We are running out of oil
We are running out of oil. In the US, discovery of oil peaked back in 1950. US production of oil peaked in 1970, 20 years after the discovery peak. Worldwide, it is a fact that oil discovery peaked in 1965. Here we are nearly 40 years later, and virtually all independent experts say world oil production will peak about 2005. Oil company experts and the Department of Energy put the peak between 2010 and 2020, although it is rumored they projected supply to meet projected demand so as not to alarm the public. The peak is critical, because it is when flat oil production fails to keep up with increasing world demand that prices go sky high. No respected expert puts the peak beyond 2030.
Oil is essential to us, yet in the past 10 years we have made little progress on alternate fuels, and no progress on vital energy conservation.
Energy conservation must become a way of life, so that we can satisfy our needs with renewable energy. Physicist Amory Lovins says we could have our present way of life on 80% less energy. Also, we have the technology to develop renewable energy. As you know, some forms of renewable energy include solar electric power, solar thermal power, hydroelectric power, wind turbine power, biomass power, and geothermal power.
For portable power, we can use stationary power to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, thus gaining power for transportation. The hydrogen can be stored in on-board pressure tanks at 2,500 psi and used to fuel on-board fuel cell stacks, efficiently generating electricity to run long range electric vehicles. The fuel cell system is three times as efficient as the internal combustion engine. Also, it produces no pollution, just water and a little waste heat. We know how to do these things, but time is short.
We must think of our future. It is important for all of us to understand the need to adopt alternative energy systems now.
Thomas S. Dickerman
Civil Engineering Consultant
Daly City, Calif.
