Energy transition: the end of an idea | Chris Smaje

Let's not get weighed down by dispelling antiquated definitions of energy transition.

An unsustainable system will transition to something else inevitably. It is hapening right now. The idea is not at an end. Its at the begining.

What's up for grabs is a constant string of decisions to change over time that lead to better and worse outcomes with associated tradeoffs. The outcomes are on a spectrum that arguably range from:

Today transitioning to Extinction of the human race and most of the ecosphere with it. (Collapse hardest)

To

Today transitioning to long term viability of the human race and most of the ecosphere with it. (Collapse softest)

Limiting the discussion of the causes of these outcomes to just energy, for the sake of conversation, we can define the conditions of those two outcomes.

The collapse hardest is BAU, a growth paradigm where we say the nice things develop new energies that only supplement the old, not replace, and keep a growth oriented framework in play. This follows the path of growth, overshoot and collapse. The system built was designed for a high civilizational metabolic rate, requiring a high eroei that can't be met when fossil fuels eroei of 100:1 are exhausted and a high energy system must suddenly live on ~ 3:1 eroei. It's a starvation diet, followed by atrophy and death.

The collapse soft version is where we use the time and resources we have to build a small degrowthed core of resilient civilization that can survive on a low metabolic EROEI of 3:1 like renewables.

Arguments about the energy transition often have naysayers pipe up with "there aren't enough minerals to electrify everything!" My response if you are correct. We can't and shouldn't try to electrify and renewable-ify the 8 billion plus people trapped in growth paradigm of high waste and high consumption. To try is to guarentee the collapse-hard outcome.

Metals are infinitely recyclable and we do have enough for a small sustainable civilization that lives within the planetary boundaries on renewables only. High efficiency, low metabolism and small enough to fit in the shoebox we call Earth.

Opponents and proponents of Nuclear also usually don't understand it's optimal use. First, let's accept that nuclear is just another non-renewable. Even with breeder reactors. Even with alternative fuels like Thorium and molten salts. Building those plants, mining those fuels, disposing those wastes don't fit in the EROEI paradigm.

Where they do fit, it in powering TEMPORARILY the transition of today to a smaller lower EROEI civilization. If we just cut fossil fuels today, magically we would just kill billions in the most unethical experiment. But using nuclear temporarily as a bridge from a non-renewable growth oriented civilization to a steady state, sustainable, renewable one is highly desirable.

The interesting part is getting past the money and power of the fossil fuel industry that will do everything in its power to fight this. Its lived values on display prove it only wants to die with the most money and power.