The Oil Drum

186 comments on DrumBeat: February 17, 2008

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Darwinian on February 17, 2008 - 6:55pm

But a wise choice of investments, say solar distillation of water.

Depends on what you are distilling the water for. It is possible to distill enough water to drink:
http://www.epsea.org/stills.html
But there is no way in hell you could, with solar energy, distill enough water for irrigation or virtually anything else.

When you distill water to drink, you are in survival mode, you are not in the mode of "maintaining the current status quo". When the economy collapses because of diminishing fossil fuels, and it will, solar power will be a non factor though many dreamers are placing their hopes on it. Solar power can replace but a tiny fraction of the energy derived from petroleum.

Neither solar nor wind will save the world's massive population from total collapse when the fossil energy that got us to this point....disappears.

Ron Patterson

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Samsara on February 17, 2008 - 10:37pm

When the economy collapses because of diminishing fossil fuels, and it will, solar power will be a non factor though many dreamers are placing their hopes on it. Solar power can replace but a tiny fraction of the energy derived from petroleum.

From a 6.6 billion perspective you are right. It won't a difference on the energy per capita numbers.

But, For individual families, and individual small communities, they may see benefits that may be way above the global norm.

I think also the needs will be compartmentalized. A home owner's options and choices for an energy solution for home and building heating will be different than the choices they will make for transportation.

I think the numbers of low tech/locally/home made solutions will be astounding.

You will see old 8 ft satelite dish's with aluminized film on them producing hot water for home/greenhouse heating,
http://www.junkyardsolar.com/page1.html

Home made alternators making electrical power.
http://www.otherpower.com

These I grant you, will hardly make a blip on the global energy per capita basis, But.. But for the home owner/community that can do it, it will make All the difference in the world.

What they chose for transporation will be different, but the inovation will be amazing to see. Something like how Cuba kept all those 55-57 chevys running.