The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens Graham Palmer: "Energy Storage and Civilization: A History”
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Sep 6, 2023 Nate Hagens is joined by Graham Palmer, a scholar and engineer in the field of energy, to discuss the critical role of energy storage in shaping societies throughout history. They explore the challenges and potential solutions for energy storage, including the impact on the financial system and the Energy Return on Investment (E.R.O.I.) of intermittent energy sources. They also touch on topics such as housing affordability, contrasting market-based capitalism with a caring economy, and exploring energy consumption and the good life.
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Storage vs. Surplus
- Energy surplus wasn't the sole driver of the Neolithic Revolution.
- Control over storable grains enabled accumulation, regulation, and direction of this surplus, fostering hierarchies and complex societies.
Coal's Storability
- Coal's value in the Industrial Revolution stemmed from its storability, not just its energy content.
- This reliable, season-independent energy stock enabled complex systems like railways and steel production, despite early steam engine inefficiencies.
Oil's Liquid Advantage
- Oil's liquid form and high energy density are key to its storability.
- This facilitated mobility and fueled the rise of the American Empire, tying energy dominance to geopolitical power and currency.