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Dr Liam Herringshawlgh865@hotmail.com

Earth's Energy Systems

Week 8: Reviewing The Options

Why Bother?

“The UK is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels”

A Quick Recap

1. CoalFORCheapAvailableEmploymentBase-level powerKnown technologyExisting infrastructureInert materialCCS

AGAINSTClimate changePollutantsImport dependenceOpencast impactSubsidenceEasy resources

exhaustedCCS uncertainty

2a/b. Oil & GasFORAvailabilityRevenue generatorExisting infrastructureUK energy securityCleanliness of gasCCS

AGAINSTSpills, pollution,

emissionsGeopoliticsImport dependenceOver-reliance

3. NuclearFORVery low CO2 impactAvailable technologyBaseload supplyLarge capacityArea vs MwhThorium potential

AGAINSTDanger

AccidentsTerrorismWaste disposal

Long-term impactsConstruction costs

4. GeothermalFORHeat supplyLocal potentialDependencyLow visual impactNo external energy

source required

AGAINSTUneven distribution

UK potential?

Construction costLow production?FrackingRadon release

5. HydroFORProven renewableLong-term supplySecurityLow emissions

UK tidal potential

AGAINSTCost of developmentEnvironmental impactRaw materialsInduced seismicity

Unproven tidal/wave

6a. WindFORClean, emission-freeAestheticsEasily built/removedKnown technologyUnlimited resourceEmployment

AGAINSTIntermittencyAestheticsWildlife impactsStorage?Non-local constructionLifespan

6b. SolarFORClean, emission-freeLocal usage

Water heating

Speed of construction

AGAINSTInefficiencyNon-local mineral

sourcesUneven distributionCleaning!

Original rankings

In week 1, how did you rank them?– Coal, oil, gas, nuclear,

geothermal, hydro, wind, solar

Strengths & WeaknessesCOAL

CHIEF STRENGTHAbundance + cheapness

CHIEF WEAKNESSEnvironmental impacts

Strengths & WeaknessesOIL & GAS

CHIEF STRENGTHAbundance + cheapness

CHIEF WEAKNESSEnvironmental impacts

Strengths & WeaknessesNUCLEAR

CHIEF STRENGTHReliability

CHIEF WEAKNESSRadioactive risks (perceived or real)

German nuclear challengeHaving abandoned nuclear power, and stopped

solar support, German power increasingly coal-dependent

Renewable sustainabilityEvans et al. (2009) compared:

Hydroelectric powerWind powerPhotovoltaic solar powerGeothermal power+ Coal + Gas

Evans et al. (2009)

Price of generated electricity;Full life-cycle GHG emissions;Source availability;Conversion efficiency;Land requirements;Water consumption;Social impacts

Findings

Efficiency of electricity generation:

Photovoltaic 4–22%

Wind 24–54%

Hydro >90%

Geothermal 10–20%

Coal 32–45%

Gas 45–53%

FindingsWater consumption in kg per kWh of

electricity generation:

Photovoltaic 10

Wind 1

Hydro 36

Geothermal 12–300

Coal 78

Gas 78

FindingsGreenhouse Gas Emissions

Findings

Conclusion

Variabilities due to technology and geography

But:

Wind power most sustainable, then hydroelectric, PV solar, geothermal

Raw materials

Vidal et al. - Nature Geoscience (2013)

Some data to digestPacca & Horvath (2002):

Some data to digestPihl et al (2012) compared 2 types of

CSP – tower vs trough

Materials required:

Aluminium (Metal), Cement, Chromium, Copper, Aluminium (Elemental), Fibreglass, Foam glass, Glass, Iron, KNO3, Lime, Limestone, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, NaNO3, Nickel, Niobium, Oil, Polypropylene, Rock, Rock wool, Sand, Silicon sand, Silver, Soda ash, Steel, Titanium, Vanadium, Zinc.

The UK Energy Mix

The Recent Past

The Future?

Predictability?

IEA World Energy Outlook “hides the real potential of renewables”

Your UK preferences

Week 1 rankings:– Coal, oil, gas, nuclear,

geothermal, hydro, wind, solar

•Have you changed your mind at all?•Why?

My UK preferencesBaseload:

Gas with CCS + Nuclear(+ Tidal)

Additional grid:Wind + Hydroelectric

Local-scale:Solar + Geothermal

Reduced usageImproved efficiency

A More Informed Approach?Try the UK 2050 Calculator:

2050-calculator-tool.decc.gov.uk/