energy source comparison
DESCRIPTION
Energy Source Comparison. Sama Bilbao y Leon & Michael J. Stuart Dominion. 2007 4-DAY STW “SCIENCE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY & RADIATION”. Key Concepts. Sustainability Meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Life cycle analysis - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Energy Source Comparison
Energy Source Comparison
Sama Bilbao y Leon & Michael J. StuartDominion
2007 4-DAY STW“SCIENCE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY &
RADIATION”
Key ConceptsKey Concepts
• Sustainability Meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• Life cycle analysis It analyses the environmental performance of
products and services through all phases of their life cycle: extracting and processing raw materials manufacturingtransportation and distribution use, re-use, maintenancerecycling, and final disposal
Key ConceptsKey Concepts
• Baseload power – minimum required continuous system electrical output. Must be available and online 24/7! Very little fluctuation
• Peaking Power – standby power supply that can be rapidly placed online/offline as demand rises and falls. Need only be available during peak hours High fluctuation Can be brought online/offline quickly
Typical Weekly Load ForecastJuly 2007
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
0 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 6 12 18
BASELOADBASELOAD
PEAKINGPEAKING
Key ConceptsKey Concepts
• Capacity The amount of electricity that an energy
source can provide at 100% of its rated output.
• Capacity Factor The percent of actual electricity produced
vs. rated capacity
Key ConceptsKey Concepts
• Renewable Energy Uses a source of energy that can be
replenished in a reasonably short time.
• Clean Energy Does not create waste in the process of
generating energy
Key ConceptsKey Concepts
• Climate Change IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (2007) confirms it Are human activities the cause of climate change?
• History Rio de Janeiro, 1992 U.N. Earth Summit Kyoto, 1997, Industrialized countries agree to reduce
combined greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5% compared to 1990 levels by the period 2008-2012
February 16, 2005, Kyoto Protocol enters into force US and Australia only developed countries not to ratify Developing Countries (such as China and India) do not
have Kyoto Commitments in the first commitment period
Key ConceptsKey Concepts
• Mechanisms to Control Climate Change Reduction of emissions intensity Carbon Tax Cap and Trade Markets Carbon Sequestration
• Any energy source must be meet the “Three E’s” to be viable. Economics Environment Energy Supply
• What happens when youremove one of the legs?
Evaluating Energy SourcesThe Three E’s
Evaluating Energy SourcesThe Three E’s
Evaluating Energy SourcesThe Three E’s
Evaluating Energy SourcesThe Three E’s
• Economics Capital Cost Fuel Cost
Actual Cost of the FuelStability of the price of the fuel
Maintenance Cost Infrastructure Cost
Evaluating Energy SourcesThe Three E’s
Evaluating Energy SourcesThe Three E’s
• Environment Land Use Gas Emissions
GHGNOx, SOx, Hg, etcparticulate
Solid Waste Other Waste products Other impacts
Noise pollutionVisual or Cosmetic ImpactsSocial Impacts
Evaluating Energy SourcesThe Three E’s
Evaluating Energy SourcesThe Three E’s
• Energy Supply Availability of the resource
Availability of FuelAvailability of SitesAvailability of Raw Materials
Political Stability Technology for use of the resource
Maturity Construction Time
ReliabilityCapacity Factors
Coa
l
Nat
ural
Gas
Oil
Hyd
roel
ectr
ic
Win
d
Geo
ther
mal
Sol
ar
Bio
fuel
s
Nuc
lear
Fis
sion
Nuc
lear
Fus
ion
Capital Cost
Cost
Stability
Maintenance Costs
Infrastructure Cost
Land Use
Gas Emissions
Solid Waste
Other Waste
Noise
Visual / Cosmetic
Social
Fuel
Sites
Raw Materials
Political Stability
Maturity
Construction Time
Reliability Capacity Factors
Economics
Environment
Energy Supply
Fuel Cost
Other impacts
Availability
Technology
EEE ComparisonEEE Comparison
CoalCoal
Coal: ProsCoal: Pros
• Economics Low cost fuel Moderate O&M
• Environment “Clean coal” technology is possible
• Energy Supply Readily available Mature Technology Domestic Fuel >70% Capacity Factor
Coal: ConsCoal: Cons
• Economics High initial cost High cost for “clean coal” (scrubbers,
sequestration, carbon tax)
• Environment Emissions (SOx, NOx, CO2, Mercury) Solid waste Substantial mining impacts
• Energy Supply Long construction time Public opposition
Natural GasNatural Gas
Natural Gas: ProsNatural Gas: Pros
• Economics Lower capital costs
• Environment Lower emissions than coal
• Energy Supply Mature Technology Short construction time Very reliable – Could run 24/7 Very good for load following and peaking
Natural Gas: ConsNatural Gas: Cons
• Economics High fuel cost Large fluctuations in the
price of natural gas
• Environment Large GHG Emissions
• Energy Supply Scarcity of fuel in the long term Political instability associated to natural gas
deposits Natural gas is a valuable natural resource for
other applications
OilOil
Oil: ProsOil: Pros
• Economics Moderate cost to build Moderate O&M
• Environment Mantra: “It’s better than coal.”
• Energy Supply Mature Technology Great for load following
and peaking capacity
Oil: ConsOil: Cons
• Economics High fuel cost High cost for low emissions (scrubbers,
sequestration, carbon tax)
• Environment Emissions (SOx, NOx, CO2, CO)
• Energy Supply Politically unstable fuel supply
Hydroelectric PowerHydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric Power: ProsHydroelectric Power: Pros
• Economics Very low operating costs
• Environment Renewable resource Low emissions No other waste streams
• Energy Supply Mature technology High reliability High capacity factors seasonally
Hydroelectric Power: ConsHydroelectric Power: Cons
• Economics High capital cost
• Environment Large land use Social impact: displacement of populations Environmental impact: displacement of fauna and flora
• Energy Supply Limited available locations Weather and season dependent Can’t turn it on and off Large construction times
Wind PowerWind Power
Wind: ProsWind: Pros
• Economics Zero cost fuel Moderate O&M
• Environment Zero emissions
• Energy Supply
Wind: ConsWind: Cons
• Economics High material cost per KW High infrastructure cost to connect to grid due to
distributed generation Require backup power supplies or storage mechanisms for
when wind isn’t blowing
• Environment High land usage Migratory bird impact Noise pollution
• Energy Supply Limited suitable locations Public opposition Very low capacity factors (<20%)
Solar EnergySolar Energy
Solar: ProsSolar: Pros
• Economics Low fuel cost (free!)
• Environment Renewable Non emitting
• Energy Supply
Solar: ConsSolar: Cons
• Economics High capital costs High maintenance costs Needs backup capacity installed if connected to the grid
• Environment Large land use Highly toxic waste in the manufacturing and disposal of solar
panels Visual impact on natural settings
• Energy Supply Intermittent availability of fuel Limited suitable locations Very raw material intensive Not a fully mature technology Very low capacity factors (10-20%)
Nuclear FissionNuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission: ProsNuclear Fission: Pros
• Economics Low operating costs
• Environment Efficient land use Non emitting Small amount of contained “waste” Promotes economic development in the area as it required highly
skilled workforce
• Energy Supply Uranium is abundant and exists in politically stable nations The supply becomes almost endless (renewable!?) if breeder
reactors and reprocessing are brought online Mature Technology that has continuously improved in the last 20
years Reliable – 24/7 Capacity factors above 90%
Nuclear Fission: ConsNuclear Fission: Cons
• Economics High Capital Costs
• Environment Nuclear waste perception problem Non-proliferation
• Energy Supply Long construction times Requires regulatory maturity and political
stability to develop
Biofuels/BiomassBiofuels/Biomass
Biofuels/Biomass: ProsBiofuels/Biomass: Pros
• Economics Very little data
• Environment Carbon neutral
• Energy Supply Fuel can be domestically
produced – to an extent
Biofuels/Biomass: ConsBiofuels/Biomass: Cons
• Economics Potentially high cost for food crops
• Environment Large land usage
• Energy supply Limited by production of crops and competition
with food supply
Geothermal EnergyGeothermal Energy
Geothermal: ProsGeothermal: Pros
• Economics Low operating cost
• Environment Very low emissions
• Energy Supply Almost a renewable resource Drilling and steam cycle technologies are mature Reliable 24/7 High capacity factors
Geothermal: ConsGeothermal: Cons
• Economics Moderate capital costs
• Environment Alter seismic activity in the area Needs to be carefully managed not to
exhaut the source
• Energy Supply Limited to suitable locations
Nuclear FusionNuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion: ProsNuclear Fusion: Pros
• Economics Low operating cost
• Environment No emissions Very small amount of contained low level
waste
• Energy Supply Reliable 24/7 High capacity factors
Nuclear Fusion: ConsNuclear Fusion: Cons
• Economics Very large capital costs
• Environment Still there are many unknowns
• Energy Supply Need to produce the fuel Technology very much in development
Non-Energy SourcesNon-Energy Sources
• Hydrogen• Conservation
HydrogenHydrogen
• Economics Not very Takes 2.5X the energy output as input
• Environment Depends on energy source used to generate it Explosive
• Energy Supply No delivery infrastructure Low energy density
ConservationConservation
• Trying to meet our future energy demands through conservation is like trying to meet our future world hunger demands by dieting.
• Population is expanding and higher technology will require more electricity – not less.
• Conservation is a personal choice.
• We should continue to invest research and effort towards breakthroughs in efficiency.
Key ConceptsKey Concepts
• No energy source is perfect. They all have their pros and cons.
• Any nation should strive to have a balanced energy mix
• Policymakers, people and media should develop an unbiased method to determine which energy sources should be used where
• Energy sources that may not work at a national level may be perfect for a given household