Energy Return on Energy Invested: Some Concerning Charts
The following images clearly show the problems that are developing with the ever increasing cost of energy discovery and production. Most commentators agree that an overall EROEI (Energy Return on Energy Invested) of 10 to 12 is required to support modern economies. That is about where we are now.
Source: Mobbs’ Environmental Investigations, 4th December 2013, University of London
World energy consumption has been increasing exponentially since the middle of the last century. It will not continue to rise, but prices will.
Source: Gail Tverberg of Our Finite World blog
There is a strong correlation between energy consumption and population. This is a considerable concern. In particular, food production today requires vast amounts of energy, and thus ever increasing food prices. It takes around 20 calories of energy to produce 1 calorie of food. That is about the same annual energy consumption for a person as for a typical American car.
Source: Gail Tverberg of Our Finite World blog
There is little hope that we will be saved by bureaucrats.
Source University of Dayton, Ohio, US
Last Word
Modern society requires vast quantities of cheap energy. Unfortunately energy is getting ever more expensive to produce. We will not be saved by “renewables” or by nuclear fission.
There is a strong correlation between energy/oil prices and global GDP. This is particularly relevant today, given that most economies are struggling for growth. It seems that we have imposed a linear economic model upon nature, which is, of course, cyclical.