Category Archives: Energy

the posts in this category used to be in “Energy in A Nutshell” at my former web site.

Rare Earth updates: recent research on why complex & intelligent life are rare in the Universe

Preface. I think that Ward & Brownlee’s 2000 book “Rare Earth : Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe” is one of the most important books ever written. There’s a good case to be made that our planet hosts … Continue reading

Posted in Evolution, Human Nature, Planetary Boundaries, Wood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What is the plan for an electric grid outage that lasts for months?

Preface. This is one of three posts based on Ted Koppel’s book Lights out.  There’s also: Want to survive peak everything? Become a Mormon” and a longer book review, which this post has excerpts from regarding what the plan is … Continue reading

Posted in Blackouts, Blackouts Electric Grid, Electric Grid & Fast Collapse, Energy Books, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why methanol cannot replace petroleum in shipping

Preface. Methanol, or CH₃OH, is primarily used to make chemicals for plastics, paints, and cosmetics. It is made from coal or natural gas. “Green” methanol is made from biomass or biogas from landfills or sewage plants. Or it can be … Continue reading

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Do you want to eat, drink, or fly?

Preface.  In this post the New York Times writes about renewable airplane fuel from corn ethanol, and questions whether there is enough water and a few other problems.  First I’m going to summarize their issues with this, and then follow … Continue reading

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Will Congress ever create a new independent agency to store nuclear waste permanently?

Preface. The lack of permanent geological storage of nuclear waste will be yet another nightmare for those living after fossils have declined and civilizations go back to biomass fuels and muscle power. They will already be dealing with heat making … Continue reading

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Nuclear waste will harm future generations for a million years without underground storage

Preface. This is a book review of “Too Hot to Touch: The Problem of High-Level Nuclear Waste” and the best book I’ve read on the topic, as well as additional research on the topic. Now that world wide production of … Continue reading

Posted in An Index of Best Energyskeptic Posts, Energy Books, Nuclear Books, Nuclear Power Energy, Nuclear Waste | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Nuclear spent fuel pool fire could force millions to evacuate & cost $2 trillion

Preface. Nuclear cheerleaders love to talk about how safe nuclear power is.  You will never ever hear them talk about nuclear fuel pools because that would destroy their argument. Though like Limits to Growth and Malthusian overpopulation dismissed by capitalists, … Continue reading

Posted in Blackouts Electric Grid, EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, Nuclear Power Energy, Nuclear spent fuel fire, Nuclear Waste | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Sodium Sulfur Batteries

Recent research progress in sodium ion batteries: (a) cathode, (b) anode, (c) electrolyte and (d) binder. Source: Hwang J (2017) Sodium-ion batteries: present and future. Chem. Soc. Review 46: 3529-3614  DOI: 10.1039/C6CS00776G Preface. If lithium were used for both EV … Continue reading

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Book review: Atomic Days. The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America

Preface. Plutonium for nuclear weapons was produced at the Hanford Washington site for nearly four decades. Today it is the world’s most polluted site chock-a-block with radioactive waste and toxic chemicals. The department of energy estimates a clean-up could cost … Continue reading

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Bill Gates Gen IV sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) in Wyoming

Source: Japan abandons Monju fast reactor: the slow death of a nuclear dream. The Ecologist. ‘Fast breeder’ reactors are promoted by nuclear enthusiasts as the clean, green energy technology of the future. But all the evidence tells us they are … Continue reading

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