Energy interdependence: today and tomorrow. [Interaction among nations will be required]

Technical Report · Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6868791

Barkenbus, J N

The current fossil-fuel era, from an institutional perspective, differs substantially from the previous century's wood-based energy system: large institutions are now responsible for satisfying the consumer's energy needs; long distances often separate resource exploitation from resource consumption; and governments now play major roles in effecting the movement and sale of energy. Though fossil fuels have presented man with an unprecedented energy surplus, the finite nature of these resources has created a precarious network of global energy trade and led to serious vulnerabilities within the industrial nations. Future energy systems, based upon nuclear and solar technologies, will make use of fuels which, unlike fossil fuels, are abundant and ubiquitous. An energy future free from the limitations and vulnerabilities associated with the fossil-fuel era is envisioned. For numerous reasons, however, utilization of these technologies--over the next half century or so--will require interaction among nations. As a consequence, energy interdependence, rather than national energy independence, is likely to predominate well into the twenty-first century. 50 footnotes.

• Research Organization: Institute for Energy Analysis, Oak Ridge, Tenn. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-05-0033
• OSTI ID: 6868791
• Report Number(s): ORAU/IEA-78-3(O)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY SOURCES
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
ENERGY SUPPLIES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SHORTAGES
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LEGAL ASPECTS
MARKET
NUCLEAR ENERGY
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SOLAR ENERGY
WOOD
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RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
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