Alternative Energy Sources

The prospect of reducing the world’s dependence on fossil fuels is problematic. Alternative energy industries, such as nuclear energy, hydroelectric energy, solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy exist, but these energy sources currently only account for a combined 14 percent of energy consumed worldwide. To date, alternative energy sources have been hindered by technological and environmental difficulties.

For instance, although the uranium that fuels nuclear power is abundant, the risk of nuclear accidents and the difficulty associated with safe disposal of radioactive waste have led to the decline of the nuclear power industry. Conversely, solar and wind power seem environmentally safe, but they are unreliable as steady sources of energy.

As global energy consumption grows each year, development of certain alternative energy sources becomes increasingly important. Because the global economy is powered by fossil fuels, it is critical to know how long world reserves will last. However, estimating the world’s remaining fossil fuel reserves requires extensive information, including comprehensive geological maps of the world’s sedimentary basins, models of energy production systems, and data showing world energy consumption patterns and trends.