Blink and miss the blimp?

Originally posted by acorn: ↑

Is 280 years plenty of time ?

How close do you run to the limit ?

It is because we have a bit of extra resource up our sleeves that give us the opportunity now to develop an alternative before we run out.

We have used all the easy to get at stuff. It is only getting harder and harder to develop new resources.

Deep water oil exploration is already at the limits which makes it incredibly expensive. We are extracting oil form oil sands which is terribly damaging to the environment. And so it goes on.
Just because a resource still exists, it doesn't necessarily make it practical to use any more. Particularly when you ad others factors such as environmental and health.

Back in the day when we used to cut down trees for steam power, did we wait till we ran out of trees before we started to use coal ?

The myth that renewable energy continues to be expensive and requiring subsidy is now being dispelled by facts. The fall in the cost of renewable energy is very well documented. Subsidies are being reduced or removed completely.
Those in denial like to use outdated data while the reality is that renewable energy cost is falling dramatically and continues to do so going forward. The associated technology that is being developed with that is also moving us forward rapidly. Electrified transport, energy storage, new industrial processes such as green steel etc are all coming out of this energy revolution.

Wait for a new energy source ? What new energy source would that be ? All types of new energy technologies are being pursued. All known alternative energy sources are already being worked. Nuclear, renewable etc are being developed looking for a solution.

There is no ' miracle ' energy source waiting in the wings. That is just a poor excuse by the fossil industry to do nothing. All these technologies that we enjoy today were developed over time and improved thanks to economies of scale. Renewable energy is no different. It is improving by the day. It's cost is falling consistently. It is the solution going forward because there simply is nothing else available.

We also have seen this summer how well these new technologies are working, particularly solar. The sunnier it is, the better solar is at offsetting the increased loads on the hot days. With the inclusion of decent sized storage, summer will no longer be a problem for power generation like it has been for previous decades.

It makes me laugh that people who use today's wonderful technology think that it was invented and brought to the market overnight rather than over decades.

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I am with you Acorn.

Transitioning to a sustainable energy future beyond fossil fuels is an existential issue.

We are toying with eternity.

It’s not just about electricity when we seek to replace fossil fuels ... it is food production, heavy transport and construction plant fuel, mechanical lubricants, aviation fuel, ammonia base fertilisers, global transport that facilitates trade, pharmaceuticals, manufactured fabrics and more ... holistically it is a maze.

It won’t be solved over 50 years, so there needs to be focus now. Australia has an opportunity to be a thought, action and global leader in this space. With vision, a regulated and managed transition could be done.

Dex