Category Archives: Energy

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

EROI of Canadian Natural Gas. A peak was reached despite enormous investment

Posted on January 7, 2017 by

[ Although I’ve extracted much of this paper, it is not complete—there are missing equations, figures, tables, and text– so see the paper for details (it is available online).  I’ve rearranged the order of the paper.  The conclusion is just … Continue reading →

Posted in EROEI Energy Returned on Energy Invested, Natural Gas, Peak Natural Gas | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Electric Cars and Biofuels switch dependence from foreign oil to domestic water and weather risks

Posted on December 29, 2016 by

  Figure 1. Energy/Water Nexus Amy Hardberger, Matthew E. Mantell, Michael Webber, Carey W. King, Karl Fennessey [ This Senate hearing covers a lot of ground. I found the most interesting testimony to be the intersection of water and energy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Drought, Energy Production, Hydropower, Transportation, Water Infrastructure | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Electric Cars and Biofuels switch dependence from foreign oil to domestic water and weather risks

How Much Oil is Left?

Posted on December 23, 2016 by

The Power of Exponential Growth: Every 10 years we have burned more oil than all previous decades Preface. There is a lot of oil left. The problem is, most of the remaining oil is unconventional, which needs a lot more … Continue reading →

Posted in How Much Left, Oil, Peak Oil | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The dangers and costs of importing Liquefied natural gas (LNG). U.S. Senate Hearing 2005.

Posted on December 20, 2016 by

                      [ Before fracked (tight) natural gas came along, natural gas prices spiked sky-high and the U.S. Congress began looking at how new LNG import terminal construction could be expedited, … Continue reading →

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House hearing on Canadian oil sands

Posted on December 14, 2016 by

House 112-128. March 20, 2012. The American Energy Initiative Part 17: A focus on the future of energy technology with an emphasis on Canadian oil sands. U.S. House of Representatives. [ Excerpts from the 203 page transcript ] President Obama … Continue reading →

Posted in Tar Sands (Oil Sands), U.S. Congress Energy Policy | Tagged , , | Comments Off on House hearing on Canadian oil sands

Electrifying freight trains in the U.S. is a really bad idea

Posted on December 13, 2016 by

Preface. Diesel-electric locomotives are ALREADY electric, and more energy efficient than electric freight trains. Diesel-electric freight is very efficient and moves 4 times more tons per mile than trucks because they hardly ever accelerate, stop, start, or travel over 40 … Continue reading →

Posted in Electric Grid, Electrification, Railroads | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Electrifying freight trains in the U.S. is a really bad idea

How is California’s AB2514 experiment with utility scale battery storage coming along?

Posted on December 3, 2016 by

[ This is an excellent article by Tod Kiefer about tests of sodium-sulfur batteries, which are the only kind of battery for which there is enough material on earth to make. Battery electric storage is meant to “replace nimble, fast-ramping … Continue reading →

Posted in Batteries, Battery - Utility Scale, Electricity Infrastructure | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Review of “The Powerhouse: Inside the Invention of a Battery to Save the World” by Steve LeVine

Posted on December 2, 2016 by

Preface. This is a book review of Steve Levine’s 2015 “The Powerhouse: Inside the Invention of a Battery to Save the World”. If you ever wondered why batteries are still not even close to powerful enough to replace fossil fuels, … Continue reading →

Posted in Automobiles, Batteries, Energy Books | Tagged , | Comments Off on Review of “The Powerhouse: Inside the Invention of a Battery to Save the World” by Steve LeVine

How burning biomass made us human

Posted on November 15, 2016 by

[ This is a book review of Wrangham’s “Catching Fire: How cooking made us human”. Fire enabled us to have larger brains from the increased calories in cooked food, held carnivores at bay, killed bacteria, and gave us many other … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Books, Evolution, Health, Wood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on How burning biomass made us human

Germany’s “Energiewende” may need to be rescued with nonrenewable coal power

Posted on November 10, 2016 by

[ Below is my summary of The Energiewende is Running Up Against Its Limits (October 24, 2016) by Jeffrey Michel at the Energy Collective. Wealthy, well-educated Germany has tried harder and longer than most nations to make a transition to renewables. … Continue reading →

Posted in National Super Grid, Renewable Integration | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment