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unfathomable. 18 In short, CCS technology may be somewhat viable as part
of a short-term solution to abate the worst efects of global warming, but in
its current technological manifestation it is far from a responsible solution
to the global GHG emissions management challenge.
1.3 ELECTRICITY AND THE GLOBAL IMPERATIVE
1.3.1 Electricity Generation Technologies
In 2007, electricity generation constituted 37.9% of all primary energy
consumed. As Figure 1.3 illustrates, the role that power generation plays in
total energy demand is expected to progressively increase, eventually reach-
ing nearly 42% of all energy demand by 2030. In short, electricity genera-
tion represents the big piece of the pie when it comes to identifying energy
intensive activities.
Table 1.1 tells a bleak tale about the trajectory of CO 2 emissions
associated with electricity generation: it is the Energy Information
Administration's (USEIA) 2030 global electricity use forecast from 2010
broken down by fuel source. Coal-ired electricity, which is the most CO 2 -
intensive fossil fuel resource, is expected to exhibit the strongest growth
rate of 2.7% per year. Meanwhile, the role of renewable energy technolo-
gies in global electricity generation is expected to continue to be minor.
If the IEA projections hold true, by 2030 electricity generated by wind,
geothermal, solar, and tide and wave technologies will still only constitute
18000
16000
14000
12000
10000
41.9%
8000
41.1%
40.3%
39.6%
6000
4000
37.9%
2000
0
2007
2015
2020
2025
2030
Power Generation
Total Primary Energy Demand
Figure 1.3 . Proportion of Total Primary Energy Demand Attributed to Power Generation
Source : IEA, World Energy Outlook (2010).
 
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