Energy Trends

Fossil Fuels
Finding Costs by Region for FRS Countries 2003-2005 and 2004-2006 (2006 Dollars per barrel of Oil Equivalent) EIA
Region	2003-2005		2004-2006		% Change
United States
Onshore	7		11		61
Offshore	46		64		39
Total United States	10		16		50
Foreign
Canada	17		19		11
Europe	10		23		122
Former Soviet Union	14		nm		nm
Africa	16		26		59
Other Eastern Hemisphere	10		13		33
Other Western Hemisphere	27		43		60
Total Foreign	12		20		57
Worldwide	11		17		51
The costs of finding oil in ever more remote areas is increasing rapidly.
Planned Nameplate Capacity Additions From New Generators (DOE) (Megawatts)
Energy Source	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Coal	1679	920	12611	6839	7649
Petroleum	255	1	835	50	---
Natural Gas	9891	12896	11050	7569	4622
Other Gasses	---	580	771	---	340
Nuclear	---	---	---	---	---
Hydroelectric Conventional	13	3	1	---	---
Other Renewable's	5714	2032	350	217	56
Pumped Storage	---	---	---	---	---
Other	---	---	---	---	165
Total	17552	16432	25617	14675	1283
The World's Energy Future Continues to be based on Fossil Fuels.

Ocean Currents

The total worldwide power in ocean currents has been estimated to be about 5,000 GW,
with power densities of up to 15 kW/m2. Ocean currents flow at all depths in the ocean,
but the strongest usually occur in the upper layer which is shallow compared to the
depth of the oceans. There are 14 currents that exceed 3 knots (3.45 mph), a few of
which are in the open ocean. The Gulf Stream and the Kuro Shio are the only two currents
having velocities above 3 knots throughout the year. Both of these currents are driven
by the Coriolis force that is caused by the Earth's eastward rotation acting upon the
ocean currents produced by the trade winds.


The Gulf Stream starts roughly in the area where the Gulf of Mexico narrows to form a
channel between Cuba and the Florida Keys. Its the current reaches speeds of as much
as 6.9 mph in its narrow central axis. The Gulf Stream's top flow rate is 156.5 statute
miles per day (6.52 mph. It has been estimated that capturing just 1/1,000th of the
available energy from the Gulf Stream would supply Florida with 35% of its electrical needs.


A large part of the water of the Pacific Ocean's North Equatorial current turns
northeastward east of Luzon and passes the east coast of Taiwan to form the
Kuro Shio current. South of Japan, the Kuro Shio flows in a northeasterly direction,
parallel to the Japanese islands, of Kyushu, Shikoku, and Honshu. Kuro Shio's
top flow rate is 153 statute miles per day (6.375 mph).


Other possible sites for underwater generators are the East Australian Coast current,
which has a top rate of 110.47 statute miles per day (4.6 mph), and the Agulhas current
off the southern tip of South Africa, which has a top rate of 139.2 statute miles
per day (5.8 mph). Another possible site for underwater generators is the
Strait of Messina, the narrow opening that separates the island of Sicily from Italy,
where the current's steady counterclockwise rotation is produced-not by the wind-but
by changing water densities produced by evaporation in the Mediterranean.


Another possible site is the California Current which has relatively slow speeds
and shifts periodically. The Aleutian passages have also been identified as an area
for potential development of ocean current energy extraction.


Ocean currents represent a potentially significant, currently untapped,
reservoir of energy. Countries that are interested in and pursuing the
application of ocean current energy technologies include the European Union, Japan, and China.

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