of money and research on hydrogen burning technology. We have already developedd hydrogen burning engines, but have not been able to develope a good fuel tank for automotive uses. When a hydrogen burning engine runs it's byproduct is water, H2O, nothing else. The only problem is it takes ALOT of electricity to separate the hydrogen from the 2 oxygen's in H2O. I feel that for now, with our current technology, nuclear breeder reactors would be the best bet. France uses breeder reactors, with mostly US technology, and that provides almost 80% of their electrical needs. The only problem would be waste disposal, and if we lined out a good waste disposal mine, say in north central Canada, in the Canadian shield which has been geologically inert for about 2.5 billion years, no worries. If we were to make a Nationwide effort for such action over the next 20 years, I think we could achieve it. But I really don't think it will happen. I tell you this though, from the perspective of an individual working in the oilfield, with a BS in geology, it just makes plain sense. Good luck.

Answer 4

wind and solar power, also opposing magnetic force, after seeing hurricane damage, we must realize we cannot "fix" Mother Nature. If our coasts, beaches were left untouched ,unburned for even 20 years, the land itself would build up. Trees would grow. To create a balanced ecosystem in space, shouldn't we take care of us here on earth first?

Answer 5

Well, the older cars, like a 1980s CAN RUN ON VEGATABLE OIL! Like the oil at those Chinese restaurants.

Answer 6

grow lots of bananas