Dr Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA), says his agency's recent study of 800 oil fields around the world (representing three quarter's of the world's oil reserves) reveal that we are facing a global energy catastrophe even sooner than researchers thought.
The IEA estimates that the decline in oil production in existing fields is now running at 6.7 per cent a year compared to the 3.7 per cent decline it had estimated in 2007, which it now acknowledges to be wrong.
This means the pressure will be on to start using enivonmentally-disastrous tar sands in Canada.
This step-change in capacity could pave the way for a new generation of electric cars, mobile phones and laptops.
The research work, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), is being led by researchers at the University of St Andrews with partners at Strathclyde and Newcastle.
The new design has the potential to improve the performance of portable electronic products and give a major boost to the renewable energy industry. The batteries will enable a constant electrical output from sources such as wind or solar, which stop generating when the weather changes or night falls.
His view and other high profile climate scientists like Hansen on the critical need for nuclear to supplant coal might come as a surprise to many that think renewables are sufficient as alternative energy sources..
...they are not.
....needed?? yes....
...cost effective??....not very as the article shows very clearly
....sufficient.....not a hope..
It's good reading including the pro and con comments
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In Australia and the web site is out of date.
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Enough of the nuclear crap. Back in the 60s and 70s scientists were assuring us that in no time at all we would have safe disposal methods for the waste. Back then I was dumb enough to believe them. It STILL hasn't happened and no breakthroughs are in sight.
When it comes to being green, getting rid of poisons has to trump CO2 concerns PERIOD.
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Bill C-51 is an act of Terrorism! It cannot be fixed and should be immediately repealed!
It cannot be fixed and should be immediately repealed!
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