replacement for fossil fuels?

[AndrewJ]

With all the prospective new technologies coming soon. What do you think will be the next big breakthrough for future clean energy or will it be another 100+years or is it already too late to change and we are all doomed?

In my opinion, we need to change to renewable sources of fuel - biodiesel & methanol for transport, stuff like straw & willow for power generation.

Oil, coal & gas are too valuable as sources of chemicals, for us to burn them

What about advances in nuclear power? Fusion etc?

OK there is some waste but then again there may well be advances on how to deal with that too...

[Matth]

Nuclear fuel is also essentially a "fossil fuel" in character, with only a finite amount that can be mined, although breeder reactors can enrich lower grade material and stretch the fuel potential.

Trouble is, "conventional nuclear fission" was persued at the expense of any and all alternatives, and now the "safe, clean power that's too cheap to meter" looks like being a dead end, the alternatives are under-researched.

Solar and Wind are erratic, and require large areas.
Tidal power is regular, but would require massive coastal constructions with significant effects on coastal ecosystems.

Biomass fuel crops actually look like one of the most environmentally acceptable and practically implementable possibilities for renewable energy, tended using horse-drawn machinery with random bio-fertiliser application or using biodiesel fuelled machinery

[AndrewJ]

Originally Posted by Matth

Nuclear fuel is also essentially a "fossil fuel" in character, with only a finite amount that can be mined, although breeder reactors can enrich lower grade material and stretch the fuel potential.

Trouble is, "conventional nuclear fission" was persued at the expense of any and all alternatives, and now the "safe, clean power that's too cheap to meter" looks like being a dead end, the alternatives are under-researched.

Solar and Wind are erratic, and require large areas.
Tidal power is regular, but would require massive coastal constructions with significant effects on coastal ecosystems.

Biomass fuel crops actually look like one of the most environmentally acceptable and practically implementable possibilities for renewable energy, tended using horse-drawn machinery with random bio-fertiliser application or using biodiesel fuelled machinery

I have never heard of Biomass?

[marky]

Originally Posted by Tuftus

What about advances in nuclear power? Fusion etc?

OK there is some waste but then again there may well be advances on how to deal with that too...

i heard they was testing a fusion reactor

Originally Posted by Tuftus

What about advances in nuclear power? Fusion etc?

OK there is some waste but then again there may well be advances on how to deal with that too...

the techniques for handling the waste must be developed first, fusion would be fantastic, but it is 'jam tomorrow' - we must deal with 'bread today', in my opinion

[Angua]

A windmill in the garden for me please and solar panels! I think they are looking at individual windmills within upcoming planning laws.

And as homealone says we need to stop using fossil fuels as a direct energy source (the computer you are sitting in front of would not be there but for oil).

I have an article in my hand from the Telegraph 30/7/05 in which it describes a method developed by an amercan chemical company to grow corn and extract the oil to manufacture plastic cups and packaging.Certainly a renewable resource..However unless it is biodegradable or recyclable I think it is only half the idea.

Personally I think we should be reverting back to biodegradable packaging such as newspaper,cardboard and brown paper bags.No cellophane,no plastic bags just good old paper that decays away and the source of which is grown and can be renewed to the advantage of the planet because trees are the lungs of the planet.

[marky]

and i will recycle all the veg oil through my car

[Stuart]

I think the main problem is that it's not profitable for the Fuel companies and the companies that manufacture equipment that uses fossil fuels (cars, lorries etc) to fund anything more than minimal research into alternatives. As an example, look at "dual fuel" cars. These have only just (in the last couple of years) started appearing on the market (and are still not cheap) despite the fact they were showing prototypes on Tommorrows World in the late 70's. Frankly, even if the technology wasn't up to mass producing the cars then, I am shocked it has taken nearly 30 years to mass produce them.

For future, I would like to see further development on the renewable power sources (wind, solar and water). We should also look at building more power stations that use recycled waste to fuel the generators.

[marky]

if these are cars of the future
http://www.snowcrest.net/fox/logantv/cars.htm
i'll stick with my diesel dustbin

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by markymoan

i heard they was testing a fusion reactor

They've been testing fusion reactors ever since Zeta in the 50s. Don't hold your breath. The latest thing is ITER. Being an international project, they've spent the past few years arguing where to build it. I believe that France has finally won.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Incognitas

I have an article in my hand from the Telegraph 30/7/05 in which it describes a method developed by an amercan chemical company to grow corn and extract the oil to manufacture plastic cups and packaging.Certainly a renewable resource..However unless it is biodegradable or recyclable I think it is only half the idea.

I think that's similar to the technique Foogoo use for their 100% biodegradable packaging. I believe they use starch to make the "plastic" window in their sandwich boxes. Rather nifty.

[AndrewJ]

All this is very good and moving to future energies is brilliant, but I have been thinking, we make alot of things using other methods which also would need changing such as production of paints and other chemicals, making of cement is a very wasteful procedure and seriously needs streaminling

Just fixing our problems with power stations and cars would only be the TIP on the iceberg.... which is fast melting.