Post on 21-Feb-2017
transcript
Our Clean Energy Future:Science on the Frontier of the Cleantech
Revolution
Gavin D. J. Harper
Feynman Talk for Charterhouse School17/03/2016
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide DataDirect Measurements
Monthly measurements (Average seasonal cycle removed)Redrawn from: http://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/Data Source: NOAA
Carb
on D
ioxi
de (p
arts
per
mill
ion)
405
400
395
390
385
380
3752005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide DataIndirect Measurements
Indirect Measurements of Carbon DioxideRedrawn from: http://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/Data Source: NOAA
Carb
on D
ioxi
de (p
arts
per
mill
ion)
Thousands of years before today (0= 1950)
Highest Historical CO2 Level
Current
1950
380
340
300
260
220
180
400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
Addressing CO2 Emissions
• Global ambition to limit temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
BUT
• So far, we have seen a 1°C temperature rise.• We need to keep CO2 levels below 450ppm.
• So far, CO2 levels are between 350ppm – 400ppm and rising at a rate of 2ppm annnually.
Decarbonisation Scenarios Post COP21
2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2090 2100
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Carb
on in
tens
ity (t
CO2/
$mGD
P 20
14)
Redrawn from PriceWaterhouseCoopers Low Carbon Economy Index 2015http://pwc.blogs.com/sustainability/2015/12/pwc-cop21-briefing-paris-climate-summit.html
To stay within the 2°C global carbon budget
the decarbonisation rate needs to be 6.3% every
year to 2100.
Average G20 INDCs imply a decarbonisation
rate of 3% per year.
Global carbon intensity fell by an average of 1.3% per year from 2000 to
2014. At this rate the 2°C carbon budget will be spent by 2036.
1.3% - Business as Usual
3% - Paris Targets
6.3% - 2°C a yeartemperature rise
Change In Energy Demand in Selected Regions2014-2040
By 2040, demand in India closes in on the U.S. – even though per capita demand is still 40% below
Oil Discoveries vs. Oil Production
Peak Oil
The Energy Trilemma
Security of Supply
SustainabilityAffordability
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
19741976
19781980
19821984
19861988
19901992
19941996
19982000
2002
US$
equ
ival
ent (
$m) TOTAL NUCLEAR FISSION/FUSION
TOTAL OTHER TECH./RESEARCH
TOTAL POWER & STORAGE TECH.
TOTAL RENEWABLE ENERGY
TOTAL FOSSIL FUELS
TOTAL CONSERVATION
Source: Data reported to the IEA by IEA Member countries
R&D Energy TrendsA most depressing graph, signifying colossal political failure.
But ‘Peak Oil’ might provoke action where climate change does not
A selection of future energy technologies.
FUEL CELLS
Hydrogen & Fuel Cells : Brief Introduction
First demonstrated by Welsh scientist
Sir William Robert Grove in February 1839.
Image Courtesy: PURE Energy Centre
Image Courtesy: PURE Energy Centre
Image Courtesy: PURE Energy Centre
The University of Birmingham was the First UK campus to have it’s own Hydrogen filling station.
Storing Hydrogen in Hydrides
Hydrogen Fuel Cell PoweredCanal Boat
Hydrogen is Stored In HydridesThese cylinders are heavy, but replace the boat’s ballast.
Tubular Fuel Cells at the University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham is
Building a 350W micro Solid Oxide Fuel Cell stack
Which will silently power an Unmanned Autonomous
Vehicle. Providing a high powerdensity in a small compact
package.
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS
Phosphorus AtomUndoped Silicon N-Type Silicon
P-Type Silicon
Dye Sensitised Solar Cells The modern version of a dye solar cell, also known as the Grätzel cell, was originally co-invented in 1988 by Brian O'Regan and Michael Grätzel at UC Berkeley
Dye Sensitised Solar Cells• Simple to make using conventional roll-printing
techniques• This could allow for “continuous” rather than “batch”
production.
• Semi-flexible and semi-transparent which offers a variety of uses not applicable to glass-based systems• Utilises many low cost materials.
• HOWEVER, uses small amounts of platinum and ruthenium which are expensive and have proven very hard to eliminate from the process.
• Challenges with dye stability / degradation mechanisms.• European Photovoltaic Roadmap suggests that these
degradation mechanisms can be overcome and DSC’s will make a significant contribution to the solar generation mix by 2020
Pythagoras Solar Windows
Image from: Pythagoras Solar, www.pythagorassolar.com
Pythagoras Solar Windows
Image from: Pythagoras Solar, www.pythagorassolar.com
Honeycomb Patterned Thin Film Devices
• Honeycomb patterned thin film devices capture some sunlight from PV material deposited in a “honeycomb” pattern, but allow light to pass through the middle of the hexagons.
• The material blends “Fullerenes” (carbon) and semiconductor materials.
Images Brookhaven / Los Alamos National Laboratory
Honeycomb Patterned Thin Film Devices• “The material stays transparent because the polymer
chains pack densely only at the edges of the hexagons, while remaining loosely packed and spread very thin across the centers…The densely packed edges strongly absorb light and may also facilitate conducting electricity…while the centers do not absorb much light and are relatively transparent.”
• “Combining these traits and achieving large-scale patterning could enable a wide range of practical applications”
Lead scientist Mircea Cotlet, Brookhaven’s Center for Functional Nanomaterials
DOING COLD SMARTER
Thermal Energy Storage• Thermal Energy Storage (TES) refers to the family of
technologies that store excess energy in the form of heat and uses the stored heat either directly or indirectly through energy conversion processes when needed.
• TES is based on heating a storage medium so the thermal energy in the system can be used at a later time.
• Our research helps to provide a balance between the energy demand and supply, and utilise waste heat generated in various applications including energy production, conversion processes and in the process industry produced from energy generation or industrial processes.
Highview Power Storage Pilot PlantAt the University of Birmingham
Thank you for your time!