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

Posted on March 15, 2024 by

Preface. These are updates to Ward & Brownlee’s book “Rare Earth: Why Complex life is Uncommon in the Universe”. If we are one of the few planets with intelligent life, what a shame it would be if we destroyed ourselves … 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?

Posted on January 4, 2024 by

Preface. There are three posts on Ted Koppel’s book “Lights out”: Book review of Lights Out. A Cyberattack. A Nation Unprepared. Surviving the Aftermath What is the plan for an electric grid outage that lasts for months? Want to survive … Continue reading →

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

Why methanol cannot replace petroleum as a transportation fuel

Posted on December 20, 2023 by

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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Why is everyone afraid of AI taking over? It makes stuff up!

Posted on December 13, 2023 by

Preface. AI is not intelligent, it is stupid! AI not only makes stuff up as explained below, but I have found it to be highly inaccurate and incomplete. For example, I asked about hours and costs of wine tasting in … Continue reading →

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Do you want to eat, drink, or fly?

Posted on December 6, 2023 by

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 →

Posted in Airplanes, Biofuels, Biomass EROI, Groundwater, Peak Water | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Do you want to eat, drink, or fly?

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

Posted on November 8, 2023 by

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

Posted on November 1, 2023 by

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

Posted on October 25, 2023 by

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

Posted on October 11, 2023 by

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

Posted on October 4, 2023 by

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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