No Fossil Fuel , a Hypothetical question

[Nanfeishen]

Lets for one instance assume/presume that fossil fuels did not exist, or were considered completely unfeasable as a means to fuel anything whatsoever, other than fuel for fire.

What direction would our development have taken?

What alternate technologies would have possibly developed ?

 

[boramk]

We would still be in the middle ages ..

 

[Nanfeishen]

We would still be in the middle ages ..

Why do you assume that?

 

[boramk]

The discovery of the industrial uses of coal led to the industrial revolution where technology grew exponentially.. Oil further fuelled growth as it releases more energy by combustion than coal..
Many materials such as plastic, is made from oil as well. Steam couldn't take us anywhere, but oil could ie. cars..

Basically, fossil fuels were the foundations, the basis of our growth and how we live today. Without it, I doubt we would have made much use of renewable energy even

 

[HavocXphere]

None. That would have slowed down advancement to such a degree that most of the modern tech would have been unavailable. Hydro would then have been the main power tech, with perhaps solar.

 

[km2]

We would still be in the middle ages ..

I'm not sure the 1800s counts as the middle ages. We'd still be able to do large powerplants that rely on steam, so you'd be able to keep your steamboats and locomotives, but the personal transport revolution that came about with fossil fuels would never have happened. The forests can count their lucky stars we got coal as well.

Fossil fuels really gave us properly portable energy. If we even did end up with cars, they'd have to be electric things powered on a tram-style system. I really doubt that would happen, so we'd probably still be stuck with only a general public transport network.

 

[Shayd]

Well the green revolution wouldn't have happened so there would be significanlty less people around.

 

[Picard]

The use of renewable energy requires advanced technology.

Primitive technology might hve been able to harnass some "green" energy but at the same scale is to have achieved what has been achieved with fossil fuels.

For us to have reached this level of sophistication to be able to use "clean" technology, we needed easier forms of energy (and lots of it) "dirty" technology to get here.

 

[Nanfeishen]

. Steam couldn't take us anywhere,

Well at least 80% of the worlds power is generated via steam turbines.

We'd still be able to do large powerplants that rely on steam, so you'd be able to keep your steamboats and locomotives, but the personal transport revolution that came about with fossil fuels would never have happened. .

Steam airplane? The Besler Steam Plane -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw6NFmcnW-8
OBviously never really exploited due to fossil fuel

Personal transport , no problem from car technology to mopeds
http://www.steamcar.co.uk/index.html
http://www.steamcar.net/steam-ped.html

A FRESH VIEW OF THE STEAM CAR FOR TODAY
http://www.stanleysteamers.com/modern_steam.htm

Steam fires underwater jet engine
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3321

A list of rotary steam engines
http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/POWER/rotaryengines/rotaryeng.htm

And then there is also the Sterling Engine

the Stirling engine encloses a fixed quantity of permanently gaseous fluid such as air or helium. As in all heat engines, the general cycle consists of compressing cool gas, heating the gas, expanding the hot gas, and finally cooling the gas before repeating the cycle.

Originally conceived in 1816 as an industrial prime mover to rival the steam engine,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine

All these technologies have always been available, but never really exploited to their full potential due to fossil fuels, and all the money and time regarding research has been focused naturally on the more profitable fuel industry, squashing any possible rival technology.

 

[Archer]

All of those steam engines use fossil fuels to power them. How do you think the steam is made? No fossil fuels = no advanced tech for a long long time. We'd wouldnt even be able to work with iron without fossil fuels, so we'd be stuck at the hunter gatherer stage.

 

[xumwun]

Fossil fuels aren't going to last forever so alternate technologies will have to be developed (global warming or not).

 

[km2]

All of those steam engines use fossil fuels to power them. How do you think the steam is made? No fossil fuels = no advanced tech for a long long time. We'd wouldnt even be able to work with iron without fossil fuels, so we'd be stuck at the hunter gatherer stage.

They used wood as well.

 

[w1z4rd]

Lets for one instance assume/presume that fossil fuels did not exist, or were considered completely unfeasable as a means to fuel anything whatsoever, other than fuel for fire.

What direction would our development have taken?

What alternate technologies would have possibly developed ?

EV1 + Nuke stations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1

Nuclear energy is sustainable and the safest mass form of energy we have (when compared to stuff like coal and oil)

 

[BCO]

We needed fossil fuels to get to where we are today. We now need to start weaning ourselves off them ASAP.

 

[Archer]

EV1 + Nuke stations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1

Nuclear energy is sustainable and the safest mass form of energy we have (when compared to stuff like coal and oil)

And you do you propose we make any metallic structures (for the creation of nuke power stations, power lines, vehicles, mining equipment, etc etc) without any fossil fuels? Metal needs to be worked with high temperatures, without fossil fuels we would not be able to do much at all.

 

[w1z4rd]

And you do you propose we make any metallic structures (for the creation of nuke power stations, power lines, vehicles, mining equipment, etc etc) without any fossil fuels? Metal needs to be worked with high temperatures, without fossil fuels we would not be able to do much at all.

And nuclear energy can not create the required temps? Heck, I thought sparks could weld

 

[Adv_Tech]

Oil producing plants (nuts/palm family) are currently being studied & ways to maximise/increase their Productivity.

 

[w1z4rd]

Oil producing plants (nuts/palm family) are currently being studied & ways to maximise/increase their Productivity.

Problem with that is you are now using land and resources required for food. Best bio fuel I have seen is algae... but I dont hold it in as high a regard as a I do nuke energy.

 

[BCO]

Problem with that is you are now using land and resources required for food. Best bio fuel I have seen is algae... but I dont hold it in as high a regard as a I do nuke energy.

I think nuclear's a good short/medium term solution to get off coal as quickly as possible, but that a mix of solar, wind, geothermal and wave/tidal power must remain our ultimate energy goal in the longer term.

 

[Archer]

And nuclear energy can not create the required temps? Heck, I thought sparks could weld

How do you build a nuclear reactor without metal? You first need the reactor to provide the electricity for your welder. Hence, no fossil fuel, no technology whatsoever.