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For a moment, ignore the commercial viability of this. Of course, in a free global market, this isn't viable. Think about this strategically. Japan has rough
by ggrot 17y ago
For a moment, ignore the commercial viability of this. Of course, in a free global market, this isn't viable. Think about this strategically.
Japan has roughly 40M barrels of proven oil reserved. They consume 5M barrels of oil a DAY. Without imports, assuming they could even get at all of their oil, they would run out in 8 days. They are the world's 3rd largest consumer of oil, and the world's second largest importer.
Half of their energy consumption is oil, another 15% natural gas (which comes from extracting oil). Coal and Nuclear make up the majority of the rest. Japan's mining is well beyond peak-coal. The vast majority of their oil comes from the middle east. Japan is an island, they are entirely dependent on energy imports. This means that if their trade routes were cut off they'd be hosed. Since the US dominates the world's oceans, that means that Japan has to keep the US happy. Sucks strategically and politically.
Space based power is useful strategically. You can beam it to an island. It is very difficult to cut off, regardless of the size of your foes' navy. You can beam it directly to a fleet in the middle of the pacific. You could use it as a weapon.
- Semiapies 17y ago"Since the US dominates the world's oceans, that means that Japan has to keep the US happy. Sucks strategically and politically." It just means Japan can't get saber-rattly in the US's direction. There isn't a huge impetus for them to do so, so...
- andreyf 17y agoConsidering where our cars and gadgets come from, I don't think Japan or the US would benefit much from cutting off oil shipments to Japan ;)
- ggrot 17y agoAgreed, however my only point is that this makes more sense strategically than just commercially. It may not make sense either way, but it could. There are other interests that could cut off Japan if the US didn't choose to step in. This includes China and OPEC.
- bajsejohannes 17y agoIs the oil used for electricity? If not, this will not (directly) replace it. Also, you only need one nuclear reactor (of which a powerplant has many) to make up for the energy produced by this thing. That said, I totally support this way of bringing science fiction a little closer! > It is very difficult to cut off, regardless of the size of your foes' navy Would it be that to hit it with a rocket? (Or a stone thrown really hard?) I assume it's quite vulnerable.
- ggrot 17y agohttp://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Japan/Electricity.html http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Japan/Electricity.html - About 60% of Japan's electricity use comes from burning stuff: oil, natural gas, coal, being the big ones. All of this is imported. Outside transportation, Oil is also used for heating homes. Nuclear is definitely an option for Japan. They also have to import the uranium, having virtually none on the island, but that is still much easier to import and stock up than other resources. That said, it's probably easier to shoot your proverbial rocket or stone at their nuclear plants than it is to shoot it into space.