ENERGY AS MAJOR CHALLENGE

Energy as Major Challenge



Energy as Major Challenge

Introduction

"Energy is the main challenge of the coming decades, the electricity will play a key role because it can rely on production methods emit few greenhouse gases. The technologies exist. Success will depend on the ability of public policies to encourage innovation. Tanzania is witnessing the end of the availability of abundant and cheap resources, who warned of the limitations of solutions based on technology alone. The International Energy Agency estimates that it will invest 1.4% of world GDP between 2010 and 2035 in the energy system, amounting to 33 trillion dollars over 25 years (Monson, 2009, 199). The emerging and developing countries should concentrate two-thirds of these investments to support growth of primary energy needs of 2% per annum and the remaining third would be necessary to refocus the capacity at the end of life in OECD countries .

Much energy infrastructure we need in 25 years does not yet exist, as in the production of fossil fuels in the electricity sector. The challenge is great because it fits into a context of strong and persistent uncertainties about the global macroeconomic outlook, the price of fossil fuels and future environmental regulations (Sheila, 2008, 115). Significant uncertainties today, after the succession of crises we have experienced recently: economic crises. By 2030, the number of urban dwellers expected to double from 2 to 4000000000They produce 70% of current CO2 emissions related to energy, and a very large proportion of local air pollution. Energy optimization is an issue of first order to manage the externalities of the city - be they environmental or social - but to be effective, this optimization must be part of systemic planning and long-term "sustainable city ".

The electricity sector accounts for 40% of CO2 emissions in the energy sector, representing 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions arise directly from the mix currently used to meet electricity demand growth in two-thirds of fossil fuels (coal 41%, 26% gas and oil) and one third of CO2-free energy (14% nuclear, 16 % water and 3% other renewables). A MWh produced from coal emits about one ton of CO2, against 450 kg with a combined-cycle gas. The International Energy Agency notes that the power sector is likely to generate 70% of the emissions reductions needed in the global energy system by 2030 to place themselves on a trajectory 2 ° C. This contribution is based on simultaneous efforts on demand management, supposed to ensure 40% reductions in emissions from the IEA scenario, the massive reduction in emissions from electricity generation with a drop of nearly 60% of the average CO2 content of electricity by 2030 and 90% by 2050, and the substitution, downstream of fossil fuels with carbon-free electricity in a growing number of applications end (transport, industry, housing).

Energy efficiency is an important lever in the electric sector's contribution to reducing emissions. The cost associated measures is potentially low, from the standpoint of the engineer, but you have to control ...