By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Wed, 2010-03-10 16:47
Case study 1 was constructed with the intention of assessing how the choice of power grid mix influences the environmental impact of producing electricity. Electric power can be produced from various renewable and non-renewable resources, and the technologies to harvest renewable resources are gaining momentum, together with the global pressure to increase their contribution to energy provision.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Tue, 2010-02-16 14:58
The IEP roadmap to 2050
In December 2009, the International Electricity Partnership (IEP) published its 'Roadmap for a Low-Carbon Power Sector by 2050'. The IEP was created in October 2008 at an international summit of electricity chief executives held in Atlanta, USA. Its roadmap focuses on Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, and the United States.
The IEP industry leaders see a crucial role for the electrical power sector. Historically, electrical power has been the largest source of CO2 emissions, the main contributor to climate change. But in the upcoming decades electricity can become a key lever in evolving towards a low carbon economy, states the IEP. The key technological evolutions necessary to make this happen are the electrification of heating and transport, and carbon-free power generation.
Aggressive application of technology
The report sets a target of 60% to 80% reduction in carbon emission by 2050. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) this is the level of reductions required to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere at 450 to 550 ppm CO2eq. This is estimated to correspond with an average global temperature rise of 2-3 °C. The IEP argues that reaching this target is only possible through an aggressive application of technology. It advocates policies that provide incentives for high investments in renewable energy, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), nuclear power, smart grids, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and energy efficiency.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Thu, 2010-01-07 06:30
'Searching for a miracle'
Last September, an interesting new analysis was published by two California-based think tanks: Searching for a miracle / "Net Energy" limits & the fate of industrial society. The report, written by Richard Heinberg, is a joint initiative by the International Forum on Globalization and the Post Carbon Institute.
As with the book Sustainable energy / Without the hot air by David Mc Kay (on which we reported earlier on this blog), the report by Heinberg has as its principal merit a comprehensive analysis of the energy problem. With global warming becoming an increasingly important topic and the all-time peak of global oil production most probably behind us (July 2008, 87.9 million barrels per day), we can no longer hide behind local solutions. The world’s energy use will need a radical change in the upcoming decades.
But contrary to David Mc Kay’s book, Heinberg’s study also takes the cost, the reliability, and the potential transition speed of possible energy resources into account, as well as their physical and technical potential. However, Heinberg looks at the energy solutions separately and does not propose scenarios in which demand and production figures are added up and matched, as Mc Kay did.
It is worth noting that both experts put emphasis on the need for energy conservation and on the advantages of electricity as an energy carrier. Another common viewpoint of both experts is that they see only a very limited potential for biomass, ethanol, and biodiesel. Both also view wind energy and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) as very powerful options for the future.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Wed, 2009-09-09 11:54
This document is an overall report of the seminar “Electricity in the next decade”, the first in an annual series of events regarding “Low carbon electricity systems”. KEMA, ECI and Leonardo ENERGY are jointly organising these events.
Next to the topics presented during the first event, a few additional topics have been added in order to create a white paper and a more complete picture on the theme “Electricity in the next decade”.
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By Peter Vaessen / Published on Tue, 2009-09-08 07:04
An option when there is no alternative
It is clear that wireless power transmission systems in the range of 100 W to 100 kW cannot compete with traditional systems just looking at the costs. At places where economic competition is not the prime consideration, it can be an option. Microwave wireless power transmission can supply power to places that are difficult to reach. Especially small communities in rural areas could be supplied with power using WPT.
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By HDK / Published on Wed, 2009-08-05 15:21
At present both electricity and gas energy delivery chains exists for the full range from long distance to distribution and end-use.
How do you view the use of either electricity (E) or gas (G) for the future energy delivery chain ranging from long distance (> 1000km) transmission, (regional) transmission, (local) distribution to end-use?
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Mon, 2009-08-03 16:21
At present in a lot of European countries two energy infrastructures exist, the electricity network and the natural gas network. Both networks have unique characteristics e.g. gas can easily be stored and electricity is very versatile and can be used without any local pollution. And the question arises whether or not to better make use of this by creating a stronger coupling between both infrastructures.
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By Glycon Garcia / Published on Fri, 2009-06-12 08:35
In late 2006, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the International Copper Association, and AES Eletropaulo, an electricity distribution company, embarked as partners on an ambitious project in São Paulo, Brazil to test their integrated approach to slum electrification and loss reduction.
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By HDK / Published on Mon, 2009-06-08 07:31
In order to achieve the sustainability targets of climate change, security of supply, and economic efficiency, present energy efficiency policies create the conditions for the transformation of markets and end users behaviours towards more energy efficiency. EDF, as an energy supplier, has to face at the same time the opening of the energy market and the challenge of sustainability.
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By Roman Targosz / Published on Fri, 2009-06-05 16:30
The CNEE is a conference that was initiated and sustained by Society of Power Engineers in Romania (SIER) and it is taking place ones at every two years.
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By HDK / Published on Thu, 2009-06-04 08:37
The objective of this paper is to describe the derivation of least-cost strategies for an significant increase of electricity generation from renewables (RES-E) with minimal costs for European citizens and to investigate the role of accompanying demand-side conservation (DSC) activities. The analyses are conducted by using the model GREEN-X funded by the EC. It allows analyses for both, the EU as a whole as well as for every single member state.
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By HDK / Published on Fri, 2009-05-29 08:41
Date & Venue: June 16, 2009 - Arnhem
A new annual congress has been established with the intention of exchanging knowledge on low carbon electricity systems. The congress invites the participation of professionals interested in developing their vision of low carbon electricity, including policy makers, utility planning managers, consultants, energy industry representatives, research journalists and academics. Participants can expect a realistic, market-oriented approach with academic validation.
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By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Thu, 2009-05-14 07:53
This PhD Thesis Report is courtesy of Joseph Michael Marriott, Carnegie Mellon University
The electricity industry is extremely important to both our economy and our environment: we would like to examine the economic, environmental and policy implications of both future electricity technologies and the interaction of this industry with the rest of the economy. However, the tools which currently exist to analyse the potential impacts are either too complex or too aggregated to provide this type of information.
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By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Mon, 2009-05-04 14:13
Across the United States, policy initiatives are raising the bar for energy efficiency programs. How can we achieve these ambitious goals? ACEEE's 5th National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource will explore new opportunities and challenges in utility-sector energy efficiency policies and programs for both electricity and natural gas.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Mon, 2009-05-04 12:37
Electrical energy is the cornerstone of this UNEP policy brief
The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has published a policy brief prepared for the G20 meeting of world leaders in April 2009. The report introduces the idea of a 'Global Green New Deal'. Such a worldwide integrated and coordinated programme could revive the global economy and job market today while building a new post-recession economy that is sustainable on both the medium and long term.
The report proposes development of stimulus packages in five action areas:
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Mon, 2009-04-13 10:36
The evolutionary path of the U.S. electricity grid is at an historical crossroad. Decisions are going to be made about the direction of grid development so that it can meet extraordinary economic challenges, critical needs for energy security, and essential requirements for a sustainable way of life. This is a defining moment in terms of our nation’s commitment to providing an electric energy system, including the bulk transmission network, that meets societal needs of the 21st century and beyond.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Thu, 2009-03-12 06:30
Trend change or coincidence?
In 2008, wind energy was the preferred technology for new generation capacity in the EU. According to the Planet 2025 NewsNetwork, 43% of all the new power capacity commissioned in the EU last year was wind power. This compares to 35% for natural gas, 13% for oil, 4% for coal, and 2% hydroelectric power.
After years of natural gas dominance, this sounds like a real trend change. Has the era of renewable energy begun? That may be, but nevertheless, a few observations are in order.
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By Stefan Fassbinder / Published on Fri, 2009-02-20 12:52
Oops! It did not take 7 days but only 7 minutes until the filter expelled a cloud of smoke with a hissing sound and tried to escape the camera! So finally the electric drive for rockets has been invented! But its launch threw both the 16A circuit breaker and the 500mA RCD. Now consider that such filters are fitted in all washing machines and keep connected to the input voltage all of the time, also while the washing machine is turned off, because they need to be fitted close to the point of power input into the machine to develop their full filtering capacity!
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By Peter Vaessen / Published on Wed, 2009-01-28 19:37
Several European countries have policies to encourage the development of renewable energy sources. This is identified in, for example, the European green paper Energy strategy for a sustainable, competitive and secure energy supply (March 2006).
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