Energy Alternatives

CDAE-06
April 26, 2004
Gary Flomenhoft
http://www.uvm.edu/~gflomenh/CDAE06/
HEINBERG CHAPTER 4
Non-petroleum energy sources

OIL:
EASILY TRANSPORTED
ENERGY DENSE
REFINABLE
VARIETY OF USES
HEINBERG CHAPTER 4
ENERGY EVALUATION CRITERIA

EROI / NET ENERGY

RENEWABILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
TRANSPORTABILITY/CONVENIENCE
HEINBERG CHAPTER 5
BANQUET OF CONSEQUENCES

ECONOMY-MONEY AND DEBT

TRANSPORTATION
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
HEATING AND COOLING
ENVIRONMENT
PUBLIC HEALTH
INFORMATION
POLITICS
ECONOMY-MONEY AND DEBT

BAD-PAYBACK WITH INTEREST IN ERA

OF DECLINING ENERGY?

GOOD-REPLACEMENT OF ENERGY WITH

LABOR

INFLATION/DEFLATION
TRANSPORTATION

CARS-COSTLY FUEL
AIRCRAFT-HYDROGEN?
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
BASED ON CHEAP FOSSIL FUELS

CAN FEED 2 BILLION PEOPLE WITH

NO FOSSIL FUELS
HEATING AND COOLING

Effects on fatalities
Effects on refrigeration
ENVIRONMENT
Good or bad
PUBLIC HEALTH
MEDICAL CARE IS ENERGY INTENSIVE
INFORMATION
Plastics and electrical use
POLITICS
Political rivalries will become even
more extreme

Shrinking resource base will trump

Right vs. left argumants
GEO-POLITICS US POLICY
1) Support repressive regimes who have oil
2) Support Israel-serves intelligence interests
3) Terrorism double standard: Israel vs. Pales

4) Instability of Saudi Arabia-pretext for

Taking oil fields?
MIDDLE EAST-IRAQ
Sept 2003
Iraq = #2 oil fields
2002 Iraq-800,000 barrels/day
#6 supplier for US

Expect Sanctions to collapse-Iraqi oil floods

the market. WAR will be necessary to install
A more compliant government to keep US
first on list, especially if S.A. goes into chaos.
VENEZUELA

Hugo Chavez-increased government

Share of oil revenues
April 11, 2002 US backed coup
Oil exec installed. Counter-coup
Reinstalled Chavez.
Other US coups?
When does the party end?
1) Peak in global per-capita energy production = 1979!
2) Peak in global net-energy availability = 1985-1995
3) Peak in oil extraction = 2006-2015
4) Peak in total energy production = same
5) Energy-led collapse of global economy = dependent on
Oil peak
6) Collapse of electricity grids = vulnerable
MANAGING THE COLLAPSE
Self, community, nation, world

FINAL WORD:
1) Better understanding of important problems
2) Realistic goals achievable
3) Generation’s responsibility