Reinventing the energy system.

Abstract

The price of energy is almost as low as it has ever been and finding new energy sources that are more convenient reliable and affordable than fossil fuels is beyond the imagination of many experts. Fossil fuels including coal oil and natural gas supply 90% or more of the energy of the industrialized world at present. However a closer look at the technological economic social and environmental trends suggest that humanity may already be in the early stages of a major global energy transition which is likely to accelerate in the next century. This transition would in some sense be a return to our roots. The sun the wind and other renewable sources of energy may become the primary energy resources. Hydrogen rather than fossil fuels will be the main energy fuel. The underlying markets may shift drying up sales of conventional power plants and companies. The economic health and political power could either be improved or diminished and the industries homes and cities could be transformed in ways humanity can begin to anticipate. The energetic challenge facing humanity for the 20th century is to build a sustainable energy system one that reestablishes the positive links between energy human well-being and the environment.