Reducing the Energy Carbon Content - Energy and Climate: How to Achieve a Successful Energy Transition - page 86

By using a thermal engine which can run on a biofuel such as
ethanol produced from lignocellulosic biomass, the dependence on
oil and the CO 2 emissions can be reduced even further [74].

- In electricity production , the future electricity grid will be able to

optimise the use of various types of centralised or decentralised
generators, associated with variable capacity storage systems.

A global electricity distribution network could eventuallymanage various
types of production system (centralised or decentralised, intermittent or
continuous) as well as various types of demand (concentrated or dis-
persed, continuous or intermittent). It must be equipped with energy
storage devices offering sufficient flexibility as well as protection systems
to improve the network stability, such as FACTS (flexible alternative
transmission systems), which include, in particular, systems whose reac-
tance is controlled according to the state of the network [75].
A global network such as this has been compared with the Internet and
the term 'Electranet' coined to emphasise the similarity.
This type of network forms a hybrid system connecting users to
different energy sources.
It represents one of themeans to be implemented to simplify a transition
during which the share of fossil energies will be progressively reduced.
The development of 'smart grids' is one of the promising innovations to
be explored.