Introduction to Peak OIL
Quotation
No limits whatever are placed to
the productions of the earth;
they may increase forever.
~Reverend Thomas Malthus
Thesis:
The next 30 years will probably be
different from the last 30 years.
Agenda
o History of energy consumption
o Energy in the modern world
o Countries passed Peak
o Future energy production
o EROEI
o Modern Infrastructure Dependencies
o Mechanized Agriculture
o Banking, Finance and Growth
o Conclusions
History of Energy Consumption
o Wide spread use of heating coal between 1400s and 1600s in Western Europe and China.
o England develops railway technology, and this enables them to become the super-power of the 1600s.
o Initially coal is simply picked up off the ground. Then it is mined from surface level exposed coal beds. Miners begin to dig deeper, causing mines to flood with water.
History of Energy Consumption
The Atmospheric Engine is invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712
History of Energy Consumption
Initially, horses are used to carry a `train of wagons, along wooden rails.
The picture on the right is famously known as the Walton Wagonway.
History of Energy Consumption
Introduction of Coal Transport
First steam locomotive (coal) is built by Richard Trevithick in 1804
History of Energy Consumption
History of Energy Consumption
Coal Based Agriculture
o Steam Technology quickly develops into a technology explosion and there are applications in a wide variety of industries
o Steam Technology becomes very successful for Agriculture
History of Energy Consumption
Ex-Edinburgh Corporation Aveling & Porter
Steam Tractor
History of Energy Consumption:
Important Milestones
Duration : 0:7:24
[youtube 3FYByaEKHUM]