42 Electricity is Easy, Fuels are Hard: Lessons from the Maritime Industry
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Jan Emblemsvåg
Abstract
Most discussions today concern the electric part of the energy consumed in society. Yet, about 80 % of the total energy we consume globally is not electricity but fuels and thermal (heat). Depending on how fuels and thermal (heat) are addressed, the consequences for the power system will be far reaching. Using the marine industry as a point of departure - known for its hard-to-abate climate gas emissions - the scale of the challenge is demonstrated: Decarbonizing the global maritime industry using green ammonia produced from renewable energy sources will require 2.7 times the total EU power production in 2022. Then, we must add other hard-to-bate sectors, such as aviation, large trucks, and high temperature industrial thermal energy. To make green fuels for all these sectors is basically a too large challenge on top of the electrification of the other sectors (passenger cars, the electric power system we have today, heating of houses, and more). Therefore, we must start at the other end and first address how to solve the hard-to-abate sectors, since the energy transition will require a major transition in energy density and minimization of losses. Reforestation and afforestation are also important tactics in utilizing the rest energy, to minimize losses, because it is probably the least costly approach to sequester large amounts of climate gasses. From this discussion it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the role of nuclear power must be seriously reconsidered because of its low life-cycle climate gas emissions, the scale of the decarbonization challenge, and the potential for using the rest energy to minimize losses.
Abstract
Most discussions today concern the electric part of the energy consumed in society. Yet, about 80 % of the total energy we consume globally is not electricity but fuels and thermal (heat). Depending on how fuels and thermal (heat) are addressed, the consequences for the power system will be far reaching. Using the marine industry as a point of departure - known for its hard-to-abate climate gas emissions - the scale of the challenge is demonstrated: Decarbonizing the global maritime industry using green ammonia produced from renewable energy sources will require 2.7 times the total EU power production in 2022. Then, we must add other hard-to-bate sectors, such as aviation, large trucks, and high temperature industrial thermal energy. To make green fuels for all these sectors is basically a too large challenge on top of the electrification of the other sectors (passenger cars, the electric power system we have today, heating of houses, and more). Therefore, we must start at the other end and first address how to solve the hard-to-abate sectors, since the energy transition will require a major transition in energy density and minimization of losses. Reforestation and afforestation are also important tactics in utilizing the rest energy, to minimize losses, because it is probably the least costly approach to sequester large amounts of climate gasses. From this discussion it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the role of nuclear power must be seriously reconsidered because of its low life-cycle climate gas emissions, the scale of the decarbonization challenge, and the potential for using the rest energy to minimize losses.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- List of Contributing Authors V
- Foreword by Professor Andris Piebalgs, Former EU Commissioner for Energy XI
- Foreword by Dr. Peter Körte, Chief Technology Officer & Chief Strategy Officer at Siemens AG XV
- Preface of the Editors XIX
- Contents XXV
- Abbreviations XXXI
- Frequently Used Metric Prefixes and Physical Quantities XLV
- 1 History and Current Challenges of Electrical Power Supply Systems 1
- 2 General Technical Aspects of the Electrical Power System: A Case Study of the German Power System in Transition 37
- 3 Power Sector Transformation: An Indian Perspective 53
- 4 Major Non-technical Questions of Today’s Energy Supply: Between Energy Policy and Regulation 95
- 5 Scenarios for the Energy System 111
- 6 How Europe Regulates the Internal Energy Market 127
- 7 Requirements for the Reliability of Energy System Planning 137
- 8 Currents of Change: Electrification for a Greener Future 151
- 9 Understanding the Levelized Cost of Energy 167
- 10 Influence of CO2 Targets on Energy Planning: Optimal Energy Supply from a Climate Perspective 185
- 11 Energy Planning With a Special Focus on Hard-To-Abate Sectors and Decarbonization 203
- 12 Energy Storage Technologies in Support of the Energy Transition and Climate Neutrality 235
- 13 Electrical Supply Infrastructure Under Transformation 249
- 14 Innovation (Not Only) in the Grid Sector: Market and Regulation Also Require Reinvention 275
- 15 Challenges of Today’s Energy Distribution 303
- 16 Resilience: Considering Disruptive Events in the Energy Planning of Buildings and Neighborhoods 335
- 17 Siemens Princeton Resilient Campus: Defining the Future of Energy with a Sustainable and Reliable Microgrid 351
- 18 Introduction to Energy Trading and the Role of Energy Exchanges 361
- 19 The Role of Power Exchanges (PX) in the Energy Transition: Between Cross-Border and Local Trading 375
- 20 Energy Markets, Grids and Flexibility: A Future Market Design for a Decarbonized Energy System 395
- 21 Local Trading Within Energy Communities 419
- 22 Verification Methods for Renewable Electricity: Guarantees of Origin, PPAs, and Renewable Fuels of Non-biological Origin 435
- 23 The Unique German Smart Metering Approach in Contrast to International Strategies 453
- 24 Real-Time as a Natural System Boundary 473
- 25 Internet of Things (IoT) and Sensor Technology in Electrical Energy Supply Systems 495
- 26 The Perfect Storm: Where the Energy Transition Meets the Digital Transformation 509
- 27 The Dark Side of Digitalization 529
- 28 Artificial Intelligence and Data Efficiency 543
- 29 Aspects of Data Protection and Security in Smart Electronical Systems out of “European Perspective” 565
- 30 Actively Shaping the Digital Transformation Process with Systemic Organizational Development 581
- 31 New IT for the Digital Energy of the Future 609
- 32 Connecting and Digitalizing the Energy Sector with a Dynamic IT Strategy 629
- 33 Information Security and Digitalization at Distribution System Operators 649
- 34 Digital Efficiency – a Powerful Tool! 671
- 35 Asset Management in the Energy Transition: Requirements and Technologies 695
- 36 Power Shortage Situation 715
- 37 Blackout: The European Electricity Supply System in Transition 733
- 38 Everyday Life Without Electricity in the Household Customer Sector 781
- 39 Technical Requirements and Implications of Functioning Sector Coupling 791
- 40 Transition from Planning to Implementation of District Projects with Sector Coupling 819
- 41 Green Hydrogen Potentials for the Power Sector in Germany 831
- 42 Electricity is Easy, Fuels are Hard: Lessons from the Maritime Industry 843
- 43 Project example “pebbles” 867
- 44 New Digital Technologies Find Their Way into the Grid Sector 889
- 45 Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG), and Digitalization in the Commercial Real Estate Industry 909
- 46 Scenarios for Training and Continuing Education 923
- 47 Electricity Market and Electricity System Transformation: North American Perspective 943
- Index 953
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- List of Contributing Authors V
- Foreword by Professor Andris Piebalgs, Former EU Commissioner for Energy XI
- Foreword by Dr. Peter Körte, Chief Technology Officer & Chief Strategy Officer at Siemens AG XV
- Preface of the Editors XIX
- Contents XXV
- Abbreviations XXXI
- Frequently Used Metric Prefixes and Physical Quantities XLV
- 1 History and Current Challenges of Electrical Power Supply Systems 1
- 2 General Technical Aspects of the Electrical Power System: A Case Study of the German Power System in Transition 37
- 3 Power Sector Transformation: An Indian Perspective 53
- 4 Major Non-technical Questions of Today’s Energy Supply: Between Energy Policy and Regulation 95
- 5 Scenarios for the Energy System 111
- 6 How Europe Regulates the Internal Energy Market 127
- 7 Requirements for the Reliability of Energy System Planning 137
- 8 Currents of Change: Electrification for a Greener Future 151
- 9 Understanding the Levelized Cost of Energy 167
- 10 Influence of CO2 Targets on Energy Planning: Optimal Energy Supply from a Climate Perspective 185
- 11 Energy Planning With a Special Focus on Hard-To-Abate Sectors and Decarbonization 203
- 12 Energy Storage Technologies in Support of the Energy Transition and Climate Neutrality 235
- 13 Electrical Supply Infrastructure Under Transformation 249
- 14 Innovation (Not Only) in the Grid Sector: Market and Regulation Also Require Reinvention 275
- 15 Challenges of Today’s Energy Distribution 303
- 16 Resilience: Considering Disruptive Events in the Energy Planning of Buildings and Neighborhoods 335
- 17 Siemens Princeton Resilient Campus: Defining the Future of Energy with a Sustainable and Reliable Microgrid 351
- 18 Introduction to Energy Trading and the Role of Energy Exchanges 361
- 19 The Role of Power Exchanges (PX) in the Energy Transition: Between Cross-Border and Local Trading 375
- 20 Energy Markets, Grids and Flexibility: A Future Market Design for a Decarbonized Energy System 395
- 21 Local Trading Within Energy Communities 419
- 22 Verification Methods for Renewable Electricity: Guarantees of Origin, PPAs, and Renewable Fuels of Non-biological Origin 435
- 23 The Unique German Smart Metering Approach in Contrast to International Strategies 453
- 24 Real-Time as a Natural System Boundary 473
- 25 Internet of Things (IoT) and Sensor Technology in Electrical Energy Supply Systems 495
- 26 The Perfect Storm: Where the Energy Transition Meets the Digital Transformation 509
- 27 The Dark Side of Digitalization 529
- 28 Artificial Intelligence and Data Efficiency 543
- 29 Aspects of Data Protection and Security in Smart Electronical Systems out of “European Perspective” 565
- 30 Actively Shaping the Digital Transformation Process with Systemic Organizational Development 581
- 31 New IT for the Digital Energy of the Future 609
- 32 Connecting and Digitalizing the Energy Sector with a Dynamic IT Strategy 629
- 33 Information Security and Digitalization at Distribution System Operators 649
- 34 Digital Efficiency – a Powerful Tool! 671
- 35 Asset Management in the Energy Transition: Requirements and Technologies 695
- 36 Power Shortage Situation 715
- 37 Blackout: The European Electricity Supply System in Transition 733
- 38 Everyday Life Without Electricity in the Household Customer Sector 781
- 39 Technical Requirements and Implications of Functioning Sector Coupling 791
- 40 Transition from Planning to Implementation of District Projects with Sector Coupling 819
- 41 Green Hydrogen Potentials for the Power Sector in Germany 831
- 42 Electricity is Easy, Fuels are Hard: Lessons from the Maritime Industry 843
- 43 Project example “pebbles” 867
- 44 New Digital Technologies Find Their Way into the Grid Sector 889
- 45 Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG), and Digitalization in the Commercial Real Estate Industry 909
- 46 Scenarios for Training and Continuing Education 923
- 47 Electricity Market and Electricity System Transformation: North American Perspective 943
- Index 953
