The Hubbert Curve

The Hubbert Curve is a model that describes how the production of a finite resource, like oil, typically follows a bell-shaped pattern over time. Initially, production increases as extraction ramps up, reaches a peak when roughly half of the resource is used, and then declines as remaining reserves become harder to access. This curve helps predict the timing of resource depletion and underscores that extracting non-renewable resources is limited by physical and economic constraints. It’s a useful tool for understanding resource availability and planning for future energy needs, emphasizing that such resources are finite and gradually diminish.