"Peak Oil" What does it Really Mean?



Image: flikr / Paul Lowry

 When I first learned about the concept of "Peak Oil", I have to admit, the concept startled me a bit.  I remember hearing that "my grandchildren will never know the experience of flying on an airplane."  The evidence was mounting and many experts agreed that there was little to no more major discoveries hitting the market coupled with the increasing demand across the globe for more and more oil production. 

The biggest challenge in sifting through the data and "expert" opinions is Who do you believe.  After learning many of the angels, I found this article very useful in taking a moderate approach to the concept of Peak Oil.

Robert Rapier explains the 5 misconceptions of Peak Oil in his article from The Business Insider 

Solar is Getting Cheaper

          Solar Is Getting Some Hot Attention. (sorry)

A recent article from the NYT reporter Paul Krugman dives into the viability of today's cost of solar power verses the conventional dirty power that we live off of today.  The op-ed article Krugman Op-Ed "Here Comes The Sun"  is also reviewed by Brad Plumer of the Washington Post in "Solar is getting cheaper, but how low can it go?" 

I have seen more and more rooftops outfitted with Solar Panels...hopefully soon it will be a normal thing to see, with a valid ROI.  Until then..."filler up"? 

The success of the future of solar depends upon the decrease in price of the cost of panels, but the manufacturing industry of solar related products better watch out.  China has huge subsidies to create solar industry, (the reasons for that is another topic all together) driving the prices down.  Solyndra is the first major casualty of this reality. 

The other big hurdle is what Brad Plumer refers to "grid parody".  Can the solar infrastructure get built properly and fit in with today's means of power supply?  We will see.

Either way, weather the technology comes from Asia, or the US, the solar industry is going to compete.  Lets hope the US gets a piece of the manufacturing base.