Are alternative fuel sources going to be able to support the planet once we're done with oil? Would there be enough ethanol for a population as big as ours? Are there any other fuel sources that are as realistic as ethanol? Does anyone know the numbers? (how much ethanol can be produced vs. how much would be consumed)
Well there's already hydrogen buses that have been operating in a few years. I would like to some a lot of new NPP:s that can produce cheap electricity.
I don't think we are ever going to run out of oil...however, we could stop using it...I think we will do with ethanol and electricity to power cars in the future, which will bottom out the oil market, and then we will go back to oil, and the cycle will start all over again.
Spot on - hydrogen fuel cells are the way to go. Turning water into hydrogen and oxygen and then burning it to make water again - fool proof. The trouble is it's a developing technology and much more costly that conventional fossil fuels at the moment. Some people are also understandably nervous at the thought of burning hydrogen in their cars!
its not about running out of oil, its about running out of easily available oil. which can happen, eventually. by then the market will have replaced it anyways. cycle of life.
Another suggestion, particularly useful for the energy needs of the North American community - Gas Hydrates.
Not for cars perhaps, but for bigger vehicles like buses and truck. As I said, there's already hydrogen buses that have been operating in a few years. How can they not be nervous when driving regular cars? Gasoline can get fire, you know.
Most hydrogen that is being produced right now (as far as I know) is by electrolysis - which uses electricity much of which is produced by oil. Think of Hydrogen fuel cells as a type of battery. The energy being stored is the Hydrogen. The cell converts the stored energy from the hydrogen into electricity. P.S. carrying hydrogen does not make a h-bomb.
I will think about this topic this weekend as I get my 67 Pontiac GTO up and running with a big block 400 that gets about 12 mpg and goes 160mph...gotta love rednecks.
Biodiesels through algae, and fusion technology. That should assume the needs in fuels and electricity within due time. Then we just need to find out a way to make synthetic plastics economically without petro (which we might have soon). Given the above is acquired through economic means, then we're fairly good for a while. --------------------- Algae consumes the least space for fuel production while 'corn' would take almost all the land in the US to assume that sort of role. Not really effective. And Algae would actually take tons of Carbon out of the air. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12834398/
http://www.currentargus.com/ci_5079932 Algae oil to be refined by local company While the money fairly new in all this, and small...I do believe this sort technology/crop will do wonders in the future. Nice....that would be nice to have the money in Carlsbad (California) and not Bagdad....lol. Will see.