The Biological Origin of Our Present Energy System

The dimensions of the material and energy flow are enormous on dimensions of our planet. The Table 1.1 taken from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report gives some crude estimates. 

These data underline the enormous dimension of photosynthesis and the biosphere for energy conversion. From these figures, it could appear that there is no need for any artificial chemical energy conversion as there is abundant natural energy conversion. Humankind only bums 4.5% of the annual photosynthesis fixation of carbon. If we convert this into annual electrical energy equivalents, we arrive for photosynthesis at about 250 TW and for total human consumption at about 15 TW. In this argument, we first have to add the electrical equivalent of our food energy that is and 

---