[Graeme]

Peak oil requires new thinking for a new age.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')n an economy where fossil fuels are in decline and renewable and nuclear energy sources are assuming increasingly dominant roles, electricity will become increasingly important as an end-use energy source. This implies that as fossil fuels deplete, the basis of our economy will shift from a predominantly chemical to a mostly electrical base.

This would appear inevitable, yet the implications are not at first easy to see. In an energy economy in which primary energy is in the form of electricity, the critical consideration becomes, how do we convert bulk electricity from a wind turbine, nuclear reactor or wave generator, into a form that we can use to fuel our cars, heat our homes and power our factories?

The above examples show that it would be extraordinarily wasteful and expensive to attempt to replace declining oil production with synthetic fuels derived from coal or biomass. This should also be viewed in the context that the price of all fossil fuels, including coal, is likely to increase progressively following peak oil. In so far as we continue to use fossil fuels as energy sources, in all scenarios they produce far more thermodynamic work if used as electricity fuels.

[Twilight]

Interesting, but unattainable. According to the figures given (which one must assume are optimistic), the UK would need to build an additional 30% generation, transmission and distribution capacity on top of the 30% it must replace within 10-15 years anyway, while accounting for other demand growth. I don't see how that is possible. Shifting the energy consumption of the transportation sector onto the grid is a world of pain.

[shortonoil]

Twilight said:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')hifting the energy consumption of the transportation sector onto the grid is a world of pain.

[NEOPO]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Twilight', 'I')nteresting, but unattainable. According to the figures given (which one must assume are optimistic), the UK would need to build an additional 30% generation, transmission and distribution capacity on top of the 30% it must replace within 10-15 years anyway, while accounting for other demand growth. I don't see how that is possible. Shifting the energy consumption of the transportation sector onto the grid is a world of pain.

[PeakOiler]

It seems the premise of the entire article was to maintain the current energy lifestyle, e.g., electric vehicles instead of fossil fuel-powered vehicles so we can continue a commuting and traveling civilization at the present levels.

Transportation is the first thing that will change, and that people feel they have to keep on driving or flying around the world for holidays. Peak oil will put an end to globalization, personal commuting, and tourism big time.

The new thinking needs to ultimately be about not increasing the world population. Who was it that said that "if humans don't control their numbers, Nature will."...?

[shortonoil]

PeakOiler said:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')t seems the premise of the entire article was to maintain the current energy lifestyle, e.g., electric vehicles instead of fossil fuel-powered vehicles so we can continue a commuting and traveling civilization at the present levels.

[JPL]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NEOPO', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Twilight', 'I')nteresting, but unattainable. According to the figures given (which one must assume are optimistic), the UK would need to build an additional 30% generation, transmission and distribution capacity on top of the 30% it must replace within 10-15 years anyway, while accounting for other demand growth. I don't see how that is possible. Shifting the energy consumption of the transportation sector onto the grid is a world of pain.

[shortonoil]

JPL quoted:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')nteresting, but unattainable. According to the figures given (which one must assume are optimistic), the UK would need to build an additional 30% generation, transmission and distribution capacity on top of the 30% it must replace within 10-15 years anyway, while
accounting for other demand growth. I don't see how that is possible. Shifting the energy consumption of the transportation sector onto the grid is a world of pain.