I've heard varying arguments, One of our Captains has set up a web site
www.oildecline.com and firlmy believes we are at or near peak oil production, after which we will have soring energy costs and massive global recession. Many peak oil theorist also believe that there is no viable alternative energy sources.
On the flip side I have read about Hyrogen economies and clean burning coal technology by decarbonising the emissions and pumping the CO2 back into the North sea gas fields. BP are investing in this with a new power station in Scotland - although at present from what I understand Hydrogen has to be extracted by means of electolysis - which more often than not requires fossil fules to power the proccess on any large scale.
Interesting topic and would be interested to hear what others know / think