Energy policy and global warming: Difference between revisions

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{{Image|WorldElectricPower2021.png|right|350px|Fig.1 World electric power consumption in 2021 was 3030 GW. This may soon double, including many coal plants in the developing world.}}
{{Image|WorldElectricPower2021.png|left|350px|Fig.1 World electric power consumption in 2021 was 3030 GW. This may soon double, including many coal plants in the developing world.}}
{{Image|Electrified World Power Flow.png|right|350px|Fig.2 Electric power generation is only a third of our CO2 problem. A zero-carbon future should include process heat for industry and fuels for transportation.}}
{{Image|Electrified World Power Flow.png|right|350px|Fig.2 Electric power generation is only a third of our CO2 problem. A zero-carbon future should include process heat for industry and fuels for transportation.}}
{{Image|Large grids low carbon.png|left|350px|Fig.3 Success in reducing CO2 requires abundant, clean, reliable power.}}
{{Image|Large grids low carbon.png|left|350px|Fig.3 Success in reducing CO2 requires abundant, clean, reliable power.}}
{{Image|Electrify1Basics.022.png|right|350px|Fig.4 Wind and solar as the only solution will require unrealistic commitments of land and resources and a new storage technology far less expensive than today's batteries.}}
{{Image|Germany France CO2.png|right|350px|Fig.4 Wind and solar alone are not enough.}}
{{Image|Germany France CO2.png|right|350px|Fig.5 Wind and solar alone are not enough.}}
{{Image|Electrify1Basics.022.png|left|350px|Fig.5 Wind and solar as the only solution will require unrealistic commitments of land and resources and a new storage technology far less expensive than today's batteries.}}
{{Image|ThorCon Plant.png|left|350px|Fig.6 Two ThorCons will generate 1 GW day or night. The can ship takes away spent fuel and used reactors for recycling.}}
{{Image|ThorCon Plant.png|right|350px|Fig.6 One GW of nuclear power can be small, safe, and clean. Recycling fuel and used reactors can be done at a central secure location.}}
{{Image|Countries CO2 targets.jpg|left|350px|Fig.7 Time is short, and build rate is critical to meet our goals.}}
{{Image|Countries CO2 targets.jpg|left|350px|Fig.7 Time is short, and build rate is critical to meeting our goals.}}
{{Image|Low-carbon-share-energy.png|left|350px|Fig.8 Few countries are now on track.}}
{{Image|Low-carbon-share-energy.png|right|350px|Fig.8 Few countries are now on track.}}
{{Image|SMR temperature.png|left|350px|Fig.9 Decarbonizing industry will require vast amounts of process heat, either directly from a nuclear reactor, or using hydrogen as an intermediary.}}
{{Image|SMR temperature.png|left|350px|Fig.9 Decarbonizing industry will require vast amounts of process heat, either directly from a nuclear reactor, or using hydrogen as an intermediary.}}
National energy policies have had a profound effect on success in reducing CO2 emissions. Some countries have made substantial progress in meeting the goals they have agreed to. Very few are moving fast enough to limit global warming to 2 degrees C. This article is a brief review of the options for decarbonizing our world.
National energy policies have had a profound effect on success in reducing CO2 emissions. Some countries have made substantial progress in meeting the goals they have agreed to. Very few are moving fast enough to limit global warming to 2 degrees C. This article is a brief review of the options for decarbonizing our world.

Revision as of 12:46, 29 May 2022

This article is a stub and thus not approved.
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https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=Energy_policy_and_global_warming&printable=yes
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See also: Nuclear_power_reconsidered
Fig.1 World electric power consumption in 2021 was 3030 GW. This may soon double, including many coal plants in the developing world.
Fig.2 Electric power generation is only a third of our CO2 problem. A zero-carbon future should include process heat for industry and fuels for transportation.
Fig.3 Success in reducing CO2 requires abundant, clean, reliable power.
Fig.4 Wind and solar alone are not enough.
Fig.5 Wind and solar as the only solution will require unrealistic commitments of land and resources and a new storage technology far less expensive than today's batteries.
(CC) Image: ThorCon
Fig.6 One GW of nuclear power can be small, safe, and clean. Recycling fuel and used reactors can be done at a central secure location.
Fig.7 Time is short, and build rate is critical to meeting our goals.
File:Low-carbon-share-energy.png
Fig.8 Few countries are now on track.
Fig.9 Decarbonizing industry will require vast amounts of process heat, either directly from a nuclear reactor, or using hydrogen as an intermediary.

National energy policies have had a profound effect on success in reducing CO2 emissions. Some countries have made substantial progress in meeting the goals they have agreed to. Very few are moving fast enough to limit global warming to 2 degrees C. This article is a brief review of the options for decarbonizing our world.

Further Reading

Electrifying Our World Robert Hargraves' excellent overview of energy, the growth human civilization, and possible solutions to the current climate crisis.
Our World in Data has a section on Energy and Environment with nice interactive graphics.
World Nuclear Information Library a well-organized authoritative collection of information on nuclear power.

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