A Discussion on Oil Dependence
Cary de Wit
When oil was first discovered to power machines, we left behind a transport system powered by sustainable energy. Instead of using horses and other animals, we switched to fire and coal for transport such as trains and steam ships. Since then, we have been using finite fossil energy as if it were an infinite resource.
We are beginning to foresee a situation where we will have no oil left to power the society we have built. Western countries including Australia are living beyond their means, with similar per capita oil consumption to the United States.
The US burns a total of 20 million barrels of oil a day, 40 per cent of it in cars and trucks. This amounts to 8 million barrels a day and a daily cost of $186 billion. This is more than the total of any country’s economy excluding China, Russia and Japan1.
The question is what to do. Can we keep what we have now and still live within our means? There is no clear answer at this point, but there are signs that people are thinking about how to find a better balance.
One example is the appearance of hybrid cars such as the Honda Civic and Toyota models. In fact most Japanese cars now have hybrids ready to buy. These use around half the fuel of a similar sized conventional car. Hybrid cars will help reduce oil consumption but they will not solve the problem.
Another idea is to use sustainable fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. These are derived from crops such as sugar cane, corn, canola and many others that can grow and regrow. The crops would also ‘soak up’ carbon from car exhaust. This idea does work and is gaining popularity.
In France five per cent of all fuel is biofuel and Germany has 1500 retail biofuel outlets. Biofuel is also commercially available in Australia. SA Farmers Federation (SAFF) retails biodiesel in SA and parts of NSW, NT and WA.
There are many solutions to our oil problems. We will be forced to change our energy usage in the future, but many people are looking to make positive changes now.
More info on biodiesel in Australia: www.farmersfuel.com.au/Oldservices.htm
