Renewable Energy Renewable Energy IntegrationIntegration

The Only Real Sensible Approach The Only Real Sensible Approach optimize resources at the optimize resources at the

regional levelregional level

Overarching ConcernsOverarching Concerns

Current and future sources of energyCurrent and future sources of energy What’s best in terms of most efficient combination of What’s best in terms of most efficient combination of

capital cost, land use, ecological footprint, material capital cost, land use, ecological footprint, material use and jobs createduse and jobs created

Distributed Generation and how to achieve itDistributed Generation and how to achieve it

How to improve the Grid to better incorporate How to improve the Grid to better incorporate renewablesrenewables

Local Energy Storage is critical Local Energy Storage is critical need new need new storage technologiesstorage technologies

And if we require continued Fossil And if we require continued Fossil Fuel usage as transport fuel thenFuel usage as transport fuel then

Alternatives to conventional Crude Oil Alternatives to conventional Crude Oil must be usedmust be used

These alternatives will do incredible These alternatives will do incredible environmental damage due to the great environmental damage due to the great inefficiency involved in extracting a barrel inefficiency involved in extracting a barrel of oil.of oil.

And of course, Coal remains the choice for And of course, Coal remains the choice for producing the bulk of electricityproducing the bulk of electricity

Tar SandsTar Sands

http://www.protectowire.com/applications/profiles/electric_shovels.htm http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2005/05may/dinning.cfm

Oil ShaleOil Shale

http://nandotimes.nandomedia.com/ips_rich_content/896-shale_rock.jpg http://geosurvey.state.co.us/Default.aspx?tabid=104

Typical Coal-Fired Power PlantTypical Coal-Fired Power Plant

CategoryCategory Power PlantPower Plant100W Light 100W Light

BulbBulb

PowerPower 500 MW500 MW 100 W100 W

Energy / yearEnergy / year 3.5 billion kWh3.5 billion kWh 876 kWh876 kWh

Coal / yearCoal / year 1.43 million tons1.43 million tons 714 lbs714 lbs

Sulfur Dioxide / yearSulfur Dioxide / year 10,000 Tons10,000 Tons 5 pounds5 pounds

Nitrogen Oxides / yearNitrogen Oxides / year 10,200 Tons10,200 Tons 5.1 pounds5.1 pounds

Carbon Dioxide / yearCarbon Dioxide / year 3,700,000 Tons3,700,000 Tons 1,852 pounds1,852 pounds

COCO22 Mitigation Options Mitigation Options

http://www.netl.doe.gov

Carbon Sequestration OptionsCarbon Sequestration Options

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2006/energy.html

Ocean SequestrationOcean Sequestration

http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sea-carb-bish.html

Nuclear Energy Consumption – a green alternative Nuclear Energy Consumption – a green alternative to fossil emission? – but timescale to build and to fossil emission? – but timescale to build and license new facility is 12-15 years (US)! – Global license new facility is 12-15 years (US)! – Global Growth Scenarios are uncertainGrowth Scenarios are uncertain

Future Electricity Demand: Nukes Future Electricity Demand: Nukes make up 12%: Fossils 74%make up 12%: Fossils 74%

4 TW Net in 2030 = about 8 TW produced

Wind EnergyWind Energy

US Wind Energy GenerationUS Wind Energy Generation

Good Trajectory but still only 2.4% of US Nameplate Capacity

> 200 MW Wind farms> 200 MW Wind farms

2003 1.8 MW 350’2000

850 kW 265’

2006 5 MW 600’

Recent Capacity Enhancements

$0.00

$0.10

$0.20

$0.30

$0.40

1980 1984 1988 1991 1995 2000 2005

38 cents/kWh

Costs Nosedive Costs Nosedive Wind’s Success Wind’s Success

3.5-5.0 cents/kWh

Levelized cost at good wind sites in nominal dollars, not including tax credit

Solar EnergySolar Energy

http://www.c-a-b.org.uk/projects/tech1.htm

Solar Centre at Baglan Energy Park in South Wales

Large Scale Solar – Land Use Large Scale Solar – Land Use IssuesIssues

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel

US Installed Solar PVUS Installed Solar PV

Approximately 15 times less than wind!

Wimpy Wimpy wimpywimpy wimpywimpy

But proposed CSP is betterBut proposed CSP is better

But main growth is windBut main growth is wind

Oceanic EnergyOceanic Energy

““Mighty Whale” Design – JapanMighty Whale” Design – Japan

http://www.jamstec.go.jp/jamstec/MTD/Whale/

The prototype dimensions were chosen to be 50 m (Length) X 30 m (Breadth) X 12 m (Depth). The design called for it to float at even keel at a draft of 8 m. The overall rated power capacity was set at 110 kW.

Ocean Wave Conversion Ocean Wave Conversion SystemSystem

http://www.sara.com/energy/WEC.html

Geothermal Energy PlantGeothermal Energy Plant

Geothermal energy plant in Icelandhttp://www.wateryear2003.org/en/

Methods of Heat ExtractionMethods of Heat Extraction

http://www.geothermal.ch/eng/vision.html

Global Geothermal SitesGlobal Geothermal Sites

http://www.deutsches-museum.de/ausstell/dauer/umwelt/img/geothe.jpg

Methane Landfill emissions could Methane Landfill emissions could produce electricityproduce electricity

Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)

Hydrogen Economy SchematicHydrogen Economy Schematic

Transporting HydrogenTransporting Hydrogen

One Transition PlanOne Transition Plan

http://www.unido-ichet.org/ICHET-transition.php

UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONINTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR HYDROGEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

Distributed Generation Distributed Generation as the New Power Gridas the New Power Grid

Vehicle to Grid is part of Smart Grid Vehicle to Grid is part of Smart Grid Technology as wellTechnology as well

Centralized vs. Distributed GenerationCentralized vs. Distributed Generation

http://www.nfcrc.uci.edu/fcresources/FCexplained/stationary.htm

Central Power Generation Central Power Generation (today)(today)

Remote, Large, Expensive Remote, Large, Expensive Long Distance Delivery Long Distance Delivery Fossil Fuel Plants Fossil Fuel Plants Waste Heat Waste Heat Environment Unfriendly (Co2) Environment Unfriendly (Co2) Health Unfriendly (Nox, So2, Pm10, Hg) Health Unfriendly (Nox, So2, Pm10, Hg)

Nuclear Plants Nuclear Plants Waste Disposal Waste Disposal

Hydroelectric Plants Hydroelectric Plants Flooding Flooding

Unreliable (2000-2003) Unreliable (2000-2003) 110 Grid Failures 110 Grid Failures Cost $80-123 B./Yr Cost $80-123 B./Yr Adds 29-45% To Electric Bill Adds 29-45% To Electric Bill

http://www.pharmaciaretirees.com/distributed_generation.htm

Distributed GenerationDistributed GenerationLocated next to user Located next to user Capacity kw –Mw in renewablesCapacity kw –Mw in renewablesEconomic benefits Economic benefits ““Waste” heat used Waste” heat used Lowers fossil fuel use Lowers fossil fuel use Low investment Low investment Power failure losses eliminated Power failure losses eliminated Environmental/ health costs reduced Environmental/ health costs reduced Grid costs – peak/capital Grid costs – peak/capital Lower electric bills   Lower electric bills  

Flexibility of location Flexibility of location Cogeneration Cogeneration Combined heat & power (CHP)Combined heat & power (CHP)

Micropower Micropower

http://www.pharmaciaretirees.com/distributed_generation.htm

Sources of DGSources of DG

Solar – photovoltaic and thermalSolar – photovoltaic and thermal

Wind TurbinesWind Turbines

Hydroelectric (large scale and micro)Hydroelectric (large scale and micro)

GeothermalGeothermal

OceanicOceanic

NuclearNuclear

Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels Combined Heat & Power (CHP)Combined Heat & Power (CHP)

http://www.pharmaciaretirees.com/distributed_generation.htm

MicroturbinesMicroturbines

Low to moderate initial capital Low to moderate initial capital cost cost Fuel flexibility, Fuel flexibility,

burn either gaseous (natural burn either gaseous (natural gas, propane, biogases, oil-field gas, propane, biogases, oil-field flared gas) or liquid fuels (diesel, flared gas) or liquid fuels (diesel, kerosene) kerosene)

Heat released from burning the Heat released from burning the fuel also providing heating and fuel also providing heating and cooling needs (CHPcooling needs (CHPExtremely low air emissions Extremely low air emissions

NOx, CO, and SOx NOx, CO, and SOx Continuous operating even Continuous operating even during brownout or blackoutduring brownout or blackout

A cutaway of a microturbine; 30 and 60-kilowatt units have just one moving part – a shaft that turns at 96,000 rpm.

Microturbine SystemsMicroturbine Systems

http://www.wapa.gov/es/pubs/esb/2001/01Jun/microturbine.htmhttp://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/microturbines.html

Micro-HydroMicro-Hydro

http://www.itdg.org/?id=micro_hydro_expertise http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs46.htm

Summary

Solutions Exist both on small scale and very large scale

We do not really have an energy crisis – we do have an energy by fossil fuel crisis

Transition requires leadership and courage and commitment – a true test of humanity as a global entity.

OTEC, Wind, Small Scale Solar, Snakes, Dragons, Hydrogen Production represents solution space

Summary 2

We must approach an equivalent fuel economy of 50 mpg for any technology

We must enable the smart grid to truly manage electricty use better

Conservation and reduced consumption remain our best hope to have a future

Summary 3

Post WW II conspicuous consumption and consumer capitalism has clearly burst

We may be evolving globally away from conspicuous consumption and towards necessary consumption

Further evolution takes one to sustainability But what is the timescale to evolve from

necessary consumption to sustainability?