New Scientist Special Report: Energy and Fuels

Access to cheap energy is a linchpin of modern industry and civilisation. Energy, mostly from fossil fuels, allows us to heat homes, and power factories and transportation systems. Worldwide every day, we devour the energy equivalent of about 200 million barrels of oil, but much of this energy comes from coal, gas and nuclear fuel too.

Starting with coal, and then oil and gas in the 1800s, we have plundered our fossil fuel riches to drive development. But now, an energy crisis looms. New oil sources are dwindling, and smothering greenhouse gases threaten the Earth – yet energy demands will rise by 50% to 60% by 2030. We need to rapidly develop sustainable solutions – from hydrogen cells to wind turbines – to fuel our future.

New Scientist