Life after Fossil Fuels
A Reality Check on Alternative Energy
This book provides a sobering examination of the future of energy, highlighting our current reliance on fossil fuels, which are crucial for transportation, manufacturing, and countless products. As global oil production is predicted to decline, possibly as soon as 2022 to 2030, the urgent question arises: what alternatives can replace fossil fuels? The author surveys a range of options, including wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, nuclear, and more, assessing their potential to supplement or replace fossil fuels. The analysis extends to the needs of energy users, particularly in manufacturing, where high heat is often required, and fossil fuels serve as essential feedstocks. The book also addresses the challenge of finding alternatives for diesel, which powers ships and heavy-duty trucks. With a critical lens, the author evaluates which technologies should be prioritized for immediate deployment, which warrant further research, and which are unrealistic. As fossil fuels have enabled unprecedented growth and prosperity, the decline of these resources raises the question: can we adapt to a new energy landscape, and are there viable alternatives to sustain our way of life?
