The first thing we need to do is look at energy as a system and not just fuel. Our system has four parts:
- Generation
- Storage
- Transmission
- Utilization
Generation - conversion of fuel into some type of usable energy. This could be the generation of electricity, conversion of stored energy into motion (burning gasoline to make a car go, for example), or conversion of fuel into heat ( gas furnace, for example. The main thing is that you are changing stored energy into something usable.
Storage - if you are not going to immediately use the energy you have generated, then you need to store it. Batteries, lakes and basements filled with drums of water are examples.
Transmission - If you are not generating the energy near the point of use then you will have to get the energy from generator to point of use. Power lines, hydraulic hoses, and fan belts are examples.
Utilization - once you have the energy, how are you going to use it? how much of it is used to do the job and how much is wasted or used elsewhere in the system.
The main point to take away from this is that the energy crisis isn't just fuel. It is a problem with the whole system and to cure the crisis we have to develop/invent a new and better system.
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