Stories tagged with "intermittancy"

Energy Transitions Past and Future

Posted by Prof. Goose on July 1, 2008 - 9:40am
Topic: Alternative energy
Tags: cutler cleveland, energy density, energy transition, environment, intermittancy, net energy, power density, spatial distribution [list all tags]

This is a guest post from Cutler Cleveland. It provides an excellent big picture overview of what variables we need to consider as we transition away from fossil fuels. Professor Cleveland previously wrote "Energy From Wind - A Discussion of the EROI Research", and "Ten Fundamental Principles of Net Energy" posted on theoildrum.com. Cutler Cleveland is a Professor at Boston University and has been researching and writing on energy issues for over 20 years. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth, Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy, the Dictionary of Energy and the Journal of Ecological Economics.

Prometheus chained to Mount Caucasus. Source: Pieter Paul Rubens: ''Prometheus Bound,'' 1611-1612, Oil on canvas, 95 7/8" x 82 1/2". (Philadelphia Museum of Art: The W.P. Wilstach Collection) Click to Enlarge

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Energy Grades and Historic Economic Growth

Posted by Nate Hagens on August 24, 2007 - 9:30am
Topic: Economics/Finance
Tags: energy density, energy transition, environment, intermittancy, net energy, power density, spatial distribution [list all tags]

This is a guest post by oil and energy economist Douglas Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds is Graduate Director of Economics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and author of "Scarcity and Growth Considering Oil and Energy", and "Alaska and North Slope Natural Gas". Doug has a prior guest post on theoildrum on The Energy Utilization Chain. This post offers a different but related perspective on energy comparisons and transitions than last weeks post on Energy Transitions by Professor Cutler Cleveland.

1. Weight Grade

The weight grade determines how much energy there is per pound of energy resource. For example, coal has about 12.7 thousand BTU/lb, natural gas about 10 thousand BTU/lb, oil about 19.3 thousand BTU/lb, and an electric battery typically has 100 BTU/lb. Electric batteries then are very heavy compared to their energy output which is why electric cars do not have very good driving ranges.

Professor Reynolds' paper is below the fold.

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Energy Transitions Past and Future

Posted by Nate Hagens on August 8, 2007 - 9:30am
Topic: Alternative energy
Tags: cutler cleveland, energy density, energy transition, environment, intermittancy, net energy, power density, spatial distribution [list all tags]

This is a guest post from Cutler Cleveland. It provides an excellent big picture overview of what variables we need to consider as we transition away from fossil fuels. Professor Cleveland previously wrote "Energy From Wind - A Discussion of the EROI Research", and "Ten Fundamental Principles of Net Energy" posted on theoildrum.com. Cutler Cleveland is a Professor at Boston University and has been researching and writing on energy issues for over 20 years. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth, Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy, the Dictionary of Energy and the Journal of Ecological Economics

Prometheus chained to Mount Caucasus. Source: Pieter Paul Rubens: ''Prometheus Bound,'' 1611-1612, Oil on canvas, 95 7/8" x 82 1/2". (Philadelphia Museum of Art: The W.P. Wilstach Collection) Click to Enlarge

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