Global Climate Change - The Technology Challenge [electronic resource] /
Princiotta, Frank.editor.
In order to avoid the potentially catastrophic impacts of global warming, the current 3% CO2 global emission growth rate must be transformed to a 1 to 3% declining rate, as soon as possible. This will require a rapid and radical transformation of the world's energy production and end use systems. The current generation of energy technologies are not capable of achieving the level of mitigation required. Next generations of renewable, low carbon generation and end use technologies will be needed. This book quantifies the mitigation challenge. It then considers the status of key technologies needed to protect the planet from serious climate change impact. Current and emerging technologies are characterized for their mitigation potential, status of development and potential environmental impacts. Power generation, mobile sources, industrial and building sectors are evaluated in detail. The importance and unique challenges for rapidly developing countries, such as China and India are discussed. Current global research and development efforts for key technologies are discussed. It is concluded that it will be necessary to substantially upgrade and accelerate the current worldwide RDD&D effort on both emerging energy technologies and those enabling technologies needed to improve mitigation effectiveness and economics. It will also be necessary to carefully evaluate the potential environmental characteristics of next generation technologies to avoid unacceptable health and ecological impacts. Finally, given the monumental technological challenge associated with transforming the world's energy system, geoengineering options are evaluated, since if successfully deployed, they have the potential to allow more time for the necessary energy system transformation. 'This book on Climate Change not only gives a clear picture of the problem but suggests many of the pitfalls in solving it and recommends strongly, a research program to fill the gaps in our knowledge. It is a most useful reference book for all aspects of the problem.' William D. Ruckelshaus, Madrona Venture Group/Evergreen Venture.
Description based upon print version of record.
Global Climate Change -The Technology Challenge; Preface; Contents; Contributors; Chapter 1: Global Climate Change and the Mitigation Challenge*; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 Climate Change and Other Global Environmental Impacts: The Sustainability Challenge; 1.3 Anthropogenic Drivers of CO2 Emissions; 1.4 What Levels of Warming Are Projected: What Are the Uncertainties?; 1.5 Achievable Mitigation Levels; 1.6 The Mitigation Challenge: Which Sectors and Gases Are Most Important?; 1.7 The Mitigation Challenge: What Can be Done and What Role Can Energy Technology Play?
1.8 What Are the Challenges of Early and Deep CO2 Reductions?1.9 Power Generation Sector; 1.10 Building Sector; 1.11 Transportation Sector; 1.12 Industrial Sector; 1.13 Geoengineering Options; 1.14 RD&D; 1.15 Summary and Conclusions; References; Chapter 2: Coal and Coal/Biomass-Based Power Generation; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Power Generating Technologies; 2.2.1 Air-Blown Pulverized Coal (PC); 2.2.1.1 Without CO2 Capture; 2.2.1.2 With CO2 Capture; 2.2.2 Oxygen-Blown Power Generation; 2.2.2.1 Oxy-Fuel PC Combustion; 2.2.3 IGCC; 2.2.3.1 Without CO2 Capture; 2.2.3.2 With CO2 Capture
2.3 Performance and Cost Summary2.3.1 Cost; 2.3.2 Cleaning-up Coal; 2.3.3 Biomass, and Coal Plus Biomass to Power; 2.3.3.1 Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass; 2.3.3.2 Power Generation; 2.3.4 CCS Carbon Chain; 2.4 A Forward View; 2.4.1 Retrofitting Existing Plants; 2.4.2 Electricity and CO2 Avoided Costs; References; Chapter 3: Coal and Biomass to Liquid Fuels; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Indirect Routes to Liquid Fuels; 3.2.1 Gasification; 3.2.2 Liquid Fuels Synthesis; 3.3 Direct Coal Liquefaction; 3.4 Liquid Fuels Production: Cost and Performance; 3.4.1 Coal-to-Liquid Fuels
3.4.2 Biomass to Liquid Fuels3.4.3 Coal plus Biomass to Liquid Fuels; 3.4.4 Other Process Configurations; 3.4.5 Direct Liquefaction of Coal; 3.5 Other Biomass Options; 3.5.1 Ethanol; 3.5.2 Butanol; 3.5.3 Other Bioconversion Options; 3.6 Integration and Interpretation; 3.6.1 Fuel-Focused Costs and Emissions; 3.6.2 Power-Focused Costs and Emissions; 3.6.3 Coal and Biomass Availability; 3.6.4 A Way Forward; References; Chapter 4: The Role of Nuclear Power in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions*; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Nuclear Energy Basics; 4.3 Power Reactor Basics
4.3.1 Spent Fuel Disposal and Reprocessing4.3.2 Breeding; 4.4 Issues Affecting the Growth of Nuclear Power; 4.4.1 Reactor Safety; 4.4.2 Waste Disposal; 4.4.3 Cost; 4.4.4 Proliferation Concerns; 4.5 Factors Favoring Increased Use of Nuclear Power; 4.5.1 Nuclear Power's Carbon Footprint; 4.5.2 The Prospects for New Nuclear Power; 4.5.3 Actions Needed to Expand Nuclear Power's Role; 4.6 The Effect of New Nuclear Generation on Greenhouse Gas Emissions; 4.7 Use of Nuclear with Renewables; 4.8 Factors Affecting Feasibility of Increased Nuclear Generation; 4.8.1 Cost of New Nuclear Generation
4.8.2 Loan Guarantees
Includes bibliographical references and index.
In order to avoid the potentially catastrophic impacts of global warming, the current 3% CO2 global emission growth rate must be transformed to a 1 to 3% declining rate, as soon as possible. This will require a rapid and radical transformation of the world's energy production and end use systems. The current generation of energy technologies are not capable of achieving the level of mitigation required. Next generations of renewable, low carbon generation and end use technologies will be needed. This book quantifies the mitigation challenge. It then considers the status of key technologies needed to protect the planet from serious climate change impact. Current and emerging technologies are characterized for their mitigation potential, status of development and potential environmental impacts. Power generation, mobile sources, industrial and building sectors are evaluated in detail. The importance and unique challenges for rapidly developing countries, such as China and India are discussed. Current global research and development efforts for key technologies are discussed. It is concluded that it will be necessary to substantially upgrade and accelerate the current worldwide RDD&D effort on both emerging energy technologies and those enabling technologies needed to improve mitigation effectiveness and economics. It will also be necessary to carefully evaluate the potential environmental characteristics of next generation technologies to avoid unacceptable health and ecological impacts. Finally, given the monumental technological challenge associated with transforming the world's energy system, geoengineering options are evaluated, since if successfully deployed, they have the potential to allow more time for the necessary energy system transformation. 'This book on Climate Change not only gives a clear picture of the problem but suggests many of the pitfalls in solving it and recommends strongly, a research program to fill the gaps in our knowledge. It is a most useful reference book for all aspects of the problem.' William D. Ruckelshaus, Madrona Venture Group/Evergreen Venture.
Energy systems.
Climate change.
Renewable energy resources.
Nuclear energy.
Sustainable development.
Energy Systems.
Climate Change Management and Policy.
Renewable and Green Energy.
Nuclear Energy.
Sustainable Development.
Advances in Global Change Research