The imperative of renewable energy sources planning in a new economic and social order

Conference · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)

OSTI ID:6815450

Bourodimos, E L

The problem of demand, supply and distribution of energy and natural resources - in a narrowly defined concept of the free market economy - is today one of the critical issues of ''the planning for survival.'' The age of scarcity is reaching crisis proportions with the rapid depletion of natural resources, the approach to ''the limits to growth'', and the ''end of affluence.'' Planning and implementation of radical economic and social changes coupled with the development of renewable non-polluting energy sources, to provide the modern technological ''know-how'' for a gradual post-petroleum era transition, becomes a challenging imperative for scientific research. The conventional fossil-fuel energy resources -(except coal)- with all short-sighted ''technological fixes'', will not last far beyond the middle of the next century. Theoretically only the United States - with an annual consumption of six billion barrels of oil - can consume within eighteen months, the entire known recoverable Alaskan oil of 9 - 10 billion barrelsexclamation (Within the frame of similar numerical calculations the U.S. energy hungry economy can consume the entire known recoverable Middle East oil within 60-70 years - even without any further increase of the present oil consumption levels and ratesexclamation) The energy future of the world belongs to the Sun's renewable energy sources: Solar, wind, geothermal energy, hydropower and energy from oceans, biomass, biofuels, hydrogen gas, (and probably-and ultimately-controlled nuclear fusion).

• Research Organization: College of Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
• OSTI ID: 6815450
• Report Number(s): CONF-801210-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States) Journal Volume: 9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
PLANNING
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS