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Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (2263)	9/30/2005 11:20:34 PM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 24240

Oil industry ‘underestimating’ future role of alternative energy sources Wendy Hall THE energy industry is failing to take into account the role renewable energy sources will play in the future, delegates at the World Petroleum congress in Sandton heard yesterday. “We are entering a new energy era. The oil industry is seriously underestimating renewable energy,” said Christopher Flavin, president of the environmental research body World Watch Institute. The production of renewable energies such as hydrogen, biofuels — fuel derived from organic materials such as maize, sugar and soya — wind and solar power, which are derived from natural processes and constantly renewed, had grown 25% in the past five years, Flavin said. Production of fossil fuels had been growing at 2% a year, he said. Royal Dutch Shell’s vice-president of global hydrogen businesses, Jeremy Bentham, said that by 2030 the production of renewable fuels would equal gas production, and would match oil production by 2040. High oil prices, climate change and the desire for energy independence by petroleum-importing countries have driven the search for alternative energy sources. Renewable sources account for 5,6% of the world’s energy. Half of this comes from fuels such as bioethanol, which are blended into diesel. South African company Evergreen Biofuels said earlier this month it would launch the first large-scale commercial production of biodiesel in SA with its refinery in Bethal, Mpumalanga, which will manufacture the environmentally friendly fuel from soya beans. The highest consumers of renewable energy are Norway and Sweden, where renewables account for 45% and 25% of consumption respectively. The European Union has set a target that 5,75% of transport fuel has to come from renewable sources, either hydropower or biofuel, by 2010. Renewable sources account for 4,2% of US energy, the largest energy consumer in the world. China is set to overtake everyone, however. “In five years’ time we see China as a world leader in this department,” Flavin said. “Already, 35-million homes in China get their hot water from solar collectors. That is more than the rest of the world combined.” The recent hike in global oil prices has made research and exploration of alternative energy more financially viable. Crude prices have fallen from a record $70,85 on August 30 after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf of Mexico oil region, but in real terms they are still at levels not seen since 1980, the year after the Iranian revolution. “The industry is scaling up quickly, the technology is improving and renewables are moving towards mass production,” Flavin said. World use of wind power increased 30% a year between 1994 and last year, while the use of solar power increased 23%, and biofuels 6%, a year. Solar “rooftop” energy could provides countries with up to 50% of their energy requirements with panels placed on the roofs of homes and office buildings, Flavin said. More than 200000 homes in Japan get their electricity from such panels. Biofuels are significant growth sector — production grew 47% last year. About 5% of diesel is made up of biofuel, creating a market of 300-million litres a year for the fuel in SA. Bentham said, however, that to continue to grow, the alternative energy industry needs consistent government regulation through incentives, targets and stable investment. “Government incentives are critical and growth will be driven or inhibited by government policy,” he said. With Reuters businessday.co.za

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (2263)	9/30/2005 11:41:06 PM
From: Bill on the Hill	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24240

Scare Tactics. Perhaps Matt Simmons could be called a scarahologist. He supports a growing cast of advance economic collapse prognosticators. Delvers into the future of post peak conditions and reactions. Simmons paints a solid picture backed up with solid research and solid calculations of the demand and supply side of oil. His predictions allow America and the world little time to reverse an inevitable decline. I bet that over a doob or beer he would admit that it is already too late and we have fallen over the edge without a net in place. Which leads to the government and their hope to control society and its habits. Most peak prognosticators worth their weight in monkey urine openly admit that the government will be lucky to have gas for their mercedes much less the gas to waste trying to control unruly mobs. Much easier to just ignore them and let them fend for themselves. Which is where I am. On the very outside edge. Fending for myself. No net in place. High on wire we step One step at a time Forward or back No net in place Gets easier with practice And much safer One step at a time High on wire we step