@lunix I came by to say Hi!
When I consider the declining return on energy invested worldwide I think about the worldwide monetary system as a hegemony that know about this declining energy returns too.
And maybe, just speculating here but maybe they have other energy resources or breakthrough technologies they will introduce to fuel their emerging "Fourth Industrial Revolution" supporting their Digital Economy and monetary system reset plans.
I don't believe there is a new technology on the way that can save us from that mess. The Standard of living will decline to a much lower level in my opinion.
@lunix over the decades when I have researched alternative energy I have always considered it a matter of new tech reaching the public as a grassroots developed off-grid living - and if not, then humanity will be facing catastrophe.