Category Archives: Energy

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

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

Posted in Battery - Utility Scale | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Sodium Sulfur Batteries

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

Posted in Disasters, Energy Books, Nuclear Waste, Pollution | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Book review: Atomic Days. The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America

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

Posted in Gen IV SMR reactors | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Bill Gates Gen IV sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) in Wyoming

Want to survive Peak Everything? Become a Mormon

Source: Salt Lake Tribune. For Latter-day Saint families, preparing for emergencies is the norm Preface.  Ted Koppel’s book “Lights Out” highlights the many risks to the grid from cyber and physical attacks, electromagnetic pulses from weapons or solar flares, large … Continue reading

Posted in Blackouts, Electric Grid & Fast Collapse, EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, Energy Books, Where to Be or Not to Be | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Why tight fracked oil and gas is mostly extracted in the US

Source: Smithsonian. May 2013 map of shale oil and gas formation. fource U.S. EIA & USGS. Preface.  Unconventional US (and some Canadian) fracked tight oil was over 90% of how oil production increased after conventional oil peaked in 2008, but … Continue reading

Posted in Oil & Gas Fracked | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why tight fracked oil and gas is mostly extracted in the US

Fusion: Book review of “Sun in a Bottle”

Preface. I don’t know of a book or article that better explains fusion and why fusion is so difficult and far from being commercial. Or ever commercial for that matter. Except for hydrogen bombs.

Posted in Fusion, Nuclear Books, Nuclear Waste | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fusion: Book review of “Sun in a Bottle”

EV charging not possible when restricted or grid down

Preface.  I have many posts at energyskeptic on the myriad reasons the grid will fail or disrupted in the future. Climate change is causing droughts and reservoirs too low to generate much hydropower, and nuclear plants must shut down if … Continue reading

Posted in Electric Vehicles, Electrification, Energy Climate Change | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on EV charging not possible when restricted or grid down

Fusion at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Source: The target chamber of LLNL’s National Ignition Facility, where 192 laser beams delivered more than 2 million joules of ultraviolet energy to a tiny fuel pellet to create fusion ignition. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Preface. Anyone who thought the … Continue reading

Posted in Fusion, Nuclear War | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Fusion at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory