Future of energy – new technologies could end our dependence on
oil
By Dick Pelletier
By mid-century, solar power and hydrogen technologies could end
US dependence on foreign oil and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Our nation – indeed, the world – has a vital interest in
developing new energy sources.
High prices for gas and home heating oil are here to stay. We
are at war in the Middle East to protect our foreign oil
interests, and as China, India, and other countries increase
their demand for fossil fuels, more struggles over energy will
be inevitable.
Solar power’s potential is off the charts. The energy in
sunlight striking the Earth for 40 minutes could provide all the
world’s total energy needs for a year. And adding fuel cells and
hydrogen to the equation promises even greater rewards. The
following examines the benefits for each of these abundant
energy resources.
Solar Power – the US is lucky to be endowed with a vast
resource; 250,000 square miles of land in the Southwest alone
are suitable for building solar power plants, and that land
receives more than 4,500 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu)
of solar radiation each year. Converting just 2.5 percent of
that into electricity would match our nation’s entire energy
consumption for 2007.
To convert the country to solar power, huge tracts of land would
have to be covered with photovoltaic panels and solar heating
troughs, which today, is not cost effective. However, CalTech
researcher Nate Lewis is exploring nanomaterials that mimic the
architecture of grass and photosynthesis to capture and store
the sun's energy; and UC Santa Cruz scientist Jin Zhang
has developed a nanofilm that promises more efficient and
economical energy conversion.
Experts believe that with projected nanotech advances, solar
power could provide 69 percent of US electricity needs, and 35
percent of the nation’s total energy requirements, including
cars, by 2050.
Hydrogen Energy – Fuel cells
generate electricity with no pollutants and are already powering
"hybrid" cars. Swedish researcher Nabil Kassem predicts that,
"Driving a hydrogen-powered car in 2030 will be a common thing."
At a recent Universidad de Navarra lecture, Professor
Kassem said that fuel cells are the most promising technology
for our energy future, a future some refer to as the "Hydrogen
Society." He not only envisions hydrogen in cars, but believes
that fuel cells will have applications in micro power plants,
household appliances, and heating and air conditioning units.
Like solar power, hydrogen is not yet cost effective, but
nanotech could soon reduce costs for bringing this technology to
market also. The London Global University, UCL, recently
offered grants to create cheap, efficient storage for hydrogen
and develop large-surface organic solar cells, which could
enable this renewable energy to power 50 percent of our cars,
homes, and factories, by 2050.
When combined with advances in bio-fuels, wind, hydroelectric,
nuclear, and radical new fusion energy; solar power and hydrogen
could free us forever from the tyranny of oil.
Major roadblocks to this "magical future" are not technological,
they are political – too many government officials favor "big
oil." If our next President can convince Congress to support
these renewable energy systems with adequate incentives, we will
reduce trade deficits, improve national security, and create
millions of non-exportable jobs.
This article appeared in various print publications and
on-line blogs. Comments always welcome.
