Written by John Lounsbury
Our Energy Future – Global Energy Challenge
Professor Chris Rhodes is one of the sustainability scholars with a grounded and realistic analysis of how mankind can survive and thrive in an era of energy resource changes and global climate change. This week he gives an assessment of what lies ahead for energy in a lecture recorded in November 2020.
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Prof. Chris Rhodes BSc DPhil DSc CChem FRSC FLS biography:
I began my career in industry, spending 5 years with Beecham Pharmaceuticals and Wellcome Research. I graduated from Sussex University obtaining both my B.Sc and D.Phil there, and then worked for 2 years at Leicester University as a post-doctoral fellow with Professor M.C.R.Symons, FRS. I was appointed to a “new-blood” lectureship in Chemistry at Queen Mary and Westfield College, London University, and then moved to LJMU as Research Professor in Chemistry in 1994.
In August 2003, I set-up as an independent consultant dealing with energy and environment issues, in which capacity I am currently involved in projects concerning land remediation, heavy metal and radioactive waste management, radiation effects on biomolecules and on satellite components, alternative fuels and energy sources based on biomass and algae, and hydrothermal conversion of biomass and algae to biochar, fuels and feedstocks for industry. I am based in Reading in the U.K.
Recent research/consultancy projects:
- Zeolites, clays and other nanoporous media in heavy-metal pollution and radioactive waste management.
- Land decontamination from pesticides and chemical waste.Radiation effects on biomolecules and on satellite components
- New fuels and alternative energy sources based on biomass and algae.
- Biochar and hydrothermal conversion of biomass and algae to biochar, fuels and petroleum-independent feedstocks for industry.
- Peak oil and the need to develop localised less transport-dependent societies.
- Peak oil and farming with low inputs: permaculture and regenerative agriculture.
- Phosphate recovery from wastewater using algae.
My publications run to over 200 articles and books
My own blog “Energy Balance” is at http://ergobalance.blogspot.com
In 2003, I was awarded a Higher Doctorate (D.Sc) by the University of Sussex.
I have given invited lectures at many international conferences and in university departments around the world, and radio and televised interviews, on a range of subjects, and at popular science venues, e.g. Cafe’ Scientifique.
Email: [email protected]
My first novel University Shambles is available at http://www.universityshambles.com
Last updated 29 January, 2021
This lecture is part of the series “Scientists Warning Europe online talks – Moving the conversation forward”. The aim is to focus action following the postponement of the COP UN Climate talks in Glasgow until November 2021.
From YouTube:
How can we ever meet the needs of rising numbers of people with growing energy demands? The world was completely transformed by oil for the duration of the twentieth century, but it will be significantly depleted in the lives of many people alive today. Energy underpins everything we do. Without sufficient supplies of commercially viable energy the global economy as we know it will collapse. To make a successful low carbon renewable energy transition we will have to engage every resource we can. Once traditional fossil energy sources become scarce for realistic economic return, it will not be possible to build the renewable energy infrastructure needed or safely decommission old nuclear facilities.
This lecture is 47 minutes long with continuous slides and excellent illustrations. There is good historical perspective, assessment of current situations, and a carefully considered forward view.
Source: YouTube
See also Not Just Energy, But Everything by Chris Rhodes, by far our most popular article this month.
Caption graphic credit: Professor Chris Johnson, Global Energy Usage 2011, graph from this lecture. Large image:
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