Fossil Fuels

The energy secret – understanding what drives the 21st century and why peak oil really matters

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There are at least two invisible things that tend to be ferociously difficult to understand. One is relations among humans and the other is energy. Especially when the former want more of the latter. And for some reason, understandable perhaps but also unfortunate, we are mostly loathe to try to comprehend where our energy comes from. [Excepts]

Peak oil notes: Gustav and prices

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As it became apparent that hurricane Gustav would cause minimal damage to the Gulf oil infrastructure and that any lost production would be made up from emergency stocks, oil prices began to drop and continued dropping all week. … [However] Gulf and east coast gasoline supplies are getting very close to the level at which shortages could begin.

New Coal Technologies

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For coal, the future of both extraction and consumption depends on new technology. If successfully deployed, innovative technologies could enable the use of coal that is unminable by gasifying it underground; reduce coal’s carbon emissions; or allow coal to take the place of natural gas or petroleum. Without them, coal simply may not have much of a future. Are these technologies close to development? Are they economical? Will they work?