Perspectives of the Energy Turnaround

Our modern industrial society is facing serious challenges arising from the world’s growing need for energy and the predicted climate change. Energy supply as the biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions will have to undergo a radical transition towards sustainability over the next few decades.

If global warming is to remain below 2 °C with respect to pre-industrial times, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 has to be limited. Since the power sector is responsible for a relatively large portion of total greenhouse gas emissions, special attention should be given to its decarbonization. Thus, fossil fuels must be substituted by low or zero emission renewable energy carriers. These include biomass and hydro power, with solar and wind power as the leading energy sources of the future. As biomass is facing issues with conflicting land use and big hydro power projects are often met with resistance within the population, the long-term growth potentials of these technologies remain limited. Wind and solar energy plants on the other hand can be erected with fewer restrictions wherever the conditions are favorable. The amount of energy supplied by 100 % renewables can fluctuate widely.
In a so-called "electricity-based" infrastructure, large-scale facilities for conversion and storage of excess energy have to be implemented in order to ensure a reliable energy supply. Hydrogen from the electrolysis of water and carbon dioxide from industrial processes or refined from air can serve as raw materials for the production of hydrocarbons. In addition, this conversion of electricity into chemical energy carriers like methane opens up the possibility of supplying the sectors of mobility, raw-material production and heat with clean energy. While certain modes of transport like individual motor car traffic can easily be electrified, others like heavy duty traffic will still require liquid fuels due to their high energy density. These fuels can be supplied through conversion processes based on regenerative electricity. Similarly, other conversion products can be used as input for raw-material production. 
 



Copyright: © Lehrstuhl für Abfallverwertungstechnik und Abfallwirtschaft der Montanuniversität Leoben
Quelle: Depotech 2012 (November 2012)
Seiten: 8
Preis: € 4,00
Autor: M.Sc. Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Sebastian Egner
Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Krätschmer
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Faulstich
 
 Diesen Fachartikel kaufen...
(nach Kauf erscheint Ihr Warenkorb oben links)
 Artikel weiterempfehlen
 Artikel nach Login kommentieren


Login

ASK - Unser Kooperationspartner
 
 


Unsere content-Partner
zum aktuellen Verzeichnis



Unsere 3 aktuellsten Fachartikel

Klimaresilienter Städtebau
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (12/2023)
Instrumente, Chancen und Hindernisse bei der Klimaanpassungsplanung

Klimawandelbewältigung im Non-ETS Sektor in Deutschland und Österreich
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (12/2023)
Ein neues Rechtsgebiet im Vergleich

Der Schutz der Menschenrechte im Klimawandel vor dem internationalen Gerichtshof
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (12/2023)
Maßnahmen der Staaten, die dem Klimaschutz unzureichend gerecht geworden sein sollen, sind in der Vergangenheit in Verfahren vor Menschenrechtsorganen der UN geltend gemacht worden.1 Mit der Initiative des Inselstaates Vanuatu vom6.12.2022wird erstmals der Versuch gemacht, den Schutz der Menschenrechte im Klimawandel mit Hilfe des IGH weltweit voranzubringen.