Ian J. Potter Ph.D

Director, Sustainable Energy Futures

MAKING THE CIRCLE STRONGERAPEGGA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

APRIL 22 - 24, 2004EDMONTON, ALBERTA

Overview of Greenhouse Gas Opportunities

Most of the demand will be met by oil, natural gas and coal

Situational Analysis

Ref: IEA, World Energy Outlook:2002

Atmosphere

GHG = POPGDP

POP

BTU

GDP

GHG

BTU- GHG x xx

Population

Standard of Living

Energy Intensity

GHG Intensity

GHG Sequestered

GHG Management (after Kaya 1989)

Mitigation Responses

• Improve energy efficiency• Fuel switching• Decarbonization of fossil fuels• Removal, recovery and disposal of CO2

• Utilization of CO2

• Use of non-fossil energy sources• Reforestation• Utilization of biomass energy• Geoengineering

Improve Energy Efficiency

PrimaryEnergy

TransformationTransportation

Distribution

SecondaryEnergy

Utilization Device

or System

FinalUsefulEnergy

Losses Losses

CoalCrude OilNatural GasNuclearHydroBiomassEtc.

Power StationRefineryCoke OvenCoal GasificationCoal Liquefaction

ElectricityOil ProductsNatural GasCokeEtc.

BurnerElectrical MotorAutomobileEtc.

Space HeatProcess HeatMech. EnergyEtc.

Improve Energy Efficiency

• Technology Improvement– Operation and control– Materials– Economics– Government Policy

– Application flexibility– R&D Investment– Market Pull

System Present Achievable Theoretical Coal Steam Boiler 70 80 100

Gasification, Combined Cycle

42 60 70

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell

45 55 94

Improve Energy Efficiency• Residential and Commercial Sector

– Space Heating – building design– Water heating – heat pump, efficient burners

• Industry Sector– Waste heat recuperation– Process flow optimization

• Transportation– District transport– Advanced conversion systems – hybrid engines

• Electricity Generation from Fossil Fuel– Fuel cells– Cogeneration

Conventional vs Cogeneration

Electrical Power40 Units

Heat40.2 Units

Input Energy= 100 Units

Thermal Efficiency = 40%

Efficiency of Waste Heat Recovery = 67%

Thermal Efficiency = 38%

Boiler Efficiency = 82%

Input Energy= 49 Units

Input Energy= 105.3 Units

Cogen(Diesel)

Boiler

PowerStation

Conventional SystemTotal Energy Input = 154.3 Units

Cogeneration SystemTotal Energy Input = 100 Units

Fuel Switching

• Substitution of a lower carbon fuel– Natural gas for coal

• Availability of energy resources– Energy costs– Technology receptors– Resource Industry impact by switching

What Might Reshape Our Energy Future?

• A sustainable energy system based on

– Hydrogen that is affordable, domestically produced from diverse sources, and safely stored, dispensed and used

Fuel Cells Are Like Batteries That You Supply Fuel To As Needed

Electricity

Pure Water

A fuel cell converts the chemical energy in hydrogen to electricity and water

Hydrogen

Oxygen from air

Potential for Hydrogen?

Courtesy Eddy Isaacs

Potential for Hydrogen?

Coal Fired Power

Decarbonization of Fossil Fuels• In strictest sense:

– The removal of carbon from fossil fuels prior to combustion

• But really, the use of fossil fuels with the avoidance of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere:– Process the fossil fuel prior to combustion, removing

carbon, leave hydrogen– Convert the fossil fuel to a hydrogen rich fuel while

producing, recovering and sequestering CO2 prior to combustion.

– Also, the capture, recovery and sequestering of CO2 after combustion.

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Power Generation

Oxygen

Best potential for commercial production of clean powerWith near zero emissions within the next 5 to 10 years

CoalSlurry

Slag

Sour Shift

Acid Gas Removal

CombinedCycle Plant

Gas SteamTurbine Turbine

Electricity

Steam

H2

Gasifier

Sulphur CO2

Fuel CellsElectricityHeat

Combustion/Gasification

CO2 forEOR, CBM

Separation/Conversion

MethanolPlant

HydrogenPlant

Clean Power Fuel Cells

AmmoniaPlant

Methane Plant

OlefinsPetrochemicalsClean Gasoline

Hydrogen

SyntheticNatural Gas

Fertilizers

Electricity

cleangas

Low costfeedstocks

CoalHeavyCokeResid

Biomass

FT Synthesis Liquid Fuels

Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)Vision: Add Value to Alberta’s Hydrocarbon Resources

Removal, Recovery, Disposal of CO2

• Carbon dioxide control points:– The atmosphere– The surface waters of the oceans– Stacks of fossil fuel conversion plants

• Source of relatively high CO2 Control Point Minimum Separation Energy

(kWh/lb CO2)

Atmosphere 0.057

Ocean 0.057

Fossil Fuel Combustion Equipment

0.0259 - 0.0179

Removal of CO2

Process CO2 Removal Efficiency (%)

kWhe/lb CO2 Recovered

Amine Absorption/ Stripping Integrated 90 0.11

Oxygen/Coal Fired Plant 100 0.15

Amine Absorption/ Stripping Non-Integrated

90 0.27

Potassium Carbon Absorption/ Stripping 90 0.32

Molecular Sieves 90 0.40

Refrigeration 90 0.40

Seawater absorption 90 0.80

Membrane 90 0.36

Removal of CO2

• Other factors:– Cost– Equipment size– Integration– Environment

• Separation of CO2 is still the largest technology and economic hurdle in utilizing clean energy from fossil fuels

Disposal of CO2

• No indirect benefit:– Ocean disposal– Depleted gas wells– Salt domes– Aquifers– Natural materials

• Indirect benefit:– Enhanced Coalbed

Methane– CO2 Enhanced Oil

Recovery– Natural materials

Courtesy: Stefan Bachu, AGS

Enhanced Coalbed Methane

CO2CO2

CH4

Use of Non-Fossil Energy Sources

• Nuclear

• Solar                                                                                    

?

Use of Non-Fossil Energy Sources

• Wave Power

Use of Non-Fossil Energy Sources

• Offshore Wave Energy– Hose Pump

– Archimedes Wave Swing (AWS)

Use of Non-Fossil Energy Sources• Tidal Energy Installation

europa.eu.int/comm/energy_transport/atlas/htmlu/tidal.html

Utilization of Biomass Energy

• Wood and Wood Wastes• Municipal solid waste:

– Combustion– Landfill gas

• Herbaceous biomass and agricultural residues

• Aquatic biomass• Industrial solid wastes• Sewage methane• Manure methane

Nutrient recovery/ treatment

Aerobic digester/ nutrient

enrichment

Biogas utilization

Reusable water

Organic fertilizer

Energy

Manure

Anaerobic Digester

Liquids

Solids

Biogas

Solid/liquidSeparation

Integrated Manure Utilization System

Growing Power

Can we break the link?

Present:Energy Use Environmental Impacts

Future:

Innovation + Investment = Energy + Technology

• Recent activity focused on incremental technology development to improve energy production methods and systems

Sustainability

Sustainable Development

• 1987- World Commission on Environment and Development, the Brundtland Commission – “development that meets the needs of the present

without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Sustainable Philosophy

AirPollution

GreenhouseGases

Energy Management

Solid Waste Management

Effluent/ Water

Management

Economic and Social

Emissions Philosophy

• It’s not just climate change!!• Air Emissions

– NOx, SOx, Particulate Matter, Ozone, Mercury, Unburnt hydrocarbons, greenhouse gases

• Water Emissions– Quality and Quantity Assurance

• Solid Waste Management – MSW, Ash, Slag, Tailings

• Thermal Management – maximizing energy utilization

• Noise Management

The Core Challenge

Research turns money into knowledge

KnowledgeResearch Innovation

It takes innovation to turn knowledge into money

Summary

• Concern over possible global warming & climate change

• Stimulated research - Action is taking place• Sustainability not just climate change

– Innovation and investment are critical– Technology provides the solutions, but rarely in

the short term

• Partnerships are essential• Governments, Industry and Public open

discussion

Take home message

Solutions to reduce greenhouse and other

emissions will come through technology, and require a

fundamental shift in how we live, work and do business