Alice Friedemann’s Life After Fossil Fuels: A Reality Check on Alternative Energy
Fossil fuels are an essential part of modern industrial society. They are used to generate electricity, power vehicles, and provide heat for homes and businesses. However, fossil fuels are a limited resource and their production will eventually decline. This decline will have a major impact on industrial societies which are reliant on fossil energy. There are several substitutes for fossil fuels, but they are not as abundant or viable as fossil fuels. This could lead to major problems for industrial societies in the future.
You can find her book here: “Life After Fossil Fuels: A Reality Check on Alternative Energy”.
The world is quickly running out of time to find alternative energy resources to replace fossil fuels before they begin to decline. In her book “Life after Fossil Fuels – A Reality Check on Alternative Energy“, Alice J. Friedemann surveys the inventory of energy alternatives, examining whether they can replace or supplement fossil fuels. The book provides up-to-date research on the overlooked role of fossil fuels in industry and the challenges to the decarbonization of manufacturing. It also features an overview of the myriad roles fossil energy plays in society beyond electricity generation, such as in transportation and agriculture. Friedemann emphasizes that there is limited time left to find alternative energy resources before they become unavailable. We must act now if we want to avoid a future without fossil fuels.
In her book Life After Fossil Fuels, Friedemann excels at distilling the intricacies of our energy situation down into short, easily digestible chapters. Her writing is relaxed and witty, and she makes fine use of graphs, figures, and future scenarios to illustrate her points. Her policy prescriptions are both eminently sensible and anathema to today’s mainstream sensibilities. For example, she advocates for a reduction in the work week, an end to unnecessary international travel, and a focus on localized economies. While these measures may sound extreme, they are necessary if we are to transition to a post-fossil fuel world.
As the book points out, there are several potential replacements for diesel fuel in commercial freight transport, but not all of them are viable options. biodiesel, for example, is renewable and commercial, but it has a poor EROI and can’t be transported through pipelines or used as a drop-in replacement for conventional diesel. This makes it clear that biodiesel is far from being a true “alternative” to diesel.
It’s no secret that the burning of fossil fuels is a major contributor to climate change. The link between energy usage and climate change is often spoken about in terms of reducing carbon emissions. And while there are many ways to cut carbon emissions – such as enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings, deploying solar panels and wind turbines, and sequestering carbon – it’s important to note that ultimately, energy decline will play a bigger role in mitigating climate change. As oil, coal, and natural gas decline, carbon emissions will be dramatically reduced. So, even though we must take action to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, it’s important to keep perspective and recognize that the energy decline will also help mitigate climate change in the long run.
We use fossil fuels every day, but most of us take them for granted. They’re inexpensive and reliable, which is why they’re so valuable. But what would happen if we ran out of fossil fuels? What are the alternatives to fossil fuels, and how viable are they?
This book explores the many sectors of our society that rely on fossil fuels and analyzes the different types of alternative energy currently being developed. Though some of the alternatives are promising, there is still work to be done before they can be commercialized. In contrast to other books that only offer wishful thinking, this book provides a clear understanding of where our energy will come from in the future and the sustainability of our way of life.
References:
Life After Fossil Fuels: A Reality Check on Alternative Energy: https://mahb.stanford.edu
Alice Friedemann: Life After Fossil Fuels: forum-network.org