Canvas sails, hemp ropes. These are what drove all sea vessels for thousands of years.
As I recall, those same canvas sails, and hemp ropes drove seagoing vessels to harvest oil from certain sea-dwelling creatures as an 'energy source' for a while. This is no longer done, as a practical alternative was found in petroleum. Man will always seek to discover the best practical solutions to his needs, but the operative word there is 'practical'.
Those who natter on and on about 'alternative energy sources' lack the most important thing in their arguments. That being the presentation of a practical alternative.
If, and when one is ever discovered, crude petroleum, and all its derivatives, will go the way of whale oil lamps and the like...
the infowarrior