2.3. Energy utilization, storage and distribution

Embodied energy

The total energy required to produce a product

Components of embodied energy

Materials, Transportation, Assembly, Maintenance & Repair, Demolition & Recycling

Electrical grid

An interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers

How grid system works

1. Stations that generate electricity

2. High-voltage transmission lines that carry from distant sources to demand centers

3. Lower voltage distribution that connect residential, industrial, commercial customers

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

A system that simultaneously generates heat and electricity from either the combustion of fuel, or a solar heat collector

Examples of CHP

Central heating system, hot water supply

Individual energy generation

The ability of an individual to use devices to create small amounts of energy to run low-energy products

Systems for individual energy generation

Smartphones, LED lights, sensors or wearables

Advantages of individual energy generation

Disadvantages of individual energy generation

Quantification of carbon emissions

Defining numerically the carbon emissions generated by a particular product

Quantification methods of carbon emissions

Record carbon emission, Discover how much is being produced, Discover who/where it is produced, Track the carbon footprint

Hydrogen fuel cells battery

Cost high; Efficiency low; Environmental impact null; Reliability moderate; Heavy transport e.g. buses, trains, trucks

Lithium ion battery

Cost moderate; Efficiency high; Environmental impact moderate (mining); Reliability high; Portable electronics, electrical vehicles

Nickel–cadmium battery

Cost moderate; Efficiency moderate; Environmental impact very high (cadium); Reliability high; Emergency lighting, military systems

Lead acid battery

Cost low; Efficiency moderate; Environmental impact high (toxic lead/acid); Reliability low; Engine vehicles, electronic wheelchairs

Lithium polymer battery

Cost moderate; Efficiency high; Environmental impact moderate (mining); Reliability moderate; Drones, RC vehicles, ultra slim electronics