Conversations on Global Warming: Energy Sunday, April 30, 2006 Phil Malte Energy and Environmental Combustion Laboratory Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Washington malte@u.washington.edu www.energy.washington.edu

How we use energy has major impacts and consequences. We have a problem! How we use energy has major impacts and consequences.

United States Less than 5% of the world’s population. About 25% of the world’s annual energy use. About 3% of the world’s proved oil and natural gas reserves. Per capita energy use double that of most industrial nations.

United States 40% Oil 23% Natural Gas 23% Coal 8% Nuclear 6% Renewable 2/3 to transportation ¼ to manufacturing industry 23% Natural Gas multiple uses 23% Coal electricity 8% Nuclear 6% Renewable ½ hydroelectric ½ biomass

Who has the proved reserves? Oil 62% Middle East Natural Gas 40% Middle East 31% Former Soviet Union Coal Land masses of Asia, Eurasia, and North America Coal resource may be 10 times that of conventional oil and natural gas

Oil The cost of producing oil in Saudi Arabia is typically less than $5 per barrel. The cost of producing synthetic crude oil from Alberta tar sands is about $25 per barrel. With Alberta tar sands oil included, Canada is in second place on the list of nations with proved oil reserves. Does Canada have enough natural gas to develop its tar sands? [1000 cubic feet of natural gas are required to produce one barrel of heavy oil (bitumen) from tar sand. Additional energy is required to process the bitumen into synthetic crude oil for use by oil refineries.]

Energy Ratio Measures Energy Content of Fuel compared to Energy Needed to Produce the Fuel Gasoline and Diesel Fuel: about 5 Corn Ethanol: about 1.3. Effectively, corn ethanol is largely fossil energy. Biodiesel: about 3. Depends on the amount of nitrogen fertilizer used to grow the oil seed crop and the co-products sold.

Potential Solutions No “single one solution” Many courses of action – picking the ones that make the most environmental and economic sense is key. Big picture: diversity of solutions, significant reduction in carbon emissions. Solutions: Conservation Equipment Efficiency Carbon Sequestration Nuclear Energy?? Renewable Energies

Example of Carbon Sequestration with Hydrogen Generation Coal Gasifying Power Plants Coal converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Electricity produced by the heat generated. Hydrogen burned to produce additional electricity. Hydrogen sold to other users. Carbon dioxide captured and sequestered underground in geologic formations and spent fossil fuel reservoirs. Full-scale, full-system demonstration?? Cost of system?? Cost of electricity??

Renewable Energies Wind Turbines Solar Thermal Heating and Hot Water Solar Thermal Power Plants Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Bio-Fuels Tidal Turbines and Wave Energy Machines

Wind Turbine Electricity Generation About 20% annual growth rate (world). 50 GW installed capacity (world), compared to 3000 GW total electrical generation capacity (world). Cost competitive. Interfacing with electrical grid critical. Not without critics.

Solar Thermal for Heating and Domestic Hot Water Diurnal heating system in Denmark Seasonal (summer to winter) heating system in Denmark

Solar Thermal Power Plants Solar heated steam for generating electricity. Auxiliary heat from fossil fuel burning. Electricity sold into southern California grid. 0.35 GW capacity. Cost competitive for peak electricity demand on hot sunny days. Long trough collectors.

Other Solar Thermal Electric Power Tower Solar Dish

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Generation of Electricity PV panels produce DC power (UW ME Bldg) Inverters convert DC to AC power AC Power is sent to electric grid

Solar PV continued 1 GW installed worldwide 20-30% annual growth rate 20% efficiency at best for commercial PV Limited by: Availability of PV-grade silicon Manufacturing capacity Cost Convenient, low maintenance If limitations are overcome, use could take off.

Bio-Fuels Can we grow significant amounts of fuel? Which bio-fuels make environmental and economic sense? Ethanol: Ethanol made from crop straw and other cellulosic material could significantly improve the energy ratio. Biodiesel: Vegi Oil plus Methanol make Biodiesel About 100 gallons per acre. 700 million gallons diesel used per year in WA. Bio-refineries fed oil formed by thermal decomposition of forest residues and wood wastes. Produce higher-value fuels and chemicals.

In-Steam Tidal Turbines High current estuaries and rivers UK significantly involved in RD&D 10-100 MW power plants appear feasible Major EPRI study due out this spring on US feasibility First US demo: East River, NY

Wave Energy Machines Several devices have been invented. The device shown, 100-150 meters long, bends as it rides the waves, causing rods inside to move, driving electric generators. UK RD&D. Wave-tidal test center north of Scotland. OSU has established a wave energy research center. EPRI study released last year.

Hope you enjoyed the presentation End Hope you enjoyed the presentation