William L. Fisher¹
(1) The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Abstract: Energy resources for the 21st Century

Fossil fuels have provided about 90 percent of the approximately 1.8 trillion boe of energy consumed globally to date. Long-term trends in energy use indicate a transition from fossil fuels to a hydrogen and renewable-energy economy sometime near the middle of the 21st century. Population growth will most likely continue, stabilizing at or below 10 billion by the middle of the century, and economic growth should move near its historical average of 3 percent per annum. Other long-term trends in energy finding, development, and use efficiencies will continue and will most likely improve substantially. Demand for fossil fuels will at least double current demand levels during the transition and, despite commonly expressed concerns about hydrocarbon supply, the fossil-fuel resource base is adequate to meet demand. Emphasis on higher hydrogen-content fuels through the transition means that greater utility of fossil fuels should not cause unacceptable environment impact.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90914©2000 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana