History of Prime Movers and Future Implications

TL;DR

This paper reviews the historical evolution of energy sources from ancient times to modern fossil fuels and explores the potential of solar power to revolutionize future energy systems and support a highly advanced civilization.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive historical overview and presents a future outlook on solar power as the main energy source, including its potential to enable a spacefaring civilization.

Findings

Solar power could become the dominant energy source by mid-21st century.

A Solar System civilization supporting 10 quadrillion people is feasible.

Historical energy transitions highlight opportunities for future technological revolutions.

Abstract

Motive and electrical energy has played a crucial role in human civilization. Since Ancient times, motive energy played a primary role in agricultural and industrial production as well as transportation. At that time, motive energy was provided by work of humans and draft animals. Later, work of water and wind power was harnessed. During the 19$^{\text{th}}$ century, steam power became the main source of motive energy in USA and Britain. Modern transportation and industry depend on the work of heat engines that use fossil fuel. A brief history of different sources of energy is presented in this work. The energy consumptions in pre-industrial and industrial societies are calculated. The lost opportunities for the Second Industrial Revolution (such as fast breeder reactors and thermonuclear power stations) are discussed. The case that the Solar Power will become the main source of energy by the second half of this century is presented. It is calculated that the Solar Power has the potential to bring about the new Industrial Revolution. Based on material and energy resources available in the Solar System, it is demonstrated that the Solar System Civilization supporting a population of 10 Quadrillion with a high standard of living is possible.