The End of an Age

Like the end of the oil-consuming era, the segment on energy is also coming to a close. Just to finish things up, I'm going to recap one or two things. (Not everything, as that would be terribly long and drawn out.)

Coal, Natural Gas, Oil - These are fossil fuels formed from organic matter buried within the ground. They provide sources of energy, but are also sources of CO2. While they are useful, it is essential that we move past these forms of energy to something cleaner and more efficient.

Nuclear - While potentially dangerous, nuclear power is a good backup. It provides constant energy, with little to no damage to the environment. Fission works right now, and fusion might at some point in the future. If nothing else, nuclear power is something to consider as a temporary replacement to oil and gas.

Hydrogen - While environmentally friendly, the technology for hydrogen isn't fully developed. If we can discover better methods of recovering elemental hydrogen, perhaps it might be a viable option. But that is millions of research dollars and years away.

Biofuel - One of the most controversial energy sources, in my mind. Renewable, to and extent. But production currently requires the burning of fossil fuels to produce the ethanol and bio diesel. And there's the issue of energy return: it's not 100%. Again, more research is needed. If we can improve the return ratio and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to produce biofuel, it might just be one of the best options for the future.

What I have covered in these blogs are just the very tip of the iceberg, so to speak. There is so much more information out there. I encourage you to look further into the subject, to familiarize yourself with more of the scientific pros and cons of each topic. They are fascinating and absolutely essential to the continuation of our current way of life.

~Interminable Immediacy