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Originally Posted by Misanthrope Let's be frank. Oil isn't going to last forever, nor is it the most efficient energy source available. I've been reading up on the more efficient energy sources and energy containment systems, so to begin, I'll throw in moon-based Helium-3 and antimatter into the fray to be picked apart. The helium-3 is found in relative abundance on the "light side of the moon" and is a highly energetic isotope which got that way by absorbing the sun's energy directly, without an atmosphere (and EDIT: We would use helium-3 in nuclear fusion reactions). The initial problem here is, well, the fact we're going to be mining the moon, the legal grey area things such as the moon occupy, and the potential for companies or countries to monopolize such operations.
Antimatter is, simply put, atoms with their charges reversed (negative electrons become positive positrons, positive protons become negative antiprotons) and when they come in contact with normal matter atoms, both of them "annihilate" and their rest masses are both converted into energy. Problem here is that antimatter takes huge amounts of energy to produce and the only places it occurs naturally are months' spacevoyages away from Earth. However, antimatter could theoretically be used as an energy STORAGE concept, so that might have a forseeable use.
Here's the thing though, as my father pointed out. Emerging technologies, in which the public is eager to accept and endorse, may not have the most thurough testing and in ten, twenty years' time, would turn out to have dangerous side effects. He used asbestos and thalidomide as examples, and did give me something to think about.
Anyway, what do you guys think? |
Well, Many energy sources that are being presented to us right now are largly incapable or just don't have the promise to get anywhere. We could have windfarms everywhere, off of every coast in every feild. This of course would take lots of space but I suppose if there were so many loads of energy would be produced.
Right now, there is still oil. Some in places we can't dig, some where we can, and perhaps some we havent found yet. Oil has been reliable so far. It is I would say the birth of the whole fuel and energy thing, we have to start somewhere, as we move on other sources will be presented to us, eventually we may find somethin that can support our needs.
We are starting to feel the strains of over population. Places like Chine and India are drowning in people, now I bet you will crucify me for saying this but population control may be in our future. What keeps animal population in check? Other animals...well nothing is keeping us in check. Perhaps we will have to keep ourselves in check.
Aside from that and moving onto some other sources. Hydro electric should be put everywhere using the most efficient designs. If poeple want to use their electronics than I think they should have to look at a damn to pay for it, and who cares if you look at a damn? Why would anyone care if it was keeping you comfortable and living with air conditioning and cooked food in your belly?
Nuclear is a great thing to have, but the things needed for it are few. Granted it doesn't use much but still. Nuclear will be a good alternative and fallback if nothing else can work. But I think we should exhuast that last.
Solar I think is good for smaller things in remote locations were it will usually always function.If we can make solar much, much more efficient then we are going to get somewhere.
No one has mentions Geo-Thermal energy something that will last forever. Why not use it?
Well there is my take on it all.