Renewable energy and its role in reducing carbon footprint in a metropolitan city Prof. Dennis Y.C. Leung Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong Drainage Services Department Research & Development Forum 2013 The University of Hong Kong 5 December, 2013
Steam Engine (1763) From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_locomotive http://www.blurtit.com/q172323.html 2
Due to the excessive use of fossil fuels over the past century, a number of sick symptoms occurred on our earth nowadays
1. Global warming � There is an obvious trend of increasing temperature all over the world, particularly in the last century. http://www.globalwarmingart.com/images/f/f4/Instrumental_Tempera http://www.skepticalscience.com/warming-co2-rise.htm ture_Record.png
2. Climate change � Many obvious phenomena of climate change occurred such as shrinking of ice sheets, extreme weather, sea level rise, etc. � The whole world has been threatened under the influence of global warming and climate change. From: http://scienceblogs.com/framing- science/2006/12/melting_metaphors_new_study_on.php
Typhoon Haiyan which attacked Philippines in this November is the most powerful tropical cyclone ever recorded with maximum wind speed 315 km/h . Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com Source: media2.s-nbcnews.com
Climate change – need actions Source: http://processtrends.com/pg_global_warming.htm � By the end of this century, climate change could increase the risk of flooding on 42% of the Earth’s land surface along many of the world’s 29 major river systems – Tokyo University study June 9, 2013.
GHG emission statistics
World CO 2 emissions kton Source: Wikimedia Commons
CO 2 emissions (absolute) China United states India Russia Japan ountry Germany Germany Cou Canada U.K. Australia Hong Kong Singapore 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CO2 emission (billion ton) Source: 2010 CO2 emission from Wikipedia
CO 2 emissions per capita U.S.A. Australia Canada Russia untry Germany Japan Japan Cou U.K. Singapore China Hong Kong India 0 5 10 15 20 Ton CO2/year/person Source: 2010 CO2 emission from Wikipedia
Key milestones for GHG emission reduction by UNFCCC Year Milestone 2 nd World Climate Conference: 1990 Climate change was recognised as a common concern for mankind. 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC 聯合國氣候變化綱要公約 聯合國氣候變化綱要公約 聯合國氣候變化綱要公約 聯合國氣候變化綱要公約 ): Mechanisms were proposed for nations to reduce GHG emissions to reach set targets. 1 st Conference of the Parties (COP1 締約國大會 締約國大會 ): 締約國大會 締約國大會 1995 It was concluded that a protocol is needed to reduce GHG emissions. 3 rd Conference of the Parties (COP3): 1997 The Kyoto Protocol was adopted with reduction targets. 11 th Conference of the Parties/1 st Meeting of the Parties (COP11/MOP1): 2005 COP11/MOP1 agreed to extend Kyoto Protocol beyond its 2012 expiration date. 15 th Conference of the Parties/5 th Meeting of the Parties (COP15/MOP5): 2009 An accord was reached but not legally binding. Participants agreed to keep the max. temp. increase below 2 o C.
Emissions Gap Report 2013 • A UN report released ahead of the COP19 in Warsaw in November 2013. • Co-ordinated by the UN Environment Program • Co-ordinated by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) • Greater ambition needed to keep temperature rise below 2 ° ° ° ° C
GHG emission reduction • Many nations, including China, have already set emissions reduction targets. • Various GHG control mechanisms have been • Various GHG control mechanisms have been established to facilitate worldwide emissions reduction.
Challenges ahead • China has committed to reduce its CO 2 emissions per unit of GDP, or carbon intensity, by 40 to 45% of 2005 levels by 2020. of 2005 levels by 2020. • In 2010, the HKSAR government has put forward a consultation document on Climate Change Strategy which proposed setting a target to reduce the carbon intensity level by 50–60% by 2020 comparing to 2005.
Approaches to reduce CO 2 emissions CO 2 emissions
Approaches to reduce GHG emissions A. Increase usage of cleaner fuels B. Adopt clean coal technologies C. Increase usage of renewable energy D. Development of nuclear power E. Geo-engineering (Carbon capture & storage) F. Energy efficiency and conservation
Approaches to reduce GHG emissions A. Increase usage of cleaner fuels B. Adopt clean coal technologies Energy Energy C. Increase usage of renewable energy Producers D. Development of nuclear power E. Geo-engineering (Carbon capture & storage) Energy F. Energy efficiency and conservation Consumers
Roles of renewable energy for reducing carbon footprint reducing carbon footprint
Renewable energy policies Renewable energy target for major countries [Wikipedia 2011]. Countries Renewable energy target Target Year EU* 20% 2020 USA 25% 2025 China China 15% 15% 2020 2020 Australia 20% 2020 Russia 4.5% 2020 * Baseline target (may be different for different EU countries)
Common renewable energies Solar Tidal & Wave Wind Geothermal Hydro Biofuels
www.world-nuclear.org
Renewable Energy Sources Renewables Information 2006 @ OECD/IEA 2006
Status of common renewable energies • Solar- Solar thermal: mature technology Solar PV: research on-going on either improve efficiency or reduce the cost • Wind – mature technology for conventional wind turbine; largest growth in the last decade; R&D for new or more efficient design the last decade; R&D for new or more efficient design • Hydro – mature technology (difficult to have drastic growth) • Tidal & Wave – R&D (difficult to control) • Geothermal – R&D Biofuels – mature technology for certain type of biofuels •
Status of common renewable energies • Solar- Solar thermal: mature technology Solar PV: research on-going on either improve efficiency or reduce the cost • Wind – mature technology for conventional wind turbine; largest growth in the last decade; R&D for new or more efficient design the last decade; R&D for new or more efficient design • Hydro – mature technology (difficult to have drastic growth) • Tidal & Wave – R&D (difficult to control) • Geothermal – R&D Biofuels – mature technology for certain type of biofuels •
Prospects and limitations of Solar PV • Commercial products available • Tremendous researches being conducted • Limitations: - Availability - Intensity & intermittency - Environmental Impact - Cost: prohibitively more expensive then other renewable alternatives. Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant 97MW : the world 2 nd largest solar PV power plant http://learnsomethingneweachday.wordpress.com/2012/ 01/22/worlds-largest-solar-farms/
Wind power Wind power
Global cumulative installed capacity 1990-2015 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 GW 2.4 2.7 3 3.1 3.8 4.9 6 7 9.7 13 17.5 24.3 31.1 39.2 47.5 59.1 74 93.8 121 158.5199.9243.9 292 346.5 409 425 Source: Wind Power Report, ABS Energy Research 2010
Installed capacity of wind power in top five countries Source: Global Wind Energy Council
Future wind power development • China’s total installed capacity is about 42 GW in 2010 and will increase to 150 GW in 2020. Annual growth rate: ~14% • EU will increase its wind power to 20% of its total electric power by 2020. • USA will increase its wind power to 30% of its total electric • USA will increase its wind power to 30% of its total electric power by 2030. • According to the Global Wind Energy Council , wind could meet 12% of global power demand by 2020, and up to 22% to 2300 GW by 2030, saving a total of 34 billion tons of CO 2 . • Hong Kong does not have sufficient wind resource to widely developed large scale wind power.
Biofuels
Biofuel Cycle Source: PropelBiodiesel
Benefits of using biofuels • Reduce reliance on fossil fuels; CIC ZCB in Kowloon Bay • Enhance energy security; • Reduce GHG emission; • Waste management; • Enhance economy; Estimated output from biodiesel tri- generation system: 143MWh/year Estimated CO2 reduction: 80T/year
Main applications of biofuels • Diesel engines • Gasoline engines • Gasoline engines • Generators • Industrial & utility boilers
Type of biofuels • Bio-gas (e.g biomass, landfill, sewage sludge) • Bio-diesel (e.g. FAME) • Bio-alcohol (e.g methanol, ethanol) • Bio-ether (e.g. Dimethyl ether) • Hydrogen (biomass basis)
Biofuels forecast Source: Annual Energy Outlook 2010 RFS: Renewable Fuel Standard
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