The theme for this issue ...
The Energy In the Ground
Volume 20, Series 3
Week of November 18, 2019
The Energy In the Ground
Volume 20, Series 3
Week of November 18, 2019
Every civilization is fundamentally solar. Traditional societies relied on solar radiation to grow food, generate heat and provide mechanical power. In most cases, solar radiation provided instantaneous power, or at most took just a few months (harvested crops) or a few decades (mature trees) to become usable and replaceable.
In contrast, modern societies rely on fossilized stores of solar energy formed through slow but profound changes of accumulated biomass under a lot of pressure, heat and time (millions of years).
An illustrative comparison: traditional societies typically relied upon instantaneous and constantly replenished solar income, while modern civilization withdraws accumulated solar capital at rates that will exhaust it in a tiny fraction of the time that was needed to create it. (Note: this does not mean that traditional societies were theoretically sustainable - many caused excessive deforestation, soil erosion, and overtaxed labor.)
Consequently, modern civilization in a race to generate more energy that is sustainable for a modern economy. Much of its effort is committed to drawing more fossilized solar energy stored in the Earth’s crust: solids (coals and peats), liquids (crude oils) and natural gases (including geothermal).
This issue of Energy Today takes a closer look at the search for more energy "in the ground," from general topics about mining to the unique sequestering powers of fungi.
The previous issue of Energy Today (19:3) considered the sustainability of cities from all angles - their unquestioned benefits, their excesses, and their future.
In contrast, modern societies rely on fossilized stores of solar energy formed through slow but profound changes of accumulated biomass under a lot of pressure, heat and time (millions of years).
An illustrative comparison: traditional societies typically relied upon instantaneous and constantly replenished solar income, while modern civilization withdraws accumulated solar capital at rates that will exhaust it in a tiny fraction of the time that was needed to create it. (Note: this does not mean that traditional societies were theoretically sustainable - many caused excessive deforestation, soil erosion, and overtaxed labor.)
Consequently, modern civilization in a race to generate more energy that is sustainable for a modern economy. Much of its effort is committed to drawing more fossilized solar energy stored in the Earth’s crust: solids (coals and peats), liquids (crude oils) and natural gases (including geothermal).
This issue of Energy Today takes a closer look at the search for more energy "in the ground," from general topics about mining to the unique sequestering powers of fungi.
- Seven Trends Shaping the Future of Mining and Minerals, by Nicolas Maennling and Perrine Toledano
- The Prize, an excerpt by Dan Yergin
- Rare Earth Metals from Coal, by Mark Curtis
- The Next Gold Rush - Mining the Deep Sea, by Isabella Grabski
- Geothermal Energy: Saving the Planet - or Causing Lots of Earthquakes, by Nathanael Johnson
- Bonus article for Premium Members (by request only) - Carbon Sequestering Fungi, by Bob Yirka
The previous issue of Energy Today (19:3) considered the sustainability of cities from all angles - their unquestioned benefits, their excesses, and their future.
- The Emerging Circular Economy, by Elsa Wenzel
- The Myth of the Sustainable City, by John W. Day and Charles Hall
- How Cities Can Become More Resilient to Climate Change, by Veronica Scotti
- Prosperity For One Michigan Town, Disaster for Another, by Bryan Gruley and David Welch
- BONUS: Cities Not Meeting Targets, a summary report (Premium Members must request permission.)
Many thanks to the following partner-sponsors: And our newest Partner-Sponsor:
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The foremost interdisciplinary publication of bold ideas about energy.
Energy Today, an independent online trade magazine, is the official e-magazine of the American Energy Society.
Each release of Energy Today organizes a broad range of compelling topics around a common theme including but not limited to: the experimental and theoretical aspects of energy and power, the addressing of practical concerns and technological advancements, and provides, in a non-biased manner, valuable insights and analyses related to energy and the environment.
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