What are we going to do when the oil runs out

[HeadingNorth]

There is one definite, and one possible, solution to the ultimate replacement of oil - which must come eventually, be it in a century and a half or next week.

 

The possible solution is nuclear fusion - which, despite containing the word "nuclear," need not involve any radioactive materials either as fuel or as waste products. The snag is that we don't know how to create a controllable fusion reaction, and we don't even know if it is possible at all to do so. The Sun isn't exactly "controlled" - it's a giant nuclear fusion bomb that contains so much hydrogen it will carry on exploding for ten billion years before it dies down.4

 

The definite solution is solar power, probably by building huge solar panels in space, at an orbiting factory, and installing them in near-Earth space to provide 23/7 coverage. There are enormous technical problems, and enormous costs, involved in doing it, but we do know that those problems can be solved if we have enough incentive to do so. While ever companies can make a decent profit from extracting oil and oil-importing countries can afford to pay the prices, there isn't really enough incentive. It is inevitable that, one day when the oil runs out and if fusion (or something as yet totally unimagined) provides an alternative, there will be a big enough incentive for someone to spend the money and get it done.

[rich5315]

they can already make cars that run on tap water, technology has gone more miles than oil since oil was discovered, the reason you cant but a car that runs on water is because the oil produces wont let you!

[HeadingNorth]

they can already make cars that run on tap water, technology has gone more miles than oil since oil was discovered, the reason you cant but a car that runs on water is because the oil produces wont let you!

 

Well, no. It's chiefly because you can't get energy out of water because breaking it apart is an endothermic reaction. Any engine which "runs on water" can only do so in the same way that a water wheel runs on water, and couldn't possibly generate enough power to move a sizeable car over a reasonable distance.

 

Engines can run on hydrogen, producing only water as a waste product, but the cost of producing hydrogen is enormous.

[caparo]

The Germans seemed to manage to fight most of World War 2 with virtually no access to oil reserves. They made synthetic oil and petrol from coal.

Just pop down to your local Car Spares and you will find most of the oil on sale is synthetic these days and was probably made from ethylene.

[caparo]

they can already make cars that run on tap water, technology has gone more miles than oil since oil was discovered, the reason you cant but a car that runs on water is because the oil produces wont let you!

 

You can, but it would require a water wheel and a very very long hose pipe.

[poppins]

It,s the countiries that supply us that should be worried, time will come when we use our own resources & electic cars, what are they going to do with all that oil ? drink It!

[HeadingNorth]

The Germans seemed to manage to fight most of World War 2 with virtually no access to oil reserves. They made synthetic oil and petrol from coal.

 

That is not a long term solution. The amount of synthetic oil you can extract from coal would not, in today's world, push back the day of crisis for more than a few years, I should think.

 

It's a valid point, but it wouldn't make much difference overall.

[alchresearch]

When I was at school in the 70s they said oil would run out by the year 2000.

[Rupert_Baehr]

Petrol in both the US and Europe already contains 10% Ethanol. Presumably, that has helped (to some small extent) to ease the demand for that component to oil.

 

There are plenty of other uses for oil and eventually alternatives for those will have to be found.

 

The production of biofuels will no doubt increase and engine designs will change (and have already changed) to allow them to run on alternatives. Those countries which don't grow enough food to support their populations may have to change, because those which can may use more of their surpluses to produce biofuels.

[TJC1]

theres plenty left in middle eastern countries, lets just keep invading them.