Future Energy (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Future Energy: Improved, Sustainable and Clean Options for our Planet 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 6
Foreword 12
Preface 14
Introduction 16
List of Contributors 20
Part I: Fossil Fuel and Nuclear Energy 24
Chapter 1 The Future of Oil and Gas Fossil Fuels 26
1. Introduction 26
2. Hydrocarbon Reservoirs 27
3. Hydrocarbon Recovery, Reserves, Production and Consumption 34
4. Global Warming, Alternative Energy and CO[sub(2)] Sequestration 40
5. Conclusion 42
References 42
Chapter 2 The Future of Clean Coal 48
1. Introduction 48
2. Coal and Environmental Problems 51
3. Clean Coal Technologies 53
4. Costs and Plant Characteristics for Coal-fired Power Plants with Capture of CO[sub(2)] 59
5. Conclusion 59
References 60
Chapter 3 Nuclear Power (Fission) 64
1. Introduction 64
2. Cost–Benefit Analysis for 2007 Energy White Paper 64
3. Other Recent Studies on Nuclear Generation Costs 70
4. Global Prospects for Nuclear Power 77
5. Conclusions 79
References 79
Chapter 4 The Alberta Oil Sands: Reserves and Supply Outlook 82
1. Introduction 82
2. Bitumen Reserves in Alberta 84
3. Reserves Under Active Development 86
4. Bitumen Recovery Techniques 88
5. Short-term Bitumen Supply in Alberta 90
6. Long-term Bitumen Supply in Alberta 93
7. Supply Costs of Bitumen Production in Alberta 95
8. Conclusion 97
References 98
Chapter 5 The Future of Methane and Coal to Petrol and Diesel Technologies 100
1. Brief Description of the Methane and Coal to Petrol and Diesel Technologies 100
2. Factors that will Influence the Future Demand for CTL and GTL Technologies 107
3. Environmental Factors that will Influence the Application of CTL and GTL Technologies 111
4. Future Developments to Reduce the Capital and Operating Costs of CTL and GTL Plants 112
5. Conclusions 112
References 113
Part II: Renewable Energy 116
Chapter 6 Wind Energy 118
1. History and Present Status 118
2. Technical Issues 120
3. Commercial Issues 127
4. Environmental Issues 129
5. Conclusions 133
References 133
Recommended Websites 133
Chapter 7 Tidal Current Energy: Origins and Challenges 134
1. Introduction 134
2. Tidal Current Drivers 135
3. Devices 143
4. Anchors and Fixings 145
5. Biofouling 149
6. Conclusion 150
References 150
Further Reading 151
Chapter 8 Wave Energy 152
1. Background, Context and Drivers of Wave Energy 152
2. What is Ocean Wave Energy? 153
3. The Energy Resource and How it is Measured 156
4. Forecasting and Prediction 158
5. Challenges and Benefits 159
6. Converter Types 160
7. Device Rating 163
8. Modern Devices 165
9. Economics of Wave Energy 166
10. Alternative Output 170
11. The Future 171
References 172
Chapter 9 Biomass 174
1. Introduction 174
2. Biomass Resources 177
3. Bioenergy and Biofuels 181
4. Biomass to Energy Conversion Processes 183
5. Bioeconomics 189
6. Limitations and Knowledge Gaps 191
References 192
Chapter 10 Concentrating Solar Power 194
1. Introduction – Concept and Basic Characteristics 194
2. State of the Art 198
3. Cost Reduction Potential 207
4. Potential Impact of CSP Until 2050 209
5. Further Options 214
References 214
Chapter 11 Hydroelectric Power 216
1. History and Development 217
2. Technology 220
3. Hydropower and Sustainability 223
4. Economics of Hydropower 226
5. Hydropower in Liberalized Electricity Markets 229
References 231
Chapter 12 Geothermal Energy 234
1. Heat Flow and Subsurface Temperatures 234
2. Tectonic Controls 235
3. Types of Geothermal System 238
4. Worldwide Geothermal Potential 239
5. Worldwide Geothermal Development 240
6. Methods for Electrical Generation 241
7. Direct Use of Geothermal Energy 243
8. Environmental Constraints 243
9. The Future 244
10. Sources of Additional Information 245
References 245
Chapter 13 Solar Energy: Photovoltaics 248
1. Background 248
2. The Solar Resource 248
3. Outline of the Conversion Process 251
4. Manufacturing Processes 255
5. Applications 258
6. Brief Summary of Research Challenges 260
Acknowledgements 261
References 261
Part III: Potentially Important New Types of Energy 262
Chapter 14 The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor 264
1. Historical Preface 265
2. Reactor Unit 266
3. Nuclear Safety 271
4. Technological Applications 275
5. Project Status 278
References 279
Chapter 15 Fuel Cells and Batteries 282
1. Fuel Cells 282
2. Batteries 288
3. Concluding Remarks 298
References 298
Chapter 16 Methane Hydrates 300
1. Background 301
2. Detection and Quantification 304
3. Production Technology 306
4. Economics 311
5. Time Scale for Development 311
References 312
Chapter 17 Nuclear Fusion 314
1. What is Nuclear Fusion? 314
2. Desirable Characteristics of Fusion Power 316
3. Why Fusion Power is Challenging 318
4. Approaches to Fusion Reactors 319
5. Economics of Fusion Energy 322
6. Prospects for Fusion Energy 323
References 324
Part IV: New Aspects to Future Energy 326
Chapter 18 Carbon Capture and Storage for Greenhouse Effect Mitigation 328
1. Introductory Aspects 328
2. Capture Techniques 333
3. Geological Storage of CO[sub(2)] 346
4. Costs 351
5. Conclusion 352
References 353
Chapter 19 Smart Energy Houses of the Future – Self-supporting in Energy and Zero Emission 356
1. Design and Construction of Energy-efficient Buildings 357
2. Design of Very-low- or Zero-energy Housing 360
3. Future Technical Developments and Demonstration Projects 364
4. Guidelines for Future Energy-efficient Housing 368
References 368
Chapter 20 The Prospects for Electricity and Transport Fuels to 2050 370
1. Introduction 370
2. Future Energy Scenarios 372
3. Primary Energy Policy Drivers 379
4. Future Energy Fuel Options and Supply Structures for Transport 382
5. Future Energy Supply Structures for Electricity 388
6. Conclusions 391
Acknowledgements 392
References 392
Index 394
A 394
B 394
C 395
D 395
E 395
F 396
G 396
H 396
I 397
L 397
M 397
N 397
O 397
P 398
R 398
S 398
T 398
V 399
W 399
Z 399
Color Plates 400