The Twin Challenges of the Energy Crisis
The combination of peak oil and climate change due to global warming will challenge our industrial way of life as never before. And yet the possibility of solutions to both problems lies in one answer. We must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Are there any readily available substitutes for coal, oil, and natural gas? The short answer is not at the moment. Here in California we have at least set fuel efficient standards quite high compared to the rest of the United States and we also supply 40% of our energy with renewable (wind, solar, geothermal) energy and non-renewable but carbon free nuclear energy. But peak oil and climate change are global problems despite what we do here in California or the U.S. The biggest problem with replacing fossil fuels is that they are so energy dense (rich in readily available energy) compared to all other forms of energy. Remember that they were created millions of years ago from an incredible amount of biomass and took no effort on our part to produce. They are a one time gift to the planets sentient creatures (us!) that is quickly becoming a trap we have set for ourselves. It will be a challenge to find replacements for them that can meet our growing energy needs as world population grows to 9 billion by 2050. The problem with renewables is that they cannot yet compete with the price of oil. Even at five, six, or even seven dollars a gallon for gasoline you just can’t get the same amount of energy from sunlight or wind. Nuclear power is clean, but the wasted fuel is not, building safe reactors is expensive, takes time to plan for and construct and the fuel to run them are also limited and non-renewable. What about biofuels? Strictly speaking all fuels are biofuels, or fuels made from plant and animal material. In the United States we have made the tragic mistake of using corn (an important food commodity) and distilled it into alcohol to fuel our vehicles. Corn for cars takes food from the mouths of the hungry and has a very poor energy return for the investment made in growing the corn crop. It may actually take more energy to make biofuels by the time it is trucked to the filling stations! Other biofuels including sugarcane and palm oil are grown on land from cleared tropical rain forests including the Amazon which are important as carbon sinks (places where excess CO2 is absorbed out of the atmosphere). The Amazon alone is responsible for absorbing 20% of the atmospheres carbon and to cut it down to grow biofuels is literally insane from the perspective of slowing climate change. What about cellulosic biofuels, fuels made from cellulose, a plant product that we can’t digest and therefore does not compete with food? Cellulose is the tough fiber material in plants and there are no known chemical pathways for making biofuels from cellulose that returns more energy than is required to develop them. Genetically engineered algae have also been researched as a organism that may be able to be used to “grow” our way out of the fuels crisis. It has the potential of requiring much less space to produce fuels compared to other crops. But again, as with all biofuels we have to add water and other nutrients are limited to annual sunlight and the return on energy invested for energy return is nowhere what it is with fossil fuels. What about getting our energy from the Sun and wind? Wind and solar energy are promising, but will require more research to increase their energy efficiency and will ultimately require a huge investment in building a new infrastructure. It has been speculated that we would have to cover the entire Sahara desert with solar panels to supply the required energy for Africa and the Dakotas and Texas with windmills to supply the U.S. electricity needs not including what would be needed for transportation. How about geothermal energy? Hot water that occurs naturally on Earth producing steam which can drive turbines exists in 3% on Earth. Iceland has access to a supply of geothermal energy that could potentially supply all its energy needs, but they are quite unique compared to the rest of the world. One more form of energy that is both renewable and almost carbon free is hydroelectric. Dams built on rivers force water through turbines to generate electricity. Unfortunately dams destroy fish habitat, silt up and eventually outgas CO2 from rotting vegetation and there is not enough gradient (slope) on Earth to build enough dams to supply the world with electricity. Lastly there is the boondoggle known as the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen can be split off natural gas molecules and stored like a battery as an energy source. But it takes energy to make hydrogen, is hard to transport, is volatile, and requires high pressure storage tanks that are highly explosive. So for now the answer comes back to using energy wisely which means being extremely efficient with energy. It also means leading a more simple life that relies less on continuously buying more stuff (the U.S. economy is fatally based on constant consumer consumption) that often comes from overseas and requires energy just to get to market and more on saving our money and doing healthy things that don’t rely on energy. Getting outdoors and going for a walk or bike ride in nature is a wonderful substitute for shopping at the mall that is healthier and better for the planet. It also helps us to gain an appreciation for what we stand to lose with our current “business as usual lifestyle”. Hey, here comes summer! So head outdoors with your hiking boots or mountain bike and discover your rightful place in the wonderful natural world that is waiting just for you, but do remember to turn the lights out before you leave!
Answer the questions.
1. What advantage do we have living in California as regards energy?
2. What are biofuels?
3. What crop does the United States grow for fuel and why is it a poor choice?
4. How much carbon by percent is absorbed out of the atmosphere by the Amazon rain forest?
5. What are the limitations of solar and wind energy?
6. What is geothermal energy and why is it not a solution for most of the world? What country might be able to meet its needs with geothermal?
7. What is hydrogen made from? What are some of the problems with using hydrogen as a fuel?
8. What is the solution for the twin crisis of peak oil and climate change for now?
9. What could you do to change your lifestyle in a more healthy way that is also better for the planet?