Category Archives: Energy

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

Limits to Growth: Natural gas fertilizer that feeds 4 billion of us

Posted on March 30, 2022 by

Preface.  In chapter 4 of my book “Life After Fossil Fuels: A Reality Check on Alternative Energy“, I explain how it came to be that fertilizer is made out of natural gas, using the energy of natural gas, and why … Continue reading →

Posted in Life After Fossil Fuels, Limits To Growth, Natural Gas, Peak Food, Starvation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Far out #7: Ammonia power & recycle wind turbines by eating them

Posted on March 27, 2022 by

Preface. This optimistic article is honest enough to say that the new process of not emitting NOx when using ammonia for energy is a long way from commercial viability, and has myriad hurdles.  This is not the most promising way … Continue reading →

Posted in Far Out, Hydrogen, Natural Gas, Peak Platinum Group Elements, Recycle, Recycling | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why liquefied coal (CTL) and natural gas (GTL) can’t replace oil

Posted on March 9, 2022 by

Preface. Here are just a few of the reasons why we aren’t likely to convert enough coal to diesel to matter as oil decines (see Chapter 11 Liquefied Coal: There Goes the Neighborhood, the Water, and the Air for more … Continue reading →

Posted in Coal to Liquids (CTL), GTL Gas-To-Liquids, Peak Coal, Peak Oil | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why liquefied coal (CTL) and natural gas (GTL) can’t replace oil

Lithium-ion battery recycling, environmental impact, energy used

Posted on February 25, 2022 by

Preface. The future of both electric vehicles and utility-scale energy storage are depending on lithium-ion batteries because of their high energy-density, and even though lithium is limited, it’s about the only kind of battery being made for transport (because it … Continue reading →

Posted in Lithium-ion, Recycle, Recycling | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Lithium-ion battery recycling, environmental impact, energy used

Why the world can’t run on biodiesel from algae

Posted on February 19, 2022 by

Preface. This is an article I published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it’s also similar to “Chapter 25 Biodiesel from Algae” in my book Life After Fossil Fuels: A Reality Check on Alternative Energy. And within this post is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Algae, Alternative Energy, Biomass, Energy, Peak Biofuels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why the world can’t run on biodiesel from algae

Why EV Batteries aren’t being recycled

Posted on February 13, 2022 by

Preface.  Talk to your typical capitalist / environmentalist and they will both agree that we will never run out of anything because we can recycle.  But we aren’t.  Especially since it’s cheaper to buy newly mined metals than to recycle … Continue reading →

Posted in Batteries, Mining, Recycle, Recycling | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why EV Batteries aren’t being recycled

Peak Fossil Fuels: overview of world peak oil, peak coal, & peak natural gas

Posted on February 4, 2022 by

Last updated 2022-6-24 Preface. Below are overviews of peak oil, coal, and natural gas, each followed by additional reading material from my book “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Transportation”, which explains why we are unlikely to … Continue reading →

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

Climate change will damage energy infrastructure, costing trillions

Posted on January 28, 2022 by

Preface. Climate change and extreme weather will harm oil and gas exploration and production, electric power generation and increase energy demand due to sea level rise, heat, drought, floods, more storms, and blackouts.  Extreme heat and drought will force electric … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackouts Electric Grid, Cascading Failure, Climate Change, Electric Grid, Electric Grid & Fast Collapse, Energy Production, Hydropower, Peak Water, Ships and Barges | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Climate change will damage energy infrastructure, costing trillions

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

Posted on December 26, 2021 by

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 2) Collapse, Alternative Energy, An Overview, Critical Thinking, GOVERNMENT, Limits To Growth, Other Experts | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Solar panels in the Sahara could cause global warming

Posted on December 23, 2021 by

Preface. Adding tens of thousands of square miles of solar panels to replace fossil fuels could cause climate change and heat up the planet. Of course this is a fantasy, dust storms would scour the panels rendering them useless, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Heat, Photovoltaic Solar | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Solar panels in the Sahara could cause global warming