Energy Transitions – Vaclav Smil, Energy 2030

Energy transitions: a future without fossil energies is desirable, and it is eventually inevitable, but the road from today's overwhelmingly fossil-fueled civilization to a new global energy system based on efficient conversions of renewable flows will be neither fast nor cheap. Distinguished Professor and author Vaclav Smil explores technological transitions of past, present and future that are critical for understanding how to shift to a low carbon future.

Vaclav Smil presents as part of WGSI's Energy 2030 Summit (June 5-9, 2011).

[raduantoniu]

I love Vaclav Smil's work. He knows so much that he sees the big picture in detail. He's the first person I've seen capable of this.

[ameetsingh]

The audio disappears after the 28.11 mins: could something be done

[profkrumdieck]

Prof Smil, I invite you to be one of the first honorary members of the Global Association of Transition Engineers (GATE). Our first tenet is that members must be honest with the public and policy makers about the realistic technical feasibility and EROI of "alternative" energy sources. Why haven't we made the transition to using less fossil fuel through requiring low consumption?  Because everyone is googlie eyed about the "alternative" technologies coming in. That is the fault of engineers. We need to come clean. We need to start working on change, including not making stupid things any more. You are not alone Prof Smil!

[alielahinik]

Love the fact that he just throws in accurate, super detailed facts randomly in his talk. He knows exactly what he is talking about.

[adamj]

Sheer intellectual enlightenment!
Seeing this after 10 years of his speech in 2021, all the topics Smil discussed about is even more relevant now than in 2011. What would Professor Smil thinks about Shallow Geothermal Energy? It’s stable, ubiquitous. It has not so much of the limitations as wind and solar, but has all the benefits a renewable energy should offer. It can certainly be used as thermal storage.
Would like to hear Professor Smile’s talk on Geoenergy.

[DJChrismaz]

The first problem is not the furnace efficiency, but most Canadian houses who are dramatically not well insulated.

[ninotek]

the sound is muted at some parts (ex. minute 29), can u upload again or fix it?

[Skans-Gustav]

What a clever man. Obviously knows what he’s talking about, and with such detail. I would wish politicians would listen and act accordingly. They sure aren’t in Sweden anyway..

[kylebackers]

I’m really glad Gru isn’t evil anymore.

[wesscoffeehouseset]

Sound quit after 28 minutes and then returned at 30 minutes ... frustrating!

[Zainiology]

The audio disappears around 27 min. Please fix this immediately.

[harrybrown]

I'm sure this is a great lecture, but for those of us who are a little hard of hearing, could we have subtitles or a written script please?

[periclessevegnani]

Yesterday I knew that Bill Gates read all his 30 books.

[mrwallaby]

Can anyone catch what he recommends as the best form of energy to focus on for power as per thermodynamic numbers at the 56:39mark?

[paulwesterberg]

The energy density of wind is low on a square meter basis, but the turbines can be located on land which is still useful for farming, recreation and other uses. So it does not waste the land like an open pit coal mines, hydro reservoirs, tar sands extraction.

[andy]

I wonder what impact he feels Jevons Paradox would have on efficiency savings? Surely we’d have to curtail extra usage with regulations.

[mayanthen]

Brilliant lecture, except when he says towards the end he's in favor of quadrupling electricity prices.

[lukasschallibaum]

So interesting but so hard to understand

[profkrumdieck]

If you want a new building - you know you need Geotechnical, Structural, Architectural and Mechanical Engineers. If you want a functioning power supply - you know you need Power Engineers. If you want a factory - you know you need Mechanical and Industrial Engineers.... There is now an emerging field of engineering that actually works on the HOW we are going to transition everything - Transition Engineering. If you are interested, want to support the emergence of this field, want to come to the International Transition Engineering Institute for training, or want to join us - visit our new website and start actioning the science and the hard facts.
www.transitionengineering.org

[matthewfrancis]

From 1:01:50 - Gold from Smil - "if you don't have triple (glazed) windows, you're a criminal" and "you're not even brown, let alone green." Ha! Brilliant! :D