What is an energy crisis?

Physics teaches us that man cannot create energy, and that he cannot destroy energy. We can only transform energy. This tends to surprize people because in day-to-day language we speak of \'energyproduction\', \'energyconsumption\' and \'energy crisis\', whereas physics tells us that the energy in a closed system is constant. In strict physical terms, an \'energy crisis\' is therefore only a human crisis that has nothing to do with energy, for the latter cannot be in crisis, it is constant and eternal.

For man however, energy is the pillar of his existence. Without energy, man cannot live. Without energy, physical production is impossible and an economical cycle is unthinkable. We need energy every day of our lives, every night, every hour, every minute and every second. Energy is part of our existence and as such irreplaceable. When we have less energy than we need, we have an energy crisis.

Historians today know of two energy crises in particular, also referred to as \'oil crises\': One from 1973 and the other from 1979/80, when the rising crude oil prices triggered a strong recession in industrialized countries.
Sunday driving prohibitions were declared in Switzerland as well, in order to ration the short supply of petroleum. In the USA, special gasoline notes were issued (see picture) which gave the holder the right to obtain gasoline. They were not used however, because the crises were resolved relatively quickly.

Both crises had political and non-gelogical grounds. In 1973, after the Yom Kippur war, OPEC pinched off oil production, the oil price rose from around three to over five dollars per barrel. During the second crisis, the oil price rose to 38 US dollars as a consequence of the revolution in Iran and Iraq\'s attack on Iran. Both these historically well known crises ended as the political tensions relaxed. They are therefore only partially comparable with the Peak Oil energy crisis, because the latter is geologically imposed and has no forseeable end.