UNCONVENTIONAL GAS AND THE FUTURE John H Perkins, PhD Kyiv, Ukraine 26 September 2013
Dec 16, 2015
UNCONVENTIONAL GAS AND THE FUTURE
John H Perkins, PhD
Kyiv, Ukraine
26 September 2013
THE BRIDGE IDEA
“Natural gas can serve as a bridge fuel to a low-
carbon, sustainable energy future.”
John Podesta and Timothy Wirth, “Natural Gas—A Bridge Fuel for the 21st Century”August 10, 2009
(http://www.energyfuturecoalition.org/files/webfmuploads/CAP%20EFC%20NG%20Memo%208-08-09.pdf)
The Question
In unconventional gas a bridge to sustainable energy?
Multiple answers: Yes, Maybe, No
My answer– At best: Maybe, but not likely– Most likely: No
To build a sustainable energy future:– Invest in efficiency and renewable energy– Put price on carbon
Framework:“Energy Systems”
Energy: essential
Fossil fuels = 84%
Fuels specialized...
…interchangeable
Expensive facilities
Slow turnover
Change affects all parts of system
http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/cfpp/CFPPs/SuccessStories.htm
Northside Generating Station, Florida
Ukraine’s Energy System
Ukraine: The Big Problems
Energy insecurity (gas)– Physical– Economic– Political
Climate change
Resource depletion
Ukraine – Russia Gas Dispute, 2009Source: The Other Russia and the BBC
Ukraine: Climate Change
“In Central and Eastern Europe, summer precipitation is projected to decrease, causing higher water stress. Health risks due to heat waves are projected to increase. Forest productivity is expected to decline and the frequency of peat-land fires to increase.” (IPCC, Working Group II, Climate Change 2007: Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Summary for Policy Makers, p. 12, 2007)
Security and Climate Change
Short term– Supply– Costs
Long term– Climate change
Sheffield & Wood, Projected changes in drought occurrence under future global warming frommulti-model, multi-scenario, IPCC AR4 simulations, Climate Dynamics 31 (2008): 79 – 105.
New Gas: Questions for Security and Climate
Production costs – Pipeline access – Prices?
And then what?– Replace imported gas or coal for electricity?– Replace nuclear for electricity?– Replace coal for industry?– Expand energy use?– Efficiency investments?– Renewable investments?– Expand exports?
Replace coal for
electricity?
Replace nuclear for electricity?
Replace coal for industry?
Expand energy use?
Interactions with efficiency investments?
Interactions with renewable investments?
Expand exports?
Replace imported gas for electricity?
Who Decides?
Producing companies?
National government?
Regional or local government?
Private citizens?
With what criteria?– Sales price & profit?– National security?– Climate change?
Ukraine: Wind Resources
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, “Ukraine Country Profile,” 2010
Solar Resources
http://solargis.info/doc/_pics/freemaps/1000px/ghi/SolarGIS-Solar-map-Europe-en.png
Conclusions
Think energy systems
Unconventional gas:– May or may not help security– May or may not help climate change– May or may not help sustainability
Energiewende:– Provides best goals (for all countries)– Directs investments in right direction– Provides more manageable impacts– Leaves gas in the ground
Contact Information
John H Perkins, PhD236 Cambridge AvenueKensington, CA 94708
THANK YOU!
World Energy Flows (2007)
UKRAINE: Insecurity (gas), 2010
Natural gas
Oil
Coal/peat
Biofuels & waste
Hydro
Nuclear
Gas42.2%
Oil10.1%
Coal & peat27.9%
Biofuels & waste1.1%
Nuclear17.9%
Hydro0.9%
Prepared from: http://www.iea.org/stats/WebGraphs/UKRAINE4.pdf
130.5 MTOE = 5.2 quads
World Energy Flows (2007)
Private companies and
state enterprises
Competition
Communities and jobs
Customers and
communities dependent on energy
services
Ukraine: Solar Resources
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, “Ukraine Country Profile,” 2010
Total World Energy Supply(2008, 492 EJ)
IPCC, Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources (2011)
Private companies and state
enterprises
Competition
Communities and jobs
Customers and
communities dependent on energy
services
Ukraine: Climate Change
“. . . rainfed agriculture might indeed face more climate-elated risks, but the overall conditions will probably allow for acceptable yield levels in most seasons. However . . . the risk of extremely unfavourable years . . . is likely to increase.” (Trnka, M., et al., Is rainfed crop production in central Europe at risk? Using a regional climate model to produce high resolution agroclimatic information for decision makers, Journal of Agricultural Science 148 (2010): 639-656)
ENERGY IS A MESS!
Insecure supplies
Pollution damages health
Habitat disruption
Energy poverty & energy “overabundance”
Injustices
Complicates foreign policies
Pressure on foreign-exchange reserves
UNSUSTAINABLE!
Fixing Energy:A Philosophical Framework
Sustainable energy: provide for today, leave enough for tomorrow
Energy must change and is changing.
The Questions– Which fuels?– Who decides?– Based on what criteria?– At what speed?– Who pays?– Eliminate injustices
From Fuels to Energy:The Big Picture for Ukraine and USA
Total energy on top
Fuels on left
Electricity in center
On right– Energy services
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Transport
Non-energy use
– Discarded energyhttps://flowcharts.llnl.gov/
Energy Flow Charts(Sankey diagrams)
Riall Sankey– Irish engineer– 1898– Study of steam engine efficiency
Widely used– Flows of energy & materials– Quantitative data without lots of math– Efficiency and conservation paramount– Decision-making by large group
DRIVERS OF ENERGY CHANGE
Energy insecurity– Uneven geographic distribution– Instability of supply—geopolitical tensions– Poverty
Climate change– CO2 major cause: from fossil fuels
– Climate sensitivity to CO2 uncertain
– Need high reduction of fossil fuels– 80% reduction of CO2 61% fewer quads
80 PERCENT CO2 REDUCTIONS (USA)
FUEL Quads, 2012 CO2
Emissions(106 metric
tons)
Emissions after reduction
(106 metric tons)
Quads remaining
Coal 17.4 1660 0 0
Petroleum 34.7 2270 0 0
Gas 26.0 1370 1060 20.1
Geothermal 0.23 0.4 0.4 0.4
Biomass 4.32 0 0 4.32
Wind 1.36 0 0 1.36
Hydro 2.69 0 0 2.69
Nuclear 8.05 0 0 8.05
Solar 0.24 0 0 0.24
TOTAL 95.1 5300 1060.4 37.2 or 39%
SOLUTION:ENERGIEWENDE
Avoid fossil fuels, nuclear power
Efficiency: use less energy
Use renewable energy
New lifestyles: use less energy
CRITERIA FOR CHOICES
Technology– Functional– Acceptable (democratic)– Cost effective
Political economy (security)
Health (climate change; pollution)
Environment (climate change; pollution)
Corruption (no!)
CONCLUSIONSSustainable energy systems– Efficiency– Solar– Wind– Electrification– Energy-Environment-Economics-Equity
Success = changing Sankey flow chart– Reduce fossil fuels and CO2
– Avoid gas & nuclear
All new investment to renewable energyTime period: two generations, 50 years
SUCCESS
https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/
Time: Think 2 Generations