Paul F. Meier
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- February 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780190098391
- eISBN:
- 9780190098421
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190098391.003.0015
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Environmental Sustainability
This concluding chapter summarizes some of the information presented for the twelve different energy technologies examined in the book. The first section explores current trends in energy and some of ...
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This concluding chapter summarizes some of the information presented for the twelve different energy technologies examined in the book. The first section explores current trends in energy and some of the driving forces affecting these trends. The second section examines the electric vehicle, the bridge that can connect the electric sector with the transportation sector. The third section examines the potential for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States by the use of renewable fuels. Following this, a summary of proven and potential reserves is presented for both nonrenewable and renewable energy types. Finally, a summary is presented for the land and energy footprint of each technology.Less
This concluding chapter summarizes some of the information presented for the twelve different energy technologies examined in the book. The first section explores current trends in energy and some of the driving forces affecting these trends. The second section examines the electric vehicle, the bridge that can connect the electric sector with the transportation sector. The third section examines the potential for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States by the use of renewable fuels. Following this, a summary of proven and potential reserves is presented for both nonrenewable and renewable energy types. Finally, a summary is presented for the land and energy footprint of each technology.
Paul F. Meier
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- February 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780190098391
- eISBN:
- 9780190098421
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190098391.001.0001
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Environmental Sustainability
The energy mix is changing, and renewable energy is growing in importance. If you were born before 1989, you lived in a United States where no electricity was generated from either wind or solar ...
More
The energy mix is changing, and renewable energy is growing in importance. If you were born before 1989, you lived in a United States where no electricity was generated from either wind or solar power and very little from geothermal and biomass. By 2018, the combined generation from wind and solar had surpassed hydroelectricity. Fourteen states generated more than 10% of their electricity from wind and three generated more than 30%. And bioethanol, produced from corn grain, made up 10% of the US gasoline market. Changes have also occurred in the nonrenewable energy mix. Coal, which was responsible for 53% of the US electricity generation in 1998 is now only 28%, as natural gas has taken the leadership role, surpassing coal in 2015 as the primary energy for producing electricity. Similarly, the world did not see any electricity generation from wind until 1985 and none from solar until 1989. Now solar plus wind generate 7% of the worldwide electricity. The worldwide demand for all energy types is also increasing rapidly, as energy usage has increased 84% over the last twenty years. This book makes a systematic comparison of twelve different energy types to help understand the driving forces for this changing energy mix. Twelve common criteria are used to provide tools to make these comparisons, such as proven reserves, the levelized cost for each energy type, energy balances, environmental issues, and the energy footprint. Proven reserves are also projected for each renewable energy type.Less
The energy mix is changing, and renewable energy is growing in importance. If you were born before 1989, you lived in a United States where no electricity was generated from either wind or solar power and very little from geothermal and biomass. By 2018, the combined generation from wind and solar had surpassed hydroelectricity. Fourteen states generated more than 10% of their electricity from wind and three generated more than 30%. And bioethanol, produced from corn grain, made up 10% of the US gasoline market. Changes have also occurred in the nonrenewable energy mix. Coal, which was responsible for 53% of the US electricity generation in 1998 is now only 28%, as natural gas has taken the leadership role, surpassing coal in 2015 as the primary energy for producing electricity. Similarly, the world did not see any electricity generation from wind until 1985 and none from solar until 1989. Now solar plus wind generate 7% of the worldwide electricity. The worldwide demand for all energy types is also increasing rapidly, as energy usage has increased 84% over the last twenty years. This book makes a systematic comparison of twelve different energy types to help understand the driving forces for this changing energy mix. Twelve common criteria are used to provide tools to make these comparisons, such as proven reserves, the levelized cost for each energy type, energy balances, environmental issues, and the energy footprint. Proven reserves are also projected for each renewable energy type.
