What do you see as the future form of energy for the planet?

Question

What are your thoughts on any aspect of energy consumption, whether petroleum-based, nuclear, hydroelectric, coal, or methane, or alternative means such as solar, tidal, wind, or other more exotic forms of energy?
if you wish you can discuss the domestic or global affects energy policy of the future will have on the domestic or global economy.

Answer 1

This is not easy to answer but I'll try.

Based on what I observed, it looks like hybrid cars gradually replacing conventional cars based on the sales here: http://www.hybridcars.com/market-dashboard/dec06-us-sales.html. As you can see hybrid cars have been rising fast over the past few years. Those reasons include great reliability in which savings would outweight the few extra thousand dollars to buy one. I also have seen the the third generation 2009 Prius. It will get 90+ mpg, have smaller more powerful lithium ion batteries, and be faster than the current. It looks like more electricity/less gas will be used to power the next Prius causing me to believe that cars will get more electrical.

I know diesel is being discussed more but what is preventing people from buying them is the emmissions is deadlier than natural gas. However, it has been fixed coming from this source: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/how-clean-diesel-fuel-works.htm. From it, the soot particles in the particulate filter accumulate, the back pressure in the exhaust system increases. When the pressure builds to a certain point, the sensor tells the engine management computer to inject more fuel into the engine. This causes heat to build up in the front of the filter, which burns up the accumulated soot particles. The entire cycle occurs within a few minutes and is undetectable by the vehicle's driver. Now, is it just as reliable as a hybrid? It has been compared yet in terms of reliability.

On one of Huell Howser's episode of California's Green, he interviewed residents from the OC about their solar powered homes. The cells are on the roofs. I know that one of those vending machines for parking tickets operate by this source. I anticipate that we are getting more solar. I find the disadvantage is it is costly but then you would not have to be paying your electric each month, assuming your house relies ENTIRELY on solar. Also, when there is a blackout from a power plant, you don't have to worry as much.

Now the consequences for inaction is in PDF form of "Climate Change-The Costs of Inaction." There is an antipation of dieseases from warm countries in Africa that would spread into Europe and North America due to the fact the earth is getting warmer. Basically, more money would be devoted to healthcare and because more people would be ill causing a loss of productivity decreasing GDP.

Let's get a little off topic. I noticed that in a way we are doing something to help the environment INDIRECTLY. Internet, for example, has made communicating with friends easier without having to travel, consuming gas, to their homes. GPS has made traveling easier due to the fact when you don't know where a place is the directions is easier. This means no wasting of gas while being lost. There are a plethora of stuff.

Answer 2

I think you inadvertently answered your own question by listing so many energy sources! We have already begun to "diversify" our energy production in the last 40 years, and this trend should continue. Solar and wind power will undoubtedly become huge sources in the future: you can't beat cheap (free) and clean. Coal will continue to dominate for some time, since even in the western world most energy comes from coal. Nuclear technology will spread, and I can see the day when most countries will be able to tap into some sort of nuclear power. My guess is that in 50 or 60 years, most energy for household-related uses will come from wind/solar, with nuclear filling any gaps. Coal and petroleum will fall out of use. As for cars, who knows? The car companies have been going off in so many directions lately, that I think even they don't have a real vision of the future.

Answer 3

Let's try a hybrid form of energy... Maybe based on the dirt burner model but instead of fossil fuels possibly landfill as the fuel. Harvesters that siphon off energy from recycling plants and a solar based energy distribution array that supplements main power grids should a portion fail and cause an interruption between quadrants.

Which by the way all of these are possible today.

Answer 4

ideally we stop wasting fossil fuels as fuel sources and use them for biochemical purposes. This will take a long time to phase in, so coal will probably be playing a larger role, there are technologies out there that can "cleanly" covert coal into electricity and liquids useful for burning as fuel. Sure, the financial cost may be a little more at first, but if you factor in the greater costs it will end up being feasible.

Answer 5

I believe coal will be used, as it is prevalent in many places and can last for a long time. However, coal would have devastating effects on the environemnt. The others are more expensive, and although we have hydroelectric cars etc...we do not have them for airplanes and trucks. This will take more time than you think.

Answer 6

Nuclear fusion, not to be confused with nuclear fission which is how all present nuclear reactors work. Fusion produces much more power and does not require radioactive fuel to operate. It is what powers the Sun.

Answer 7

One day, Earthling's will discover the great power of Acoustics! Sound will translate into enough power to run small cars. Soon enough, we will learn to use sound to power aircraft as well. Even the really BIG ones!

This will take time but will happen ... shortly!

The Ol' Sasquatch Ü

Answer 8

solar and geothermal are the only clean and safe sources I know of , and if the rich powers that be , would get thier hands out of everyone elses wallets and develop these it would not only be an inexhaustible source but cheap , but alas they wont do it because they cant goudge the public for it

Answer 9

It should all be nuclear it is the cheapest.

Answer 10

solar and wind and biodiesel