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Summary for Policy Makers
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- By Thomas B. Johansson, Lund University, Nebojsa Nakicenovic, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and Vienna University of Technology, Anand Patwardhan, Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay), Luis Gomez-Echeverri, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Rangan Banerjee, Indian Institute of Technology, Sally M. Benson, Stanford University, Daniel H. Bouille, Bariloche Foundation, Abeeku Brew-Hammond, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Aleh Cherp, Central European University, Suani T. Coelho, National Reference Center on Biomass, University of São Paulo, Lisa Emberson, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, Maria Josefina Figueroa, Technical University, Arnulf Grubler, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria and Yale University, Kebin He, Tsinghua University, Mark Jaccard, Simon Fraser University, Suzana Kahn Ribeiro, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Stephen Karekezi, AFREPREN/FWD, Eric D. Larson, Princeton University and Climate Central, Zheng Li, Tsinghua University, Susan McDade, United Nations Development Programme), Lynn K. Mytelka, United Nations University-MERIT, Shonali Pachauri, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Keywan Riahi, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Johan Rockström, Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm University, Hans-Holger Rogner, International Atomic Energy Agency, Joyashree Roy, Jadavpur University, Robert N. Schock, World Energy Council, UK and Center for Global Security Research, Ralph Sims, Massey University, Kirk R. Smith, University of California, Wim C. Turkenburg, Utrecht University, Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Central European University, Frank von Hippel, Princeton University, Kurt Yeager, Electric Power Research Institute and Galvin Electricity Initiative
- Global Energy Assessment Writing Team
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- Book:
- Global Energy Assessment
- Published online:
- 05 September 2012
- Print publication:
- 27 August 2012, pp 3-30
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Summary
Introduction
Energy is essential for human development and energy systems are a crucial entry point for addressing the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century, including sustainable economic and social development, poverty eradication, adequate food production and food security, health for all, climate protection, conservation of ecosystems, peace and security. Yet, more than a decade into the 21st century, current energy systems do not meet these challenges.
A major transformation is therefore required to address these challenges and to avoid potentially catastrophic future consequences for human and planetary systems. The Global Energy Assessment (GEA) demonstrates that energy system change is the key for addressing and resolving these challenges. The GEA identifies strategies that could help resolve the multiple challenges simultaneously and bring multiple benefits. Their successful implementation requires determined, sustained and immediate action.
Transformative change in the energy system may not be internally generated; due to institutional inertia, incumbency and lack of capacity and agility of existing organizations to respond effectively to changing conditions. In such situations clear and consistent external policy signals may be required to initiate and sustain the transformative change needed to meet the sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
The industrial revolution catapulted humanity onto an explosive development path, whereby, reliance on muscle power and traditional biomass was replaced mostly by fossil fuels. In 2005, some 78% of global energy was based on fossil energy sources that provided abundant and ever cheaper energy services to more than half the people in the world.
Chapter 15 - Energy Supply Systems
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- By Robert N. Schock, World Energy Council, UK and Center for Global Security Research, Ralph Sims, Massey University, Stan Bull, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Hans Larsen, Technical University, Vladimir Likhachev, Russian Academy of Sciences, Koji Nagano, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Hans Nilsson, FourFact, Seppo Vuori, VTT Technical Research Centre, Kurt Yeager, Electric Power Research Institute and Galvin Electricity Initiative, Li Zhou, Tsinghua University, Xiliang Zhang, Tsinghua University, John Weyant, Stanford University
- Global Energy Assessment Writing Team
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- Book:
- Global Energy Assessment
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- 05 September 2012
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- 27 August 2012, pp 1131-1172
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Summary
Executive Summary
A sustainable future depends on more efficient use of the Earth's abundant energy resources in order to meet the rapidly increasing demand for energy services as well as to provide broader access to everyone. In 2005 the overall efficiency of the energy system from primary energy to useful energy was only about 34%. Owing to diverse geographic inequities in both sources and people, supply cannot always meet the demand where needed. Energy pathways from source through conversion, transmission, storage, and distribution to end-users are complicated and presently consist of numerous discrete pathways that differ widely for each energy source and carrier. These include solid fuels, liquid fuels, gaseous fuels (including hydrogen), electricity and heat. Aging equipment, congested networks, and extreme demands complicate this picture in many countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Development of new infrastructure in both non-OECD and OECD countries will lock-in future dependence on conventional or non-conventional energy sources. This chapter aims to assist decision-makers by providing up-todate knowledge on the full range of energy pathways, their management, and operation. Energy systems to achieve a sustainable future should be made much more flexible in order to deal with societal needs and the probable deployment of technologies not yet commercially available (such as smart appliances, electric vehicles, fuel cells, and carbon capture and storage). Technology and policy solutions are available for supporting more energy for sustainable development, but in order to meet the transition necessary to avoid unacceptable events such as social unrest and/or climate change driven temperature rise, they should be put in place rapidly, and done in concert with each other.
Chapter 24 - Policies for the Energy Technology Innovation System (ETIS)
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- By Arnulf Grubler, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria and Yale University, Francisco Aguayo, El Colegio de México, Kelly Gallagher, Tufts University, Marko Hekkert, Utrecht University, Kejun Jiang, Energy Research Institute, Lynn Mytelka, United Nations University-MERIT, Lena Neij, Lund University, Gregory Nemet, University of Wisconsin, Charlie Wilson, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Per Dannemand Andersen, Technical University of Denmark, Leon Clarke, University of Maryland, Laura Diaz Anadon, Harvard University, Sabine Fuss, International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis, Martin Jakob, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Daniel Kammen, University of California, Ruud Kempener, Harvard University, Osamu Kimura, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Bernadette Kiss, Lund University, Anastasia O'Rourke, Big Room Inc., Robert N. Schock, World Energy Council, UK and Center for Global Security Research, Paulo Teixeira de Sousa, Jr., Federal University Mato Grosso, Leena Srivastava, The Energy and Resources Institute
- Global Energy Assessment Writing Team
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- Global Energy Assessment
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- 05 September 2012
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- 27 August 2012, pp 1665-1744
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Summary
Executive Summary
Innovation and technological change are integral to the energy system transformations described in the Global Energy Assessment (GEA) pathways. Energy technology innovations range from incremental improvements to radical breakthroughs and from technologies and infrastructure to social institutions and individual behaviors. This Executive Summary synthesizes the main policy-relevant findings of Chapter 24. Specific positive policy examples or key takehome messages are highlighted in italics.
The innovation process involves many stages – from research through to incubation, demonstration, (niche) market creation, and ultimately, widespread diffusion. Feedbacks between these stages influence progress and likely success, yet innovation outcomes are unavoidably uncertain. Innovations do not happen in isolation; interdependence and complexity are the rule under an increasingly globalized innovation system. Any emphasis on particular technologies or parts of the energy system, or technology policy that emphasizes only particular innovation stages or processes (e.g., an exclusive focus on energy supply from renewables, or an exclusive focus on Research and Development [R&D], or feed-in tariffs) is inadequate given the magnitude and multitude of challenges represented by the GEA objectives.
A first, even if incomplete, assessment of the entire global resource mobilization (investments) in both energy supply and demand-side technologies and across different innovation stages suggests current annual Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) investments of some US$50 billion, market formation investments (which rely on directed public policy support) of some US$150 billion, and an estimated US$1 trillion to US$5 trillion investments in mature energy supply and end-use technologies (technology diffusion).
Technical Summary
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- By Thomas B. Johansson, Lund University, Nebojsa Nakicenovic, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and Vienna University of Technology, Anand Patwardhan, Indian Institute of Technology, Luis Gomez-Echeverri, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Doug J. Arent, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Rangan Banerjee, Indian Institute of Technology, Sally M. Benson, Stanford University, Daniel H. Bouille, Bariloche Foundation, Abeeku Brew-Hammond, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Aleh Cherp, Central European University, Suani T. Coelho, National Reference Center on Biomass, University of São Paulo, Lisa Emberson, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, Maria Josefina Figueroa, Technical University, Arnulf Grubler, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria and Yale University, Kebin He, Tsinghua University, Mark Jaccard, Simon Fraser University, Suzana Kahn Ribeiro, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Stephen Karekezi, AFREPREN/FWD, Eric D. Larson, Princeton University and Climate Central, Zheng Li, Tsinghua University, Susan McDade, United Nations Development Programme, Lynn K. Mytelka, United Nations University-MERIT, Shonali Pachauri, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Keywan Riahi, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Johan Rockström, Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm University, Hans-Holger Rogner, International Atomic Energy Agency, Joyashree Roy, Jadavpur University, Robert N. Schock, World Energy Council, UK and Center for Global Security Research, Ralph Sims, Massey University, Kirk R. Smith, University of California, Wim C. Turkenburg, Utrecht University, Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Central European University, Frank von Hippel, Princeton University, Kurt Yeager, Electric Power Research Institute and Galvin Electricity Initiative
- Global Energy Assessment Writing Team
-
- Book:
- Global Energy Assessment
- Published online:
- 05 September 2012
- Print publication:
- 27 August 2012, pp 31-94
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Summary
Introduction
Energy is essential for human development and energy systems are a crucial entry point for addressing the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century, including sustainable economic, and social development, poverty eradication, adequate food production and food security, health for all, climate protection, conservation of ecosystems, peace, and security. Yet, more than a decade into the 21st century, current energy systems do not meet these challenges.
In this context, two considerations are important. The first is the capacity and agility of the players within the energy system to seize opportunities in response to these challenges. The second is the response capacity of the energy system itself, as the investments are long-term and tend to follow standard financial patterns, mainly avoiding risks and price instabilities. This traditional approach does not embrace the transformation needed to respond properly to the economic, environmental, and social sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
A major transformation is required to address these challenges and to avoid potentially catastrophic consequences for human and planetary systems. The GEA identifies strategies that could help resolve the multiple challenges simultaneously and bring multiple benefits. Their successful implementation requires determined, sustained, and immediate action.
The industrial revolution catapulted humanity onto an explosive development path, whereby reliance on muscle power and traditional biomass was replaced mostly by fossil fuels. In 2005, approximately 78% of global energy was based on fossil energy sources that provided abundant and ever cheaper energy services to more than half the world's population.
Thermoelectric Generators Made with Novel Lead Telluride Based Materials
- Chun-I Wu, Steven N Girard, Joseph Sootsman, Edward Timm, Jennifer Ni, Robert Schmidt, Mercouri Kanatzidis, Harold Schock, Eldon D. Case, Duck Young Chung, Timothy Hogan
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- Journal:
- MRS Online Proceedings Library Archive / Volume 1218 / 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 31 January 2011, 1218-Z02-11
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- 2009
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For the material (Pb0.95Sn0.05Te)1-x(PbS)x nanostructuring from nucleation and growth and spinodal decomposition were reported to enhance the thermoelectric figure of merit over bulk PbTe, producing ZT of 1.1 - 1.4 at 650 K for x = 0.08[1]. Thermoelectric modules made from (Pb0.95Sn0.05Te)1-x(PbS)x materials with various hot-side metal electrodes were fabricated and tested. Short circuit current was measured on unicouples of Pb0.95Sn0.05Te – PbS 8% (n-type) legs and Ag0.9Pb9Sn9Sb0.6Te20 (p-type) legs over 10 (A) for a hot side temperature of 870K, and a cold side of 300K. Hot pressed (Pb0.95Sn0.05Te)1-x(PbS)x materials were also investigated for module fabrication. Investigations of the electrical properties of hot-pressed (Pb0.95Sn0.05Te)1-x(PbS)x materials are presented along with the latest advancements in the fabrication and characteristics of modules based on the processing of these materials.
Post-Deposition Sulfur Incorporation into CuInSe2 Thin Films
- Jochen Titus, Hans-Werner Schock, Robert W. Birkmire, William N. Shafarman, Udai P. Singh
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- Journal:
- MRS Online Proceedings Library Archive / Volume 668 / 2001
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 March 2011, H1.5
- Print publication:
- 2001
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The effect of initial film composition and substrate in the sulfurization of CuInSe2 was investigated. CuInSe2 films deposited on either soda-lime glass (SL) or Corning 7059® borosilicate glass (7059) substrates were reacted in flowing H2S for times from 1 to 8 hours. Films with Cu-rich composition, Cu/In > 1, reacted for 1 hour had nearly all the Se replaced by S. For Cu-poor films the incorporation of S was significantly reduced. In addition, in Cu-poor films on SL glass CuInS2 and NaInS2 were found at the film surface. These phases were not detected in films on 7059 substrates or in Cu-rich films. A phenomenological model is proposed to explain the formation of segregated surface phases in Cu-poor films on SL substrates.