Comments by "mpetersen6" (@mpetersen6) on "OBF" channel.

  1. Countries like Saufi Arabia and other MidEastern countries along with those in North Africa do have in abundance is Solar. The crux is in the distribution problem. In reality the world as a whole does not face an shortage of energy. What the world as a whole lacks is a shortage of will. In the future as renewables*, new generation fission reactors and hopefully fusion (🤞) will be able to provide abundant power. But even when the world as a whole has moved to the above mentioned sources the petrochemical industry is not going to go away. Hydrocarbons are simply too useful as a feedstock for any number of products. In the future as humanity begins to exploit the resources of the Solar System** I can even see a small market for coal in space. Any off planet facility be it mining or even habitats is going to need a source of carbon in its environment. Coal is about the densest form of carbon I can think of that is readily accessible. Plus coal and other hydrocarbons can be used as the basic feed stock for graphene once that becomes readily available. But if renewables can cover all of our needs way even invest in fission or fusion at all. Simply because there areas where renewables simply will not work. Not unless we are willing to build the power distribution systems to reach those areas. *Solar in all its forms. Primary as in Solar Voltaics or Thermal. Secondary as in wind and hydro. Along with other solar sources that may work as viable options when combined with other technologies. One is Ocean Thermal combined with desalination. Clean water is most likely the biggest problem facing humanity in the coming decades aside from climate change. But even without climate change thrown into the mix clean water is at the top of the list. We currently produce enough food. The problem there is distribution in some areas. These problems are primarily economic and political. Ocean Thermal facilities partnered with an integrated desalination facility could provide potable water to nearby populations either via pipeline or surface transport. Even if countries that formerly exported oil cannot readily be tied into the global electric grid they can find an export market in water. And yes I know about the potential problems with brine and its release into ecosystems.
    1