vinyl Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 As oil runs out should we look to power ships and trains with coal? Could we save the worlds oil and gas supplies by powering ships with coal and our railways with gas and coke extracted from coal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meyouus Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 No, electric via nuclear power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andikay Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 No......:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kermit103 Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_before_the_world's_supply_of_fossil_fuels_such_as_coal_oil_and_natural_gas_-_are_estimated_to_run_out Answer: To understand the issue more fully you need to understand 'Peak Oil', the point when oil production reaches its maximum and after which it goes into irreversible decline. Although this is roughly halfway through all reserves, after this point oil becomes increasingly expensive and difficult to extract. Since demand for oil will outstrip supply the price will drastically increase after the peak and have huge effects on oil dependent industries: transport, agriculture, manufacturing, the military, medicine and many more. Many people think the Peak is imminent (within 10 years) or has already happened. Coal reserves can be expected to peak later, in the next 20 - 50 years, but as the world's population keeps growing and consumption of fossil fuels increases (despite the known effects to the climate), it is difficult to predict. Of crucial importance is the fact that the development of alternative, renewable energy sources (wind, solar, nuclear fusion) are reliant on oil use. A: Oil in about 50 years. Natural gas in about 70 yrs and coal in about 250 yrs. A: At current consumption and the population growth, scientists have determined that the oil supplies will run out in 500 years. A: Our coal will run out in about 40-50 years at the rate we are going at, according to scientists. If we use less coal and more renewable sources, it is sure it will last much longer, but the high demand for coal in industry is always rising as our world modernizes. A: it takes 500-1000 years A: pessimistically 30-40 years, optimistically ~100 A: Get real people. We have only been using oil for a little over a hundred years in any real capacity. If we have already reached peak production, and usage is increasing every day, than we are in trouble. Cant be too many years left! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meyouus Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I get peak oil, I also think the last people to be told will be us. When it happens it will be like something out of the bible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meyouus Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 We as a nation should be converting everything to electric. Cars bikes trucks trains ships the lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alchresearch Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Nuclear Marine Propulsion is the way to go. It works well for the Navy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcoblog Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Nuclear fusion at room temperature is the way to go. I'd provide a link if I could figure out how to do it (bane of my life!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickiethecat Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Maybe we should be asking whether our journeys are really necessary at all. Instead of using buses trains and cars to commute, why don't more people work from home or perhaps choose to live near their workplace and get there on foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinyl Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Nuclear Marine Propulsion is the way to go. It works well for the Navy. But perhaps not for the Isle of Wight ferry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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