A world without fossil fuels initially seems to confine warships to the age of sail. Charcoal offers a possible route to ironmaking and ironclads, although it would require production on a large scale. Britain's earlier charcoal industries provide a historical comparison for the resulting demand for wood. Woodland consumption in Kent and the location of lime pits illustrate how fuel requirements affected the landscape. Experiments with dense, fast-growing trees sought useful wood that could be produced more efficiently.
Notable Point · 30:56-32:00
Industrial charcoal and the woodland demands of ironmaking
Charcoal could support ironmaking without fossil fuels, but Britain's own industrial history shows the scale of the resulting demand for wood.