Smart Grids Versus the Achilles' Heel of Renewable Energy: Can the Needed Storage Infrastructure Be Constructed Before the Fossil Fuel Runs Out?

In this paper, prima facie evidence is presented to demonstrate that, by the close of this century: 1) the world will be approaching exhaustion of its supply of recoverable fossil fuel; 2) the energy shortages engendered thereby can reliably be avoided only if immediate massive steps are taken to actualize the development and manufacture of important, as yet unproven, components of a global smart energy system; and 3) the world over, there is little evidence (as measured by funding committed for development and demonstration) that the key governments are seriously concerned.