Bullet Points: Gigawatt Renewables

Posted Wed, 11/04/2009 - 8:30pm

GIGAWATT RENEWABLES
John Mizroch (Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, at Department of Energy)

  • Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at the Department of Energy (DOE) is aimed at addressing energy security and climate change
  • Current status of energy demand:
    • US spends more on oil imports than on national defense
      • $1.5 billion per day (about $550 billion per year)
      • Buildings in the US use two thirds of electricity (one third of all energy)
  • Why are we in this situation?
    • A combination of incredible worldwide population growth and urbanization
      • Currently, 800 cities over 1 million; 41 mega-cities reaching 10 million
      • This is also reflected in the trends in transportation: 79 million vehicles in the US in 1950; 600 million vehicles in 1990; and 900 million vehicles today
    • Trend in China is particularly alarming:
      • 1990, China did not allow personal vehicles
      • China bought 7 million personal vehicles in 2006 alone and will soon have a total of 200 million
      • India is following suit
      • China spent $600 million this year on alternative fuel and vehicle technology
  • EERE looks at goals in three areas:
    • Power generation
    • Fuels
    • Vehicles and energy efficiency
  • Specific programs at EREE include:
    • Zero houses and buildings (design and technology aimed at generating as much energy as they consume, if not more)10
      • This could improve efficiency in 50% of newly constructed buildings
      • Retrofit homes and buildings are not considered
    • 536 assessments of energy-intensive industrial facilities have identified more than $863 million in energy cost savings
    • Vehicle technologies (batteries):
      • Both lithium ion and nickel medal hydride batteries could drastically reduce fossil fuel consumption. Neither is yet on a mass production scale but Ford, California Edison, and General Motors are testing
    • Cellulosic concentrates on waste and other forms (feed stock, switch grass, etc.)
    • Wind energy industry is mature and ready for development. We need transmission and grid integration
    • US is spending more on bio/cellulose than any other country. Projected capacity to eventually produce 60 billion gallons (1.4 billion barrels)

 

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Gigawatt Renewables