The Energy Matrix

The fundamental challenge with regard to climate change and the other issues described in Limits to Growth is to do with energy. Specifically, we need new sources of energy to keep our society running without creating unacceptable emissions. That new source of energy needs to be portable, energy dense, low cost, safe, available and dispatchable. Unfortunately, the only energy source that meets all of these criteria is crude oil (with natural gas being a close runner-up). But we have to move away from using these two excellent energy sources because they are the primary source of emissions, and because there is only so much of them ― when they are gone, they are gone. Our inability to find a source of energy that is as good as crude oil is at the heart of the climate change dilemma.

Questions to ask when looking at alternative energy technologies include the following,

• How much fossil fuel energy is required to develop, implement, operate and maintain that new energy source? What is the net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that comes from its use?

• How quickly can the new energy source be installed at scale?

• What other potentially scarce resources are needed?

Table 2.1, which is in two parts, provides a means of evaluating some of the proposed alternative energy sources. (The letters stand for Yes, No and Partial.)

Credit Ian Sutton