Buisnessweek: Peak oil to Dark Age

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Richelieu
The US should invade some oil rich middle east country to insure its supplies and use it as a base for future invasions in the region when the need arises.

Hasn't that already happened?

[Richelieu]

It's comments like this that make me go to CG.

[Tattila the Hun]

Mad Max

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten


How will more nuclear power plants help when facing a shortage of oil?

Also, Nuclear planst could be used for the process of seperating hydrogen from water so you have hydrogen fuel cells.

[Impaler[WrG]]

Nuclear power is the most expensive form of power EVER invented, its real cost is more then twice that of Wind power. Nuclear is being pushed because of the massive profit potential for Utilities, Renewable Energy sources are so decentralized they don't support monopolization and price gouging as a centralized power system dose.

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by Colonâ„¢
The main problem with oil production are the state owned or controlled companies. The output of Venezuela's PDVSA has been declining since Chavez installed his cronies there, Russia's output has been stagnating since the collapse of Yukos, ARAMCO doesn't expand because it lacks expertise and because Saudi Arabia wishes to keep prices up and so forth.

Mexico is also known for its terrible handling of the richest oil field in the world.

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by Impaler[WrG]
Nuclear is being pushed because of the massive profit potential for Utilities, ....

This is massively contradicted by the price of electricity billed by EDF during the last 30 years, known as the lowest in Europe.

[Colonâ„¢]

Problem is that a lot of nuclear plant owners never had to incur the construction costs, only the operating costs. And AFAIK nukes are relatively cheap to operate but hideously expensive to build.

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by Colonâ„¢
Problem is that a lot of nuclear plant owners never had to incur the construction costs, only the operating costs. And AFAIK nukes are relatively cheap to operate but hideously expensive to build.

That was not the case for EDF; their borrowings were guaranteed by the state, and they benefited from the state research for free, but they paid 100% of the building.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Impaler[WrG]
Nuclear power is the most expensive form of power EVER invented, its real cost is more then twice that of Wind power.

But more efficient, doesn't take up as much space, easy to centralized.

In addition, once we actually run out of oil Nuclear will not seem as expensive.

Nuclear is being pushed because of the massive profit potential for Utilities, Renewable Energy sources are so decentralized they don't support monopolization and price gouging as a centralized power system dose.

Yeah, that's it.


Or it's not worth it to try to transport energy from some solar plant in the desert to Washington DC

[Dis]

Originally posted by DAVOUT


More nuclear power plants would help to reduce the quantity of oil used to produce electricity.

and if we move to electric cars would greatly reduce all oil consumption.

provided there is enough uranium. uranium is a limited resource as well I would think.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Richelieu
The US should invade some oil rich middle east country to insure its supplies and use it as a base for future invasions in the region when the need arises.

I assume you are being sarcastic as we have already done this. This is why we are in Iraq. I knew all along it was about oil..

[Drake Tungsten]

More nuclear power plants would help to reduce the quantity of oil used to produce electricity.

What DAVOUT said

Who uses oil to produce electricity? Coal and natural gas are the fossil fuels predominately used to generate electricity and neither are in any danger of running out in the forseeable future.

[Kuciwalker]

IIRC petroleum is something like 10%. And significant adoption of electric cars would require a corresponding increase in generating capacity.

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
IIRC petroleum is something like 10%. And significant adoption of electric cars would require a corresponding increase in generating capacity.

You are right. Wiki says 8%, but it is Wiki
As it represents about half of the nuclear electricity, if we ever need to replace the 8%, it would take something like 100 reactors.