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UNCONVENTIONAL GAS AND THE FUTURE

Explore the potential of unconventional gas as a bridge to sustainable energy and the challenges it presents. Discuss the importance of investing in efficiency and renewable energy for a sustainable energy future. Analyze the impact of unconventional gas on energy systems and the need for a comprehensive approach.

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UNCONVENTIONAL GAS AND THE FUTURE

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  1. UNCONVENTIONAL GAS AND THE FUTURE John H Perkins, PhD Kyiv, Ukraine 26 September 2013

  2. THE BRIDGE IDEA “Natural gas can serve as a bridge fuel to a low-carbon, sustainable energy future.” John Podesta and Timothy Wirth, “Natural Gas—A Bridge Fuel for the 21st Century” August 10, 2009 (http://www.energyfuturecoalition.org/files/webfmuploads/CAP%20EFC%20NG%20Memo%208-08-09.pdf)

  3. The Question • In unconventional gas a bridge to sustainable energy? • Multiple answers: Yes, Maybe, No • My answer • At best: Maybe, but not likely • Most likely: No • To build a sustainable energy future: • Invest in efficiency and renewable energy • Put price on carbon

  4. Framework:“Energy Systems” • Energy: essential • Fossil fuels = 84% • Fuels specialized... • …interchangeable • Expensive facilities • Slow turnover • Change affects all parts of system Northside Generating Station, Florida http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/cfpp/CFPPs/SuccessStories.htm

  5. Ukraine’s Energy System

  6. Ukraine: The Big Problems • Energy insecurity (gas) • Physical • Economic • Political • Climate change • Resource depletion

  7. Ukraine – Russia Gas Dispute, 2009 Source: The Other Russia and the BBC

  8. Ukraine: Climate Change • “In Central and Eastern Europe, summer precipitation is projected to decrease, causing higher water stress. Health risks due to heat waves are projected to increase. Forest productivity is expected to decline and the frequency of peat-land fires to increase.” (IPCC, Working Group II, Climate Change 2007: Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Summary for Policy Makers, p. 12, 2007)

  9. Security and Climate Change • Short term • Supply • Costs • Long term • Climate change Sheffield & Wood, Projected changes in drought occurrence under future global warming from multi-model, multi-scenario, IPCC AR4 simulations, Climate Dynamics 31 (2008): 79 – 105.

  10. New Gas: Questions for Security and Climate • Production costs – Pipeline access – Prices? • And then what? • Replace imported gas or coal for electricity? • Replace nuclear for electricity? • Replace coal for industry? • Expand energy use? • Efficiency investments? • Renewable investments? • Expand exports?

  11. Expand energy use? Replace nuclear for electricity? Interactions with renewable investments? Replace imported gas for electricity? Interactions with efficiency investments? Replace coal for electricity? Expand exports? Replace coal for industry?

  12. Who Decides? • Producing companies? • National government? • Regional or local government? • Private citizens? • With what criteria? • Sales price & profit? • National security? • Climate change?

  13. Ukraine: Wind Resources European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, “Ukraine Country Profile,” 2010

  14. Solar Resources http://solargis.info/doc/_pics/freemaps/1000px/ghi/SolarGIS-Solar-map-Europe-en.png

  15. Conclusions • Think energy systems • Unconventional gas: • May or may not help security • May or may not help climate change • May or may not help sustainability • Energiewende: • Provides best goals (for all countries) • Directs investments in right direction • Provides more manageable impacts • Leaves gas in the ground

  16. Contact Information THANK YOU! John H Perkins, PhD 236 Cambridge Avenue Kensington, CA 94708 perkinsj@evergreen.edu 510-647-9434

  17. World Energy Flows (2007)

  18. UKRAINE: Insecurity (gas), 2010 130.5 MTOE = 5.2 quads Hydro 0.9% Nuclear 17.9% Prepared from: http://www.iea.org/stats/WebGraphs/UKRAINE4.pdf

  19. World Energy Flows (2007) Private companies and state enterprises Competition Communities and jobs Customers and communities dependent on energy services

  20. Ukraine: Solar Resources European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, “Ukraine Country Profile,” 2010

  21. Total World Energy Supply(2008, 492 EJ) IPCC, Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources (2011)

  22. Private companies and state enterprises Competition Communities and jobs Customers and communities dependent on energy services

  23. Ukraine: Climate Change • “. . . rainfed agriculture might indeed face more climate-elated risks, but the overall conditions will probably allow for acceptable yield levels in most seasons. However . . . the risk of extremely unfavourableyears . . . is likely to increase.” (Trnka, M., et al., Is rainfed crop production in central Europe at risk? Using a regional climate model to produce high resolution agroclimatic information for decision makers, Journal of Agricultural Science 148 (2010): 639-656)

  24. ENERGY IS A MESS! • Insecure supplies • Pollution damages health • Habitat disruption • Energy poverty & energy “overabundance” • Injustices • Complicates foreign policies • Pressure on foreign-exchange reserves • UNSUSTAINABLE!

  25. Fixing Energy:A Philosophical Framework • Sustainable energy: provide for today, leave enough for tomorrow • Energy must change and is changing. • The Questions • Which fuels? • Who decides? • Based on what criteria? • At what speed? • Who pays? • Eliminate injustices

  26. From Fuels to Energy:The Big Picture for Ukraine and USA • Total energy on top • Fuels on left • Electricity in center • On right • Energy services • Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Transport • Non-energy use • Discarded energy https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/

  27. Energy Flow Charts(Sankey diagrams) • Riall Sankey • Irish engineer • 1898 • Study of steam engine efficiency • Widely used • Flows of energy & materials • Quantitative data without lots of math • Efficiency and conservation paramount • Decision-making by large group

  28. DRIVERS OF ENERGY CHANGE • Energy insecurity • Uneven geographic distribution • Instability of supply—geopolitical tensions • Poverty • Climate change • CO2 major cause: from fossil fuels • Climate sensitivity to CO2 uncertain • Need high reduction of fossil fuels • 80% reduction of CO2 61% fewer quads

  29. 80 PERCENT CO2 REDUCTIONS (USA)

  30. SOLUTION:ENERGIEWENDE • Avoid fossil fuels, nuclear power • Efficiency: use less energy • Use renewable energy • New lifestyles: use less energy

  31. CRITERIA FOR CHOICES • Technology • Functional • Acceptable (democratic) • Cost effective • Political economy (security) • Health (climate change; pollution) • Environment (climate change; pollution) • Corruption (no!)

  32. CONCLUSIONS • Sustainable energy systems • Efficiency • Solar • Wind • Electrification • Energy-Environment-Economics-Equity • Success = changing Sankey flow chart • Reduce fossil fuels and CO2 • Avoid gas & nuclear • All new investment to renewable energy • Time period: two generations, 50 years

  33. SUCCESS https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/

  34. Time: Think 2 Generations

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