Energy. [Energy trends to the year 2000]

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Sci. Am.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7121748

Sassin, W

In reevaluating the role of energy consumption as both the prime mover and key indicator of economic development, the IIASA is attempting to project a range of possible future trends in the world's energy supply and demand. The primary technological problem facing the world in the year 2000 will be in sustaining an adequate supply of liquid fuel. Deep offshore oil, heavy crude, tar sands, and oil shale will all have to be vigorously exploited by 2000. As production costs increase for fossil fuels, less money will be available for the costly development of the long-term sustainable energy sources: the breeder reactor, direct solar power, and fusion. The traditional cost-minimizing principles of economics cannot be relied upon to stimulate the kinds of technological innovations needed to make the transition to new energy forms. In fact, the transition might well become more difficult with time. This race against time can only be won once the regions disposing of high industrial producitvity and those having limited cheap resources ally their different kinds of wealth in order to pay the price for building up a basis for sustainable energy sources.

• OSTI ID: 7121748
• Journal Information: Sci. Am.; (United States), Journal Name: Sci. Am.; (United States) Vol. 243; ISSN SCAMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
292000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Supply
Demand & Forecasting
294000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Fossil Fuels
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR ENERGY
OIL SHALES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR ENERGY
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
TAR