Unit 8 - Technological Implications Of Energy And Development Flashcards
(35 cards)
Pro’s and cons of CCS
Carbon sequestration
Carbon reduction 80-90%
Disadvantages:
- high energy use of CCS (PP 10-40% more, storage/transport 60-180% more)
- uncertainties around carbon leakage
- uncertainties around long-term storage
- end of pipe solution - does not decrease the reliance on fossil fuels
- do investments in CCS influence infestments in low carbon solutions?
What are IGCC’s
Integrated gasification combined cycle or
Ultra-super-critical power plants
Emit 40% less CO2 than average coal pp
45% efficiency (compared to 33% for average coal pp)
Coal gasification or coal to gas
What are unconventional fuels? How are they extracted?
Unconventional fuels:
- shale gas
- tight gas
- tight oil
- coal bed methane
Fracking.
What is path dependency?
Decisions about the future are determined by decisions from the past
What are the two main challenges of fossil fuel technology:
- Carbon lock-in
2. Path dependency
What is carbon lock in?
Investments & infrastructure for energy may be tied to high carbon pathways for decades due tot he long construction times and lifetimes of fossil fuel power plants, as well as the associated high invesment and running costs.
Advantages of EE
- most cost effective way of mitigation
- saving energy resources (energy conservation)
- increases energy security
- increased productivity and industrial competitiveness
- reducing GHG emissions and pollutants
- reducing air pollution
EE in OECD between 1973 and 1998 saved 50%
Dev countries could save 65% between 2006-2026
What are marginal abatement costs (MAC)
Or GHG abatement cost curves
Used to calculate the annual carbon abatement potential for technological interventions and the costs of mitigation.
Main types of EE technology and processes for building & Industry:
Buildings: passive houses, SHS, SWH, geothermal heat pump, EE cavity + loft + floor insulation, heat recovery ventilation
Appliances: light bulbs, LEDs, electronic equipment, refrigeration, etc
Processes: steel, concrete, aluminium smelting etc.
What is an EPC
Energy performance certificate - requirement of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings directive for all buildings that are sold, build or rented.
All buildings over 250m3 also need a DEC - display energy certificate.
All AC’s over 12kw and all heatin systems over 20 kW need regular checking.
Passive housing
Produces more energy than it requires:
- ee design
- SHS
- SWH
Sell e to grid (FIT)
The potentials of EE
- Theoretical - what could theoretically be achieved
- technical - what is technically possible
- economical - what is technically possible and economically feasible
- market - what is technically possible, economically feasible and commercially available
Barriers for EE:
- lack of iternational mandatory standards
- weak legislation
- financial issues
- accountability (ownership vs tenants)
What is energy conservation? And its challenge?
Reduction of energy demand (first priority in China)
Rebound effect is a challenge: the saved money is used on other energy consuming activities. Estimated at 8-10% of GDP.
What are smart grids?
Modern grids that use information and communication technology to improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness, sustainability, flexibility and responsiveness of the grid.
Incl. Smart meters: detailed information about energy use and behaviour. Provide control over the grid for operator and consumer.
Smart grids can warn users to:
Reduce peaks in energy use = peak curtailment
Avoid blackouts and load shedding
CHP and CCHP
Combined heat and power
Combined cooling heat and power
Specifically for district heatin
RE global contribution
RE - 20% in 2009 Wind - 283 GW in 2012 Solar - 100 GW in 2012 Hydro - 15% of global e in 2012, 990GW Nuclear - 370 GW in 2012 (62GW under construction)
Two types of windmills:
With gearbox
With direct drive - pioneered by enercon. Lower O&M
2 forms of nuclear energy
Nuclear fission - uranium (debate on is it rare or depleted soon?)
Nuclear fusion - collision of at least two atomic nuclei at high speed, formation of new type of atomic nucleus.
- Greater energy efficiency
- esier to contain and shut-off
- less radioactive waste
- more difficult to produce nuclear weapons
Not commercial yet.
Definition technology transfer and technology cooperation (IPCC)
The broad and inclusive term “transfer” ecompasses diffusion of technologies and technology cooperation across and within countries.
It comprises the process of learning to understand, utilise and replicate the technology, including the capacity to choose it and adapt it to local conditions and integrate it with indigenous technologies.
Simplified definition of technology transfer and its flows:
Flow of know-how, experience and equipment from one firm/country to another.
- Capital goods and equipment
- Skills and know-how for O&M (know how)
- Knowledge and experience for innovation (know why)
Simplified definition of technology cooperation:
Flow of information from one firm/country to another in joint forms like JV’s, joint R&D, staff exchange, licencing agreements, mergers and acquisitions etc.
Horizontal vs vertical technology transfer
Horizontal: from firm A to firm B (transfer and collaboration)
Vertical: advances in technology development (from R&D to commercialisation of technology)
