Now, of course, cold fusion is the daddy of them all in a way, in terms of value, so I think that viewed in a social way, from the point of social considerations and economics, it will tell you that this thing will stay around.
The primary means of energy generation is going to solar. It will at least be a plurality, and probably be a slight majority in the long term.
With a fourth generation of nuclear power, you can have a technology that will burn more than 99 percent of the energy in the fuel. It would mean that you don't need to mine uranium for the next thousand years.
Solar energy is bound to be in our future. There's a kind of inevitability about it.
Japan is a model already to the lie that economic growth is the key to our future. If they can really show an alternative to nukes and fossil fuels, then they will be the poster boy for the renewable energy for the future.
When I say "an energy miracle," I mean that there will be some form of energy whose 24 hour cost really is competitive with hydrocarbons given, say, 20 years of learning curve. You invent it, then you look at how much its costs go down over the next 20 years, that it really beats hydrocarbons.
Nuclear power is not a miracle key for the future.
The potential of renewable energy is immense.
eventually almost all houses will have a solar roof. The thing is to consider the time scale here to be probably on the order of 40 or 50 years. So on average, a roof is replaced every 20 to 25 years. But you don't start replacing all roofs immediately. But eventually, if you say were to fast-forward to say 15 years from now, it will be unusual to have a roof that does not have solar.
The use of plant oil as fuel may seem insignificant today. But such products can in time become just as important as kerosene and these coal-tar-products of today.
Natural gas is the future. It is here.
Investing in more fossil fuel infrastructure will not strengthen our economy over the long-term, since the market is clearly indicating that clean energy sources are the future.
In sectors like energy, I haven't been arguing for more spending per se; I've been arguing that it doesn't make sense for us to spend $4 billion subsidizing an oil industry that's mature and very profitable. We should be using that money to finance clean energy of the future.
While nothing is certain, I firmly believe our nation is on the verge of a nuclear energy renaissance.
We won't rescue humanity from self-destruction without a dramatic change in how we invest for our future energy needs.
We need nuclear energy now, and we will need it in the future.
I doubt nuclear power will play a much larger role than it does now.
In order to be vigorously continued, nuclear power must be profoundly modified.
Interestingly, the oil companies know very well that in less than 30 years they will not only be charging very high prices, but that they will be uncompetitive with renewables.
Biofuels are the future of energy in this nation and around the world
If we could convert 0.03 percent of the sunlight that falls on the earth into energy, we could meet all of our projected needs for 2030.
So I submit to my colleagues here today that hydrogen is not as far away as we think it is.
Ethanol is a long-term solution that will take time.
I think the cost of energy will come down when we make this transition to renewable energy.
Sadoway does more than entertain; he gives you a glimpse into the future of energy.
