Posts Tagged by peak oil
2GreenEnergy Report – Cold Fusion
| March 20, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Nuclear |
Here’s a recent interview in which George Alger asks me about cold fusion. Obviously, this is a controversial topic, viewed by many as a hoax. Yet some credible people believe it’s legitimate science — and, as I point out, I essentially a reporter, whose viewpoints are formed by the people I interview.
2GreenEnergy Video Report — Peak Oil
| March 19, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Fossil Fuels |
Here’s another episode of the 2GreenEnergy Report, in which I’m interviewed on the subject of peak oil. I manage to squeeze in references to related subjects as well: the consequences of our addiction to foreign oil, the externalities associated with fossil fuels, long-term environmental damage, the associated costs of healthcare, ocean acidification, and global climate change.
Nuclear Energy and Uranium Shortages
| July 26, 2010 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Business |
A few people commented on my piece about nuclear energy last week, and scolded me for believing that shortages of uranium may be one of many serious issues confronting this beleaguered industry. I’m not the only one who sees this, however. Editor of Peak Oil Review and former CIA analyst Tom Whipple writes this week:
China’s demand for uranium may rise to 20,000 tons a year by 2020. That translates into more than a third of the 50,500 tons mined globally last year. All of the world’s current uranium output currently has a market, supplying the existing global demand for uranium. Don’t be surprised to see uranium in shortage by the second half of this decade. Looking ahead, there’s just not enough new production in the planning stages. The world needs new mines, but startup costs are much higher than 10 or 20 years ago.
China currently has 12 reactors in operation and another 23 under construction, with others in development, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Peak Oil – Kathy Heshelow
| May 2, 2010 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
My friend and always-welcomed guest blogger Kathy Heshelow has written a great deal on Peak Oil, and now has her own blog on the subject. I urge readers to check it out.
In preparation, she asked me: Are you saying that Peak Oil is irrelevant? No. To clarify: peak oil IS a big deal. But the DATE of peak oil is not a big deal. Whether it happened 40 years ago or will happen 40 years hence, we have a screaming imperative to get off oil.
North Sea Oil "Has Peaked for Good"
| April 27, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Renewables - Business |
Brokerage RJ Energy Group out with a new report this morning. Its conclusion: North Sea oil production “has peaked for good.” This fits into the bigger picture of declining non-OPEC oil production. Our world has two choices: depend even more on OPEC or develop alternative energy sources. Which do you think we should choose?
Peak Oil – Discussion at Renewable Energy World
| April 9, 2010 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Business |
I’m delighted to see the flurry of recent activity from a few guest bloggers. I note that Kathy Hershelow writes volumes on Peak Oil. It’s good, well-constructed stuff – but I simply can’t get excited about it. In my discussions on the subject, I just try to make sure I’m hitting the broad side of the barn.
As I note in my blog on Renewable Energy World, I think the issue is moot. Regardless of whether Peak Oil happened a couple of decades ago, or won’t for a couple of decades to come, there are five or six excellent reasons to curtain our use of petroleum. It’s the single most important imperative facing mankind today.
Another Startling New Report Suggests World Oil Reserves are at a ‘Tipping Point’ – Guest Blogger Kathy Heshelow
| April 8, 2010 | Posted by Kathy-Heshelow under Fossil Fuels |
Oxford University’s Smith School of Enterprise and Environment recently released a report that indicates the ‘tipping point’ is now here for world oil reserves, and that demand will start to outstrip supply of oil as we head to the middle of the decade. They state that the need to accelerate renewable energy resources is urgent.
It seems the peak oil situation is starting to be noticed and recognized more generally, though alarms have been sounded for decades from some very notable sources. The stress of the situation includes:
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Peak Oil
| March 28, 2010 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
For what it’s worth, my beliefs about peak oil do not align with Kathy’s; if readers are interested, I’ve provided a link above.
Startling New Research Says Peak Oil May Happen by 2014 – Earlier than Many Estimated – By Guest Blogger Kathy
| March 25, 2010 | Posted by Kathy-Heshelow under Fossil Fuels |
In a surprising announcement in March 2010, Dr. Ibrahim Nashawi of Kuwait University and colleagues released a study that suggests that world conventional crude oil will peak as early as 2014 — a decade or three earlier than other parties have estimated. The findings were published in the American Chemical Society’s magazine Energy & Fuels.
The term “Peak Oil” refers to the point in time when global production has reached its maximum and will start to decline (represented by a bell curve) — thus having bearing on the point at which the oil supply being pulled from earth will not meet oil demand and consumption. Peak Oil is about production of a finite, nonrenewable energy source which is subject to depletion. In fact, oil production has grown almost every year of the last century.
What is Peak Oil?
Dr. M. King Hubbert, an American geologist and oil expert shown above, conducted extensive studies and then developed a model that became known as Hubbert’s Peak. (Photo courtesy of “Hubbert Tribute” at channelinghubbert.com). From his work, he predicted in the 1950’s that the U.S. oil production would peak in the early 1970’s. Although the professor was ridiculed at the time he released the study, he was essentially right. The U.S. never produced more oil than it did in the early 1970’s — and the country’s oil did peak.
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Peak Oil
| January 25, 2010 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Business |
I’m hoping that readers of my upcoming book on renewables will enjoy my conversation with Matt Simmons, arguably the loudest voice on the issue of peak oil. And, although the subject remains controversial, it’s probably a good deal less so today that it was last week, now that two extremely senior automotive industry executives have come out with statements that support it.
In particular, note the recent comments of GM’s Bob Lutz, global climate change skeptic, who is nonetheless a strong proponent of the Volt and the electrification of the automobile. Lutz argues that continued dependence on oil as demand inevitably increases will simply exacerbate boom and bust economic cycles. He notes that, in 20 years the China auto market will equal the rest of the world combined and adds, “At that point we have to have alternative drive systems, which to me have to be electric.”
And check out the remarks of Jim Lentz, President and COO of Toyota Motor Sales. He apparently stunned his interviewer during a recent Commonwealth Club event, in which he stated unequivocally that Toyota believes that peak oil will occur sometime in the later half of this decade.
Peak oil – just one of the many reasons for the rapid migration to renewable energy.
