what is stopping all the world economies and scientists from developing cheaper alternative sources of energy rapidly as it's quite obvious, thats what we all need...anything else but oil!
2006-12-26 22:00:02 · 7 answers · asked by onukpa 3 in Environment
people that own the oil wells are what is stopping the development of alternative feul sources.
Well that is not true.
Shell oil has a lot of money invested in the research, they own the patents on the technology but will only use the technology when the oil supply runs out.
They figure that it is better to do the research and have control than to let soemone else to the research and loose out on the profits.
There is a lot of technology out there, we just have to begin to use it.
How about solar powered hydrogen collectors?
We have the technology to use the power of the sun to remove hydrogen from water, creating more oxygen too, but the big oil companies do not want us to use that technology.
I know this sounds like a conspiracy theory but it is the truth.
2006-12-26 22:06:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
At the risk of sounding rude, let me ask you: what cheaper alternate source of energy?
Wind? We have windmill farms being put out nearly everywhere (and people complain because they are noisy, ruin the landscape, and that little birds get chopped to bits flying through the propeller plane).
Solar power? With a 1 m^2 panel providing less than 200 W at high noon, and zero at night, this is not really practical for some applications.
Nuclear energy? And then you have all the econuts on your back.
What is left?
Fusion power? Huge investments are being put in there; except that we have not yet produced one watt of commercially available power yet, it is all experimental, and some people balk at the investment, claiming that fusion power will never be achieved in a commercial reactor.
What is stopping the world economies and scientists from developing cheaper alternative sources of energy? The laws of physics and the laws of economics. How much money have YOU invested? How much studies have you done to yourself become a top scientist and go find those alternative sources of energy?
It is oh so easy to demand that other people (government and scientists) do stuff, it is a lot harder to actually do it.
Like many other things, it is an issue of putting your money where your mouth is. Cash up front, then scientist can go to work.
And there is no guarantee of success either, remember that. That is the problem with scientific research: you do not know what you will find in the end. Sometime, all you find is the proof that what you are trying to achieve is not possible. Science is about exploring the possible, not building a dreamed up reality.
2006-12-27 06:56:41 · answer #2 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are alternatives to fossil fuels but they are not cheap. Solar is 4 to 5 times as expensive and the cells have to be made using a lot of energy as well as components such as plastics that come from oil. Wind power is 2 times as expensive because of the expense of building and maintaining the turbines. Bio fuels are way expensive. Bio diesel is made from vegetable oils that are dearer than fuel oil before the conversion takes place. Alcohol can be made from plant products but take as much energy to produce as the alcohol contains. Hydrogen for "water" cars or fuel cells has to be separated from water using electricity generally generated using coal. Just to lower emissions we expect that electricity prices will rise by 20% to 40%. Most of the world can't afford that. Nor can the poor in the developed countries. Sure we will need to find alternatives, but some of us have been looking for 50 years. So far Nuclear is the only viable option. There is plenty of coal left we are just short on oil and gas. The real money people are those who want us to leave the coal in the ground.
2006-12-27 07:02:10 · answer #3 · answered by Gary K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are kinds of cars that run on water or something like that and I think and scientists are trying to develope cheaper alternatives. Also fossil fuels are running out so they have no choice. The gas prices are very high these days too, and anyway the gas excess from cars pollutes the air and damages the atmosphere. We really do need cheap alternatives that are enviroment friendly.
2006-12-27 06:07:02 · answer #4 · answered by addict for dramatic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ppl are generally just after profits. so, most prefer to dig up oil than invest millions in alternative sources and the infrastructure thats necessary.
2006-12-27 06:14:17 · answer #5 · answered by Venkat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Still today it is the most cost-effective source of energy.
Things will change if the price of oils continues rising.
You will see hydrogen powered cars very soon then.
2006-12-27 07:09:44 · answer #6 · answered by PragmaticAlien 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why go away from fossil fuels which are recycled by Mother nature to something that may not recycle so easy.
2006-12-27 10:58:05 · answer #7 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋