Future Energy

Available Resource

total annual energy possible by source

Technical potential

maximum annual energy taht could be extracted using current mature technology

pracitable potential

technical reduced by distribution public and problems acceptability

economic potential

projected tech costs

market potential

what are subsidies what are no subsidies (more in comparison)

1161.43 GW

what is the US capacity?

21.4%

How much of the US electricity generation is renewables?

42.5

EU renewable energy directive target was 32% by 2030 by revised to __% but aiming for 45%

7.5

U.S. federal government must have ___% electricity consumption renewable; currently at 11%; there is no other mandate for the US

electricity grid

NREL study says US can do 80% renewable by 2050 if they improve the

electricity generation, transmission, and distribution

• power plant generates electricity

• transformer steps up voltage for transmission

• transmission lines carry electricity long distances

• neighborhood transformer steps down voltage

• transformers on poles step down electricity before it enters the house

AC line/power loss

if the current is halved (the voltage is doubled), the power loss due to the wire’s resistance will be reduced by one quarter

Alternating Current (AC)

follows a sinusoidal pattern

60

In North America, the utility frequency is __ Hz

50

In many countries, the utility frequency is __ Hz

High Voltage direct current

• losses less power over longer distances

• only needs two conductors

• don’t have to match any curves

• works great for underwater

Why do power grids provide AC

• less expensive

• easier and safer to work with (DC transformers more complicated and expensive)

• can travel farther than DC because it moves in waves

• most household appliances are inductive type and wont work properly with DC