The Iron Triangle of Energy: How to Improve Energy Cost, Reliability, and Emissions
"The Iron Triangle of Energy" explores the intricate balance between cheap, reliable, and clean energy. In a world of trade-offs, this book provides rational ideas to optimize energy choices. With a focus on education and mentoring, it equips consumers, students, industry, and government w...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
River Publishers
2024
|
| Subjects: | |
| ISBN: | 8770042403, 9788770042406 |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Table of Contents:
- Preface xiii Acknowledgements xvii List of Figures xix List of Tables xxv List of Abbreviations xxvii 1 Compare All Sources of Energy on a Level Playing Field 1 1.1 Background Information 1 1.2 Capacity Factor 2 1.3 Degradation Factor 4 1.4 Energy Density 5 1.5 Availability Factor 7 1.6 Emissions 7 1.7 Energy Cost 9 1.7.1 California energy price inflation 9 1.7.2 German energy price inflation 11 1.8 Impact of CF on Transmission Utilization Factor 13 1.9 Tradeoffs 14 Summary 14 References 15 2 Build Clean Energy Mineral Mines and Processing Outside of China 17 2.1 Background 17 2.2 Global Energy Mix 18 2.3 Future Mineral Demand 20 2.4 Mineral Supply 25 2.5 Mineral Processing Diversity 26 2.6 Clean Energy (CE) Mine Development Cycle Time 27 2.7 Issues for Future CE Mineral Supply 28 2.8 Future CE Mineral Pricing 29 2.9 The Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)/CE Mineral Challenge 30 2.10 The Role of Government and Industry for the Future CE Mineral Transition 31 2.11 Global CE Mineral Shortfall Awareness is Starting to Set In 32 2.12 Key CE Mineral Risks 32 Summary 33 References 34 3 Focus on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) vs. 100% Battery Electric Vehicles 39 3.1 Background for BEVs and PHEVs 39 3.2 Comparison of Energy Efficiency 40 3.3 Comparison of Range 41 3.4 BEV/PHEV Mineral Demand 43 3.5 Global BEV/PHEV Mineral Supply 43 3.6 Mining Activity Required for BEV Battery Minerals 44 3.7 Range of the Average American Driver 45 3.8 Environmental Impact 48 3.9 Battery Pricing and Availability 49 3.10 Costs 50 3.11 BEV/PHEV Decision Tree 50 3.12 Using Relatively Scarce Battery Mineral Resources More Efficiently 51 3.13 Questions for Purchasing a BEV or PHEV 52 Summary 52 References 53 4 Re-evaluate Electrification of Long-haul, Heavy Trucks 57 4.1 U.S. Trucking Background Statistics 57 4.2 Large Battery Electric Trucks (LBET) Electricity Demand Projection 58 4.3 Sizing the Battery for a Long-haul Truck Conversion to Electricity 59 4.4 Less Payload Due to Battery Weight in LBET 59 4.5 Legislative Background 59 4.6 Charging Stations 60 4.7 Cost Obstacles 60 4.8 Impact on Small Trucking Companies 63 4.9 LBET Range 63 Summary 63 References 64 5 Support Fracking for Natural Gas 67 5.1 Background 67 5.2 Increased Natural Gas Production 68 5.3 Increased Natural Gas Production Has Led to More Stable Natural Gas Pricing 68 5.4 Higher Natural Gas Production, Stable Pricing Led to More Gas-Fired Electricity Generation 69 5.5 Lower CO2 Emission Levels 70 5.6 Lower Domestic Electricity Price Inflation Rates 73 5.7 Other Critical Needs for Natural Gas 74 Summary 80 References 80 6 Develop Long-duration, Economical Energy Storage 83 6.1 Background 83 6.2 The Energy Storage Problem to Solve 85 6.3 Solar and Wind Energy Curtailments Cost U.S. Federal Taxpayers 87 6.4 The Business Case for Energy Storage 88 6.5 Increased Renewable Energy Penetration, Increased Retail Electricity Price 89 6.6 U.S. Grid Energy Storage Factsheet 91 6.7 Different Energy Storage Technologies 93 6.7.1 Pumped hydroelectric storage (PHS) 93 6.7.2 Compressed air energy storage (CAES) 93 6.7.3 Liquid air energy storage (LAES) 94 6.7.4 Gravity 95 6.7.5 Flywheel energy storage (FES) 96 6.7.6 Thermal energy storage (TES) 96 6.7.7 Pumped heat electrical storage (PHES) 96 6.7.8 Advanced battery energy storage (ABES) 97 6.8 Importance of Energy Storage 98 Summary 98 References 99 7 Reduce Natural Gas Production Methane Leakage 103 7.1 Background 103 7.2 Global Warming Potential (GWP) of Methane vs. CO2 104 7.3 Emission Statistics 104 7.4 Scope of the Natural Gas Leakage Problem for Emissions 105 7.5 Who is Responsible for Global Increased Methane Flaring? 107 7.6 Call to Global Action to Limit Methane Leakage 108 Summary 110 References 110 8 Incentivize Nuclear Power Generation 113 8.1 Electricity Sources in the U.S. 113 8.2 Nuclear Plant Closings 115 8.3 Emissions 116 8.4 Economics of U.S. Nuclear Fleet Unit Replacement 117 8.5 Alternatives to Closing Nuclear Power Plants 118 Summary 118 References 119 9 Stop Subsidies for Energy Generation 121 9.1 Energy Production Subsidy vs. Energy Consumption Subsidy 121 9.2 International Fossil Fuel Subsidies are Back on the Rise 122 9.3 U.S. Energy Subsidies 124 9.4 U.S. Solar and Wind Energy Tax Subsidies 125 9.4.1 Investment tax credit (ITC) 125 9.4.2 Production tax credit (PTC) 126 9.4.3 Modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS) 126 9.5 Declining Cost of Solar and Wind Energy Generation 126 9.6 U.S. Tax Subsidies to the Fossil Fuel Industry 127 9.7 Who Pays for Energy Subsidies 129 9.8 Where is the Value in Energy Subsidies? 132 9.9 Unintended Tax Subsidy Consequences 133 9.10 Why Continue Solar and Wind Subsidies? 135 9.11 Higher Renewable Energy Penetration Leading to Higher Electricity Prices 136 9.12 Wind Farm Subsidy Economics Example 136 9.13 Solar Farm Subsidy Economics Example 138 9.14 Total Solar and Wind Energy Subsidies 139 Summary 140 References 140 10 Never Reduce Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Lower Crude Prices 145 10.1 Background 145 10.2 Previous Inventory Milestones 147 10.3 Reasons for SPR Emergency Releases 150 10.4 The SPR Withdrawal Non-event of 2008 151 10.5 SPR Withdrawal Impact on World Crude Oil Prices 152 10.6 China’s “Strategic Coal Reserve” 154 Summary 155 References 155 11 Incentivize Industrial Energy Efficiency 159 11.1 Background 159 11.2 Energy Efficiency Building Blocks 160 11.3 Is the U.S. Achieving More Efficient Use of Energy? 162 11.4 Energy Efficiency Progress 163 11.5 Efficiently Meeting Industrial Energy Demand 164 11.6 Industrial Efficiency 165 11.7 Energy Efficiency Impact Example 166 11.8 Strategies to be More Energy Efficient 166 11.9 Impact of Waste Heat Recovery 167 11.10 Ideas for Improved Energy Efficiency 169 11.11 Importance of Power Factor for Energy Efficiency 169 11.12 Reduced Hull Drag Forces with Micro-Bubble Technology 172 11.13 Trolley Assist 173 11.14 Combined Heat and Power (CHP) 174 11.15 Fuel Quality Improvement with Oxygenates 175 Summary 176 References 177 12 Improve Energy Efficiency for the Material Pillars of Our Civilization 179 12.1 Background Information 179 12.2 Current Use: Ammonia 180 12.3 Current Use: Plastics 181 12.4 Current Use: Steel 182 12.5 Current Use: Cement 184 12.6 Importance of the Four Pillars 185 12.7 The Replacement Problem 185 12.8 Emissions 186 Summary 187 References 188 Index 191 About the Author 193
- Title Page List of Figures List of Tables List of Abbreviations Preface Table of Contents 1. Compare All Sources of Energy on a Level Playing Field 2. Build Clean Energy Mineral Mines and Processing Outside of China 3. Focus on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) vs. 100% Battery Electric Vehicles 4. Re-Evaluate Electrification of Long-Haul, Heavy Trucks 5. Support Fracking for Natural Gas 6. Develop Long-Duration, Economical Energy Storage 7. Reduce Natural Gas Production Methane Leakage 8. Incentivize Nuclear Power Generation 9. Stop Subsidies for Energy Generation 10. Never Reduce Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Lower Crude Prices 11. Incentivize Industrial Energy Efficiency 12. Improve Energy Efficiency for the Material Pillars of Our Civilization Index About the Author