Technology and Energy Supply

Abstract

In order to avoid World War HI or other world-wide disaster, it is essential to have a fuel policy in which the developed countries bring their per capita energy consumption down to about the present world average figure (1.8 tce per capita per annum) over the next 30 years (3–4% per annum reduction). The use of the premium fuels, electricity, natural gas and oil, will have to be reduced at about twice this rate if the underdeveloped countries are to have a reasonable share; this is essential to reduce world tensions. Thus, in particular, Britain needs no new power stations, but will have to convert existing ones to the use of pass-out steam.