Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and appliances. We must quickly replace the current infrastructures that waste energy in
prodigious quantities at the points of conversion. There is little hope of staying below the
2-degree threshold unless we do so in the next five to ten years (IEA
2012a
). This will
require major investment by governments, private companies and, ultimately, citizens.
According to the IEA, “Energy efficiency is just as important as unconstrained energy
supply, and increased action on efficiency can serve as a unifying energy policy that brings
multiple benefits” (IEA
2012b
). Indeed by 2035, savings can amount to about 20 per cent
of global energy consumption (see
Figure 7.13
) (IEA
2012a
).
Figure 7.13.
Total primary energy demand according to three different IEA scenarios. In
addition to the business-as-usual (baseline) scenario, the IEA has provided a 'New Policy'
scenario that takes account of policy commitments announced by governments but not yet
implemented. The 'Efficient World' scenario shows how growth in energy demand up to
2035 can be limited through improvements in the efficiency of fossil-based technologies.
Source:
IEA 2012a (modified).
Figure 7.14.
The potential for efficiency savings in each of the main energy sectors.
According to the IEA, if the New Policies scenario is followed, by 2035 global industry
will have met 40 per cent of its energy efficiency potential, while four-fifths of the
potential to improve energy efficiency in the residential sector will remain untapped.
Source:
IEA (
2012a
) (modified).
7.9 Switching from Oil to Electricity in Transportation
In the early pages of this topic, we illustrated the problem of energy conversion with the
example of a typical car, which converts only about 10 per cent of the energy contained
in its fuel into motion. Although the internal combustion engine continues to be improved,
its efficiency will always be severely hampered by its reliance on combustion and the
attendant dispersion of energy. For that reason, any leap forward in terms of vehicle
efficiency must involve a departure from the internal combustion engine and a
re-embracing of the electric motor.
