Sustainable Energy Midterm 1

Exponential vs linear growth

Exponential growth incredibly large after longer periods of time, rather than linear growth with stays the same; brings up issues of population and energy demand increasing exponentially

Rule of 70

A tool for estimating doubling times (70/ annual growth rate)

Significance of Dyson sphere example

shows that continued and uninterrupted exponential growth is impossible and unsustainable

Challenged from exponential population growth and consumption for sustainability

Must meet the demands of the population without exhausting all of earth’s resources. How do we increase energy production while decreasing environmental effects? (energy demand grows faster than population)

Lesson from bacteria jar activity

We do not know the carrying capacity of the earth, with exponential growth, we could be very close to exceeding it and not know. Additionally, with exponential growth, even is we migrated to other planets, we would quickly exhaust their resources.

Primary vs secondary energy source

Primary energy is found in nature and has not been subjected to conversion process (ex. natural gas, oil, coal petroleum)

Secondary energy defines energy sources converted from primary energy (ex. biodiesel, electricity, gasoline)

Why commercial and residential sectors are more efficient than industrial and transportation

Commercial and residential mostly run on electricity. Most of the energy loss happens in converting primary energy sources to electricity, with energy grid transport to houses being very efficient. Most industrial and transportation (ex. cars and factories) run on primary energy sources, therefore most of the energy loss happens in these industries.

Connection between GDP and current/future energy use

Current: Higher GDP=higher usage per person

Growing GDP=future growing energy use

Countries switching to renewables the fastest

Developed countries and countries with appropriate geographical resources (ex. Costa Rica)

Economic decoupling

The notion that economic activities need not be tied to physical requirements (GDP can go up with energy use going down); Sweden saw stable energy consumption with less emissions and doubled GDP (invested early in domestic renewable energy for cheap electricity and industrial activities); Relative: GDP and resource use increase Absolute: GDP increase, resource use decrease Reframe: wellbeing increase, resource use decrease, GDP stagnant

Economic substitution

The ability to switch resources when one becomes scarce or a better alternative is found; Sweden’s switch to domestic renewables allowed for cheaper electricity resulting in economic growth from industrialization

Energy intensity role in economic development

Developing countries have a higher energy intensity than developed countries (from efficient energy). Industrialized countries have a high energy intensity

Economic constraints on energy transitions

Energy transitions pose a very large up-front cost, mainly developed countries making transitions

Energy efficiency calculation

Useful/total energy

High energy efficiency technologies examples

Regenerative braking, combined heat and power facilities

Regenerative braking

A system that converts thermal energy from brake friction into electrical energy that charges the battery, it improves efficiency by recycling “lost” energy and making useful energy out of it, increasing the amount of useful energy and therefore the efficiency

Embodied energy

The energy consumed by all the processes associated with collecting raw materials, manufacturing, and transport of an item; important to consider because some items are much more energy efficient, yet have a much higher embodied energy as well.

How to calculate power and energy consumption

Power is the rate at which work is done (units of energy/unit of time)

trends in US and global energy landscape

Oil dominates, mirroring a decline in coal; since 1970, increase in total energy consumption and renewable energy production

Lagos lesson

Massive population growth often results in energy infrastructure lagging behind and energy scarcity

China lesson

Industrialization leads to massive energy consumption; how to balance that with renewable energy pledges?

Costa Rica lesson

Achieving 100% electricity from renewables, how smaller population density and good geography help transition; need electricity dependent infrastructure to cut out fossil fuels (still import oil because of gas cars)

Sweden lesson

It is possible to decouple GDP and energy consumption/fossil fuel use (decrease in emissions, no increase in energy consumption, near doubles GDP)

Energy conservation lesson

Energy conservation is very helpful in increasing energy efficiency; must however be implemented in appropriate places to see results (ex. no breaking road in EV means no regenerative breaking)