A future where electricity comes mostly from low-carbon sources is not only feasible in terms of material demand, but will significantly reduce air pollution, a study published in the 6 October Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says.
An international team led by Edgar Hertwich and Thomas Gibon from NTNU’s Industrial Ecology Programme have conducted the first-ever global comprehensive life cycle assessment of the long-term, wide-scale implementation of electricity generation from renewable resources.
“This is the first study that has assembled and scaled up the assessment of individual technologies to the whole world and assessed technology implementation to 2050, taking the environmental impacts of production into account,” Hertwich said.
Environmental costs and benefits
The researchers did the study because so little is known about the environmental costs of the widespread global shift to renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar power, and what the effect of this shift might have on material requirements.
“Would the shift to low-carbon energy systems increase or decrease other types of pollution?” the researchers asked.
Previous efforts to answer this question have typically looked at single issues, such as selected pollutants, or the effects on land use or need for raw materials, such as metals. Previous studies have also neglected to look at the interactions between different technologies, the researchers said.
Integrated hybrid life cycle assessment
To address these shortfalls, Hertwich and his colleagues developed an integrated hybrid life cycle assessment model.
The Latest on: Low-carbon electricity
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Low-carbon electricity” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Low-carbon electricity
- Shapiro’s plan for carbon fee a good start, but proceeds must go toward public’s benefit | Letteron March 29, 2024 at 8:12 am
Josh Shapiro’s plan to put a fee on the emissions of carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants is a step in the right direction, provided the money does not go into the Pennsylvania treasury.
- Atomic energy makes its case as power needs growon March 29, 2024 at 5:50 am
Don't call it a comeback — nuclear power has been here for years. Now, atomic energy's prolonged winter in the U.S. energy mix could finally be in for a thaw. Why it matters: Fossil fuels comprise ...
- Boao forum urges global cooperation in energy transitionon March 29, 2024 at 2:40 am
At a sub-forum titled "Low Carbon Energy Transformation" held in Boao on Friday, Huang Yongzhang, president of PetroChina, revealed that China's largest oil and gas producer is actively developing its ...
- South Africa’s new energy plan needs a mix of nuclear, gas, renewables and coal – experton March 29, 2024 at 2:22 am
I believe that the country should select an energy mix of nuclear, gas, renewable and coal. Electricity should, however, be clean, affordable, and reliable. This suggests that the Integrated Resource ...
- Republicans push energy-bill package ‘for the consumer’on March 29, 2024 at 1:06 am
Gov. Josh Shapiro touts his energy plan to boost renewable sources and institute a Pennsylvania carbon tax — and Republicans warn against embracing such a change. Instead, they’re proposing a package ...
- In the new world of EVs and AI, renewable green energy means more gas or coal capacity, not lesson March 28, 2024 at 11:57 pm
It is no secret that the expanding suite of AI technologies are becoming powerful drivers of additional demand for electricity. They are, simply put, enormous energy hogs. This technological ...
- What’s So Green About Burning Trees? The False Promise of Biomass Energyon March 28, 2024 at 10:55 pm
Renewable energy comes from matter that nature produces and replenishes constantly. The power generated through this source does not significantly ...
- UK could force oil, gas platform companies to convert rigs to green energy or face shut down: reportson March 28, 2024 at 3:23 pm
Oil and gas rig companies operating in the waters off the UK in the North Sea could face being shut down if they do not convert platforms to green electricity or low-carbon energy.
- Citi says 42% of energy clients unprepared for low-carbon futureon March 28, 2024 at 8:29 am
Citigroup Inc. said 42% of its clients in the energy sector don’t have a “substantive plan” for aligning their emissions with a net zero pathway or are “unlikely to transition” at all.
- Low-carbon cement factory nabs Energy Department fundson March 28, 2024 at 8:06 am
Sublime Systems will build the new plant in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Somerville, Massachusetts-headquartered Sublime’s first commercial facility will open in early 2026, per the release, and will ...
via Bing News