Transitions & Global Energy

Question 1

What does the World Economic Forum define an ‘effective energy transition’?

Answer 1

It must be…
Timely
Inclusive
Sustainable
Affordable
Secure

Providing solutions to global energy-related challenges WHILE creating value WITHOUT compromising the balance of energy

Question 2

When does energy transition project to take over?

Answer 2

From fossil-based to zero carbon by the second half of this century (2050)

Question 3

How much can renewable energy and energy efficiency measure achieve of required carbon reduction?

Answer 3

90 %

Question 4

What is energy transition enabled by

Answer 4

IT
Smart technology
Policy frameworks
Market instruments

Question 5

What does ‘mitigation’ compromise?

Answer 5

Reducing the flow of heat-trapping GHG by reducing sources OR enhancing the sinks

Question 6

From 1990-2019, what anthropogenic emissions have risen?

Answer 6

Fluorinated gases: 2%
Nitrous oxide (n20): 4%
Methane: 18%
Co2 from land use & forestry: 11%
Co2 from fossil fuel industry: 64%

Question 7

Pathways that limit warming to 2C (>67%) involve what?

Answer 7

Rapid and deep and immediate GHG emission reductions in all sectors

Question 8

What does modelling mitigation strategies to reduce emissions include?

Answer 8

Transitioning from fossil fuels to zero-carbon energy sources

Demand side measures and improving efficiency

Reducing non-CO2 emissions

Deploying Co2 removal methods to counterbalance residual GHG emissions

Question 9

What are some feasible transition scenarios?

Answer 9

Direct electricity reaching 65-70 % final energy demand vs 19 % today

Hydrogen accounting for 15-20 % final energy demand - of hydrogen-based fuels (ammonia, synfuels)

Use of biomass as bioenergy/bio-feedstock (constrained by sustainable supply)

A carbon capture role and storage or use in applications that ensure long-term sequestration

Question 10

What are the three pinnacles of the ‘Energy Transition Index’?

Answer 10

Equitable
Sustainable
Secure

Core enablers: regulations & political commitment + finance & investment

Given an ETI Score.

Question 11

What countries share of primary energy is from low-carbon sources? (nuclear/renewable)

Answer 11

Brazil, Scandinavia, Canada, and New Zealand

Question 12

The ‘carbon intensity of electricity’ is the number of what?

Answer 12

Grams of Co2 it takes to make 1 unit of electricity at 1 kw/hr

Kuwait, Iran, and Russia are the leading carbon intensive countries as of 2021

Question 13

What regions have leading ETI scores?

Answer 13

Europe, lead by Sweden at 78.5, followed by USA and UK

Question 14

What leading mitigation energy solution will provide the greatest contribution to emission reduction?

Answer 14

Solar energy at >4 GtCO2-eq / year
Followed by wind energy at >3.5 GtCO2-eq / year

Question 15

What has enabled the falling of unit cost of low-emission technologies since 2010?

Answer 15

Innovation policy packages, supporting global adoption.

Such as batteries for EV, solar cells, on/offshore wind and concentrating solar power.

Question 16

From 2010 to 2019, what percentage decrease in unit costs of solar energy, wind energy, and lithium-ion batteries have occured?

Answer 16

Solar energy: 85 %
Wind energy: 55 %
Lithium-ion batteries: 85 %
With large increase in their deployment (10x for solar and 100x for EVs)

Question 17

What country/region has the leading electricity share of renewable generation?

Answer 17

European Union

Question 18

More than how much of global ELECTRICITY comes from low-carbon sources BUT less than total energy?

Answer 18

1/3 at 36.7 %
84.3 % of total energy from fossil fuels

Question 19

What are two sectors hard to decarbonise?

Answer 19

Transport (heavily reliant on oil) and heating (heavily reliant on gas)

Question 20

What Australian state is set to be the first to run on 100% renewables?

Answer 20

South Australia

Question 21

What sector is the biggest source of Co2 globally?

Answer 21

Industry

12Gt of Co2 per annum

Progress towards net zero will be enabled by new production process using low/zero GHG electricity, hydrogen, fuels, and carbon management.

40% less emissions from heavy industry by shifting to circular economy

Question 22

What sector is the second biggest source of Co2 globally?

Answer 22

Transport

8Gt of Co2 per annum
ROAD: 20% of energy related CO2 emissions

250% expected growth in heavy-duty transport volumes
Requires low-emission liquid fuels from bio or syntenic sources

Question 23

__ __ powered by low-emission electricity offer the ___ decarbonisation potential for land-based transport?

Answer 23

Electric Vehicles
Largest

Question 24

NSW introduced a new seven-star energy standard for homes. How much in cost will be subject to the new planning policy?

Answer 24

Renovations valued at more than >$50,000

Question 25

How is primary energy is calculated?

Answer 25

Based on the ‘substitution method’.
Converts non-fossil energy into the energy inputs required if they had the same conversion losses as fossil fuels.
Gives a better approximation of final energy consumption.

Question 26

What is the average growth per annum of energy consumption? What is that due to?

Answer 26

1 - 2 %
Population growth and affluence

Question 27

AUSTRALIA: What are some energy consumption by type statistics?

Answer 27

Energy consumption fell 0.1 % 2021-22
Average growth increased 0.2 % pa 2010-20
92 % of primary energy is fossil fuels (Oil 36.5 %, Coal 27.5 %, Gas, 27 %)
Renewables only 8.9 %

Question 28

AUSTRALIA: What is the energy consumption by sector?

Answer 28

Electricity 25 %
Transport 24 %
Manufacturing 18 %
Mining 15 %
Residential 8 %
Commercial 5 %
Agriculture 2.1 %

Question 29

AUSTRALIA: What is the most used energy production fuel type?

Answer 29

Black coal

Question 30

AUSTRALIA: How much petajewles does it take for coal to be exported?

Answer 30

10,196 Pj

Question 31

What countries consume the most in primary energy?

Answer 31

United States, China, & India at >10,000 terawatt-hours (Twh)

Question 32

What countries have the largest energy consumption use per person? How much?

Answer 32

Iceland, Norway, Canada, USA, and wealth Middle East nations.
100x more than average person

Question 33

The share of energy consumption by source is largest in what type for the world?

Answer 33

Oil at 0.9% growth rate / yr from 2016-21

Question 34

What share of energy comes from coal and where? Is global coal demand set to remain high?

Answer 34

China. Used for power generation and industrial application.

Yes. A continued strong growth in Asian countries offsetting the declines in Europe and North America.
In 2022: 3.3 % rise in coal consumption.

Question 35

How much in % of primary energy come from low-carbon sources (2019)?

Answer 35

16 %.
84.3% comes from fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas)

Question 36

How much did renewable capacity grow in 2022? What technology broke deployment record?

Answer 36

13 %
Solar panels were the only technology that broke a deployment record in 2022 at 33 % increase from 2021.

Question 37

What is the conundrum being faced by the global energy sector at the moment?

Answer 37

Energy consumption is outstripping the growth of renewables.

Question 38

Milestones to 1.5C are being achieved due to what technologies?

Answer 38

Solar installations
Electric car sales

Question 39

THE IEA finds that what three transitions are fully on track in 2022 to meet their 2030 milestones? Laid our by what Scenario?

Answer 39

Solar installations
Electric vehicles
Lightning

Net Zero by 2050 scenario

Question 40

How much less than of the total investment would be enough to secure universal access to electricity & clean cooking fuels?

Answer 40

2 %

Question 41

How much post COVID-19 did global clean energy investment rise?

Answer 41

USD 1.7T in 2022
(1 on fossil fuels:1.7 USD on clean energy)