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Energy is the single most important challenge facing humanity today. Nobel Laureate Rick Smalley, April 2004, Testimony to U.S. Senate
..energy is the single most important scientific and technological challenge facing humanity in the 21st century..: Chemical and Engineering News, August 22, 2005. What should be the centerpiece of a policy of American renewal is blindingly obvious: making a quest for energy independence the moon shot of our generation, Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times, Sept. 23, 2005. The time for progress is now. .. it is our responsibility to lead in this mission, Susan Hockfield, on energy, in her MIT Inauguration speech.
QuickTime and a TIFF (Un compressed) decompressor are neede d to se e this picture.
Power
1 1W
103 1 kW
106 1 MW
109 1 GW
1012 1 TW
2.89
2.98
0.92 0.286
Coal
Total: 13.2 TW
2E-1
0.1
7E-2
1E-2
0.01
TW
5E-3
6E-3
0.001
1E-4 1E-4
0.0001
7E-5
10
-5
Elec Elect
Heat Heat
EtOH EtOH
Wind Solar PVSolThTh. T Sol Ht LowT Wind Sol PV Solar Low Sol Hydro Geoth Marine Hydro Geoth Marine
Biomass
1-4
5 0 Coal
2.3-5.0 6-8
5-7
6-7
Gas
Oil
Wind
Nuclear
Solar
Energy Costs
$0.05/kW-hr
14 12 10 $/GJ 8
Brazil Europe
6 4 2 0 Coal Oil
Biomass
Elect
www.undp.org/seed/eap/activities/wea
M. I. Hoffert et. al., Nature, 1998, 395, 881, Energy Implications of Future Atmospheric Stabilization of CO2 Content
adapted from IPCC 92 Report: Leggett, J. et. al. in Climate Change, The Supplementary Report to the Scientific IPCC Assessment, 69-95, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1992
Permafrost
Coral Bleaching
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2005 usage: 14 TW
Wind
30 20 10 0 1980 1990 2000 2010 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1980 2020
PV
2020
10 COE cents/kWh 8 6 4 2
Geothermal
Solar thermal
15
Biomass
12
9 6 3 1990 2000 2010 2020 0 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
0 1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
Source: NREL Energy Analysis Office (www.nrel.gov/analysis/docs/cost_curves_2002.ppt) 1These graphs are reflections of historical cost trends NOT precise annual historical data. Updated: October 2002
Lewis Conclusions
If we need such large amounts of carbon-free power, then: current pricing is not the driver for year 2050 primary energy supply Hence,
Conclusions
Abundant, Inexpensive Resource Base of Fossil Fuels Renewables will not play a large role in primary power generation unless/until: technological/cost breakthroughs are achieved, or unpriced externalities are introduced (e.g., environmentally -driven carbon taxes)