> Fossil fuels dominate the global power supply because until very recently electricity from fossil fuels was far cheaper than electricity from renewables. This has dramatically changed within the last decade. In most places in the world power from new renewables is now cheaper than power from new fossil fuels.
This is the thing our great-grandkids will ask us about. ("were you alive back when?")
Millenia from now, historians will not talk so much about the commercialization of electric power. They will divide time between the "pre-industrial" and "post-solar" eras, because that's what will be visible in the fossil layers.
I'd vote for "post-advanced batteries" instead of "post-solar". Solar will only be one of the energy sources and the thing that will take us to the next level will be advanced battery tech, in my opinion.
Imagine something with the energy density of kerosene but rechargeable. My brain can't even imagine what we'd do with it, but it would probably transform our daily lives more than the invention of the automobile did.
I'm trying to imagine something more revolutionary than the automobile, and I'm having trouble!
Barring the legal/political hurdles, I could theoretically drive from my home in Texas to Alaska, then cross to Russia, and on to Paris in around 250~ driving hours. Throw in another day or two for a private boat across the Bering Strait/North Pacific.
9 days to basically drive around the entire world. 15000 miles. Just for giggles, my 2012 Honda CRV will get around 350-400 miles per tank of gas. We'll drive conservatively at 60 mph to hit the full range. Depending on the cost of gasoline, I could drive around the entire world for about $1200. Maybe $1500 once I get into Europe. Insane!
Before cars, that same journey would take months moving non stop. A solo trip can now be done in about 2 weeks with an experienced driver.
Absolutely insane the cool stuff we can do with modern technology :)
This is the thing our great-grandkids will ask us about. ("were you alive back when?")
Millenia from now, historians will not talk so much about the commercialization of electric power. They will divide time between the "pre-industrial" and "post-solar" eras, because that's what will be visible in the fossil layers.