achieving a sustainable energy balance for the u.s. current energy mix - 80% fossil fuel
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Achieving a sustainable energy balance for the U.S. current energy mix - 80% fossil fuel increasing renewables (wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, etc) increasing nuclear carbon sequestration (?) electricity as primary energy carrier biomass/biofuels (?) unconventional hydrocarbons (?) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Achieving a sustainable energy balance for the U.S.
current energy mix - 80% fossil fuel
increasing renewables (wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, etc)
increasing nuclear
carbon sequestration (?)
electricity as primary energy carrier
biomass/biofuels (?)
unconventional hydrocarbons (?)
Regulation and ‘reasonable cost’ strategies
carbon emissions tax (‘cap and trade”)
tax incentives
‘hidden costs’ (e.g. health, environment) in current energy systems
Sankey diagram – ‘lost energy’ - gains from greater efficiency in energy conversions (Evans figure 10.1)
co-generation
capture waste heat (e.g. coal-fired plants)
minimize conversion steps
Move to ‘electricity economy’ – electricity as primary energy carrier
increase generation capacity
battery technology limitations in transport
renewable/nuclear mix (Evans scenario 1 – figure 10.3)
coal with carbon dioxide sequestration (Evans scenario 2 – figure 10.4)
Costs of renewable sources of electricity - capital and operating
Wind – 8 cents per KWH
Photovoltaics – 30 cents per KWH
Biomass – 7 cents per KWH
Landfill gas - 7 cents per KWH
Geothermal – 8 cents per KWH
Small hydro – 8 cents per KWH
Tidal - 12 cents per KWH
Coal – 4.5 cents per KWH
Nuclear – 8 cents per KWH
Natural gas as intermediate solution (Boone Pickens scenario)
lower carbon emissions per unit of energy compared to coal
reserves more widespread than petroleum
makes use of existing technology
CNG for transportation
LNG for long-distance transport
Social consequences in any scenario
Modification of behavior (e.g. public transportation)
Cultural adaptation (e.g. to windfarms, smaller houses)
Economic impact – higher energy costs
What is the intermediate term outlook according to the EIA?
(OECD – Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development 40 countries)