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Tag Archives: EROI
Ramping up wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicles can’t solve our energy problem
Many people believe that installing more wind turbines and solar panels and manufacturing more electric vehicles can solve our energy problem, but I don’t agree with them. These devices, plus the batteries, charging stations, transmission lines and many other structures necessary to make them work represent a high level of complexity.
A relatively low level of complexity, such as the complexity embodied in a new hydroelectric dam, can sometimes be used to solve energy problems, but we cannot expect ever-higher levels of complexity to always be achievable.
According to the anthropologist Joseph Tainter, in his well-known book, The Collapse of Complex Societies, there are diminishing returns to added complexity. In other words, the most beneficial innovations tend to be found first. Later innovations tend to be less helpful. Eventually the energy cost of added complexity becomes too high, relative to the benefit provided. Continue reading
Posted in Financial Implications
Tagged complexity, economic growth, electricity cost, EROEI, EROI
3,434 Comments
Why a Great Reset Based on Green Energy Isn’t Possible
It seems like a reset of an economy should work like a reset of your computer: Turn it off and turn it back on again; most problems should be fixed. However, it doesn’t really work that way. Let’s look at … Continue reading
Posted in Energy policy
Tagged EROEI, EROI, low oil prices, peak oil, solar energy, wind energy
2,650 Comments
Rethinking Renewable Mandates
Powering the world’s economy with wind, water and solar, and perhaps a little wood sounds like a good idea until a person looks at the details. The economy can use small amounts of wind, water and solar, but adding these types … Continue reading
Posted in Energy policy
Tagged EROEI, EROI, fossil fuels, renewable energy, renewable subsidies
1,461 Comments
How the Peak Oil story could be “close,” but not quite right
A few years ago, especially in the 2005-2008 period, many people were concerned that the oil supply would run out. They were concerned about high oil prices and a possible need for rationing. The story was often called “Peak Oil.” Peak … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Implications
Tagged EROEI, EROI, limits to growth, M. King Hubbert, oil prices, peak oil
1,605 Comments
Energy Return on Energy Invested – Prof. Charles Hall’s Comments
In my most recent post, Why the Standard Model of Future Energy Supply Doesn’t Work, I made some comments about the calculation of Energy Returned on Energy Invested. Professor Charles Hall sent me the following response to what I said, which he … Continue reading
