Peak coal, the other bad news

[TravisW]

But it wouldn't make a difference in the peak of oil production. The production of oil from tar sands is difficult and slow compared to light sweet crude.

I think I may have misunderstood your point, and I feel rather silly about it; I was posting on this thread arguing that Peak Coal/Oil hadn't occurred, and you were commenting more on what the actual definition of the term was, yes?

[spidergoat]

OK, there was some confusion there.

But the US has already experienced it's production peak, and no tar sands technology is going to change that significantly, at least not to the extent of exceeding our ultimate peak of production in the 1970's.

[TravisW]

I'm not even sure where the debate was going anymore...

My only contention is that Peak Coal and Oil can be avoided forever because we can continue to produce them with solar energy.

I think I was playing devils advocate too much... I'm too tired to keep going, you win?

[spidergoat]

I don't care about winning anything. Is solar energy sufficient to meet our future energy needs?

[DaS Energy]

Hello spidergoat,

"Is solar energy sufficient to meet our future energy needs?" Not after the sun goes down.

Cheers Peter

[spidergoat]

That's not the reason it isn't. There are batteries and other energy storage devices.

[DaS Energy]

Hello spidergoat,

Must agree batteries are a form of electricty storage.

If I may sugest thermal energy ie ambient heat devices unlike Solar do not need a electricity storage system.

You be absolutely correct Oil and Coal are finite reserves.

Cheers Peter

[Syzygys]

European countries are phasing coal out:

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/cl...#ixzz27y2lDSC5

[Read-Only]

European countries are phasing coal out:

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/cl...#ixzz27y2lDSC5

I beg your pardon, but what "countries?" (plural) The only ONE I see named - or mentioned - in the article as reducing coal usage is Finland.

[Syzygys]

I got the link from Reddit, and in the discussion, they also mentioned Iceland and another Scandinavian country where the use of coal was declining...