Traditional Energy Sources and Costs

As shown in Table 1.3, nearly 90% of the global energy demand is met by fossil and nuclear sources. Of these sources, nuclear is unsafe, fossil is polluting, and both are exhaustible. The costs of all forms of fossil fuels increased drastically during the last 5 years. In early 2008 the wholesale price of a million Btus of energy in the form of coal was about 6, in natural gas about 10, 

2007 Solar Energy—Complete Guide to Solar Power and Photovoltaics, Practical Information on Heating, Lighting, and Concentrating—U.S. Department of Energy. 

Post-Oil Energy Technology After the Age of Fossil Fuels 

Another major problem with the global electricity system is the lack of continent-wide electric grids that could serve both to distribute and to store electricity. This net metering capability (Section 1.4.3.1) is essential to make 

Total Electricity Generation in the United States, by Energy Source and Type of Producer, 1995-2006 (1000 mWh) 

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