Earth: 10years after oil runs out.

[iranu]

There are some novel solutions turning up. Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol

edit: fixed url

[RoBe]

^^your url is messed up, here's it working
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4133668.ece

[neonplanet40]

I would have to think that there is some way to use water as a fuel. I think it can be. Obviously if they found out how to use it as such they would not ell us! How do you tax rain? Although if brown is still in Power (not likely) we will pay by the drop lol

[Whiternoise]

solar panels are pretty poor at generating electricity overall. I was looking at a building template at my work experience yesterday which has i think 2m^2 of solar pv panels on it. These cost about £40k to install and only accounted for ~3% of the building's electricity. More of a token gesture than anything else.
CHP looks like it will be the way forward at the moment, even though it still relies on fossil fuels, it is a lot more efficient as the heat which would otherwise be wasted in the production of electricity is put to use.
Another is geothermal which, although still really in its infant stage, could be a great source of energy in coming years. The only thing is that it costs £100k just to get a test bore hole, no equipment or anything else. It's still pretty unrefined too, and you could really do some damage drilling about and messing up aquafers.

I only quoted Solar because it's the one that most people are familiar with, and they're not bad as a free way to heat water. They're also a lot cheaper than 40k, as a lot of councils will give you grants to cover it - i know people who've had them installed for under 20k, a lot, but it's free energy after all. And if you make more than you use, you can sell it back to the Grid.

Wind power is also a possiblity, although also not much use in a city. Very cheap to install however.

Geothermal is fairly unfeasible for homeowners, it'd be more likely that they'll start installing them as "mini power stations" for villages and other smaller settlements.

[TooNice]

There are some novel solutions turning up. Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol

Wow. Just wow. I wonder if the alchemists of the old ever tried to make gold through a similar process.

[Cozwin]

Can't we have cars powered by nuclear power cells? Imagine not having to ill up for the next 134 years ...

yer you try convincing oil companies thats a good idea... why do you think the electric car keeps not getting made... oil companies are so desperate to make money they would prefer to ruin the world the lose out.

[Andy3536]

yer you try convincing oil companies thats a good idea... why do you think the electric car keeps not getting made... oil companies are so desperate to make money they would prefer to ruin the world the lose out.

Eer, no. Electric cars keep not getting made as there very slow, short range and the big problem at the end of the day, what do you use to power it? Electricity from a coal fired power station probobly.
And then there's the biggest problem of all, no body wants to own one.

Ge-wiz anyone?

[kalniel]

And then there's the biggest problem of all, no body wants to own one.

Ge-wiz anyone?

I'll take one of these please:

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

[badass]

What is funny about a naughty donkey?

Anyway I don't think his party comment was meant to be offensive - we don't do personal insults here at Hexus. We also *try* not to spam, so use of edit button rather than multiple posts is encouraged

It wasn't meant as an insult. I did think its would lighten up the thread a bit

[badass]

What is funny about a naughty donkey?

I like drinking various types of beer.
I'll let you work out the rest