[Nobel Laureate Steven] Chu said he does not think the real energy crisis is the rise in oil prices, but rather the increased rate in energy consumption, especially in countries like China and India.
In the next couple of decades, oil production will decline and as reserves begin to run dry, new sources will need to be tapped. Chu mentioned coal, nuclear fusion and fission and solar energy as possible options. However, there are problems associated with these solutions as well. For example, solar energy cannot be stored, which would be necessary to solely rely on it.
One of the options explored at the Berkeley lab includes the use of chemical energy, which involves the integration of biology and physics. Researchers have begun to look at other ways to convert cellulose into chemical energy. Chu discussed how plants and microorganisms might be able to yield sufficient amounts of chemical energy. Plants that self-fertilize and are drought- and pest-resistant are current scientific endeavors that would make this possible.
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