Category Archives: Energy

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

Why carbon capture contraptions are absurd

Preface.  At the first USA peak oil conference in Denver (ASPO 2005), many of the attendees speculated renewable energy would be the last chance for Wall Street to make money from government subsidies and “dumb money” investors before limits to … Continue reading

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Why do leaders & the public deny peak oil & limits to growth?

Preface.  It’s strange that we’re on the cusp of Peak Oil, and yet the only existential threat you ever hear about is Climate Change. The New York Times has mentioned climate change over 15,000 times the past 5 years, and … Continue reading

Posted in Alternative Energy, An Overview, Critical Thinking, GOVERNMENT, Limits To Growth, Other Experts, Society | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Vaclav Smil on why there will be no energy transition

Preface. This post has excerpts from energy expert Vaclav Smil‘s 2024 free paper “Halfway between Kyoto and 2050“. Smil’s book is free, here. Below is a shortened, reworded article from Scientific American in 2014 written by Smil on this topic … Continue reading

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If oil is being created all the time, we will never run out

  Preface. The theory that oil is always being created underground is known as abiotic, or Gold’s theory. This post consists of excerpts from the best paper I’ve found on why this is nonsense. Even if abiotic processes are happening, … Continue reading

Posted in Oil, Ugo Bardi | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Summary of Greenpeace “Nuclear Reactor Hazards”

Source: Nuclear power is dirty, dangerous and expensive. Say no to new nukes. Preface.  This is a summary of: Hirsch H (2005) Nuclear Reactor Hazards Ongoing Dangers of Operating Nuclear Technology in the 21st Century.  Greenpeace International. The revival of … Continue reading

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Nuclear power is not the solution

Preface. This is a book review of Ramana’s “Nuclear is not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change.” A great overview that covers many topics, one of the best out there, and most recent. … Continue reading

Posted in Nuclear Books, Nuclear Power Energy, Nuclear War | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Refrigeration uses up to 30% of world electricity

Preface. This is a book review of Twilley’s 2024 book Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves. It is a really great book, highly recommended. Refrigeration plays a much larger role in our lives than people realize. … Continue reading

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CCS plants leak, catch on fire, explode, corrode, and contaminate water

Source: Center for Progressive reform (2024) Carbon Dioxide Leak in Decatur, IL, Demonstrates Dangerous Failure of Carbon Capture Storage and Sequestration Preface. Clearly it is not worth spending billions of dollars to sequester CO2 “permanently” if it may leak. It’s … Continue reading

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Trump & Project 2025 want to destroy energy efficiency & raise your utility bills

Source: (NYT 2017, LBL 2025) The Department of energy (DOE) under Chris Wright is proposing to get rid of energy efficiency standards that have saved consumers over 1.5 trillion dollars (CFA 2017). The average American home saves $321 a year … Continue reading

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NIMBY Hydrogen production

Preface.  Now that Trump has slashed the hydrogen budget this is not an issue, but perhaps will be again if Democrats gain power in 2028. Which is fine with me, hydrogen is the dumbest of all the proposed alternatives as … Continue reading

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