Soon as in 2080...

Yep, it's just around the corner. Maybe by then we will all have flying cars running on Mr. Fusion. Heck, by then warp drive will have been invented, and we can populate the cosmos. We don't need this stinkin planet anyway.

I"m convinced that oil is limited, as well as coal, and that this will limit expansion in 20 years or so. Does anyone else see things differently?

I agree, FFs are limited in supply. However, the world is already pivoting to renewables, lead by solar and wind. Coal will be the first to die, Natural Gas and Oil will follow.

Gasoline powered cars will be replaced by BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_electric_vehicle

That problem is already being solved, but it takes time as capitalism always goes for the cheapest route. The less oil left, the more expensive it gets to extract the final bits, which makes the alternatives more affordable.



The two SeaShuttle vessels, set for delivery in the latter half of 2025, will be fitted with 3.2MW hydrogen fuel cells, making them the first container ships of their size in the world to run on H₂. Hydrogen will be stored on board for the fuel cells, while the ship will also be fitted with a diesel engine as back-up.

https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/construction-begins-on-worlds-first-hydrogen-powered-short-sea-container-ship/2-1-1608332


Airbus’ ambition is to bring to market the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035. To get there, our ZEROe project is exploring a variety of configurations and technologies, as well as preparing the ecosystem that will produce and supply the hydrogen.

https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/energy-transition/hydrogen/zeroe


Iceland already has Hydrogen powered public transport.

Iceland is also ahead of other countries in utilizing hydrogen. With early plans to become oil- and gas-free by 2050, the country started using hydrogen buses in Reykjavik back in the early 2000s.

https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Fuel-Cells/Can-Iceland-Become-The-Worlds-First-Green-Hydrogen-Economy.html


Once we get Nuclear Fusion working the Hydrogen fuel economy can kick off




The 'risk' is, all this practically unlimited new energy can spark another wave of expansion, if not heat up the world more. But first it will need a lot more funding to get there.

I have been following the ITER project for the past 15 years. I was so excited when I first heard about it. But, lately the massive problems and delays have dampened my enthusiasm.

First plasma was expected in 2025, now they talk about it happening in 2035. What a let down.

https://www.iter.org/

Nuclear energy is so much safer these days. It's such a pity we aren't using it. Chinas over there building a thorium reactor and we're freezing grannies to death in the name of renewable energy.

Problem solved. 

Hydrogen seems like part of a solution, definitely.  But it takes massive amounts of electricity and equipment, and so it works better within buildings, and large vehicles such as ships or perhaps train engines.  Mabey it can power a plane someday if it gets reliable enough.   

But vehicles?   I don't know if moving to electric vehicles could be possible.  There's only so much lithium as well.   

In my opinion, China builds crap products.  Does anyone trust China to build an advanced nuclear reactor that could become the next Chernobyl?

Heck, I just bought a new battery for my car last week, cost me $140.  My original battery (made in Japan) lasted me 9 years, the salesman tells me that this new replacement one will only last 3 years. Yeah, gotta love the crap made in China.

Well they aren't gonna go cheap on a nuclear reactor. Remember they built 36 cities before there was anyone to put in them like it was feild of dreams, emaculate cities with great infrastructure too. Have you seen the infrastructure change in the last 20 years in roads and rail on a map? Mostly works emaculately. They go hard when they want to. The reactor is also a salt molten reactor, new design and apparently very safe in the case of the problems with those disasters of the past.