HR: 09:15h
AN: U41D-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Electricity Technology in a Carbon-Constrained World
AU: * Hannegan, B J
EM: bhannegan@epri.com
AF: Electric Power Research Institute, 3420 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, United States
AU: James, R
EM: rejames@epri.com
AF: Electric Power Research Institute, 2000 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States
AB: The large-scale reductions in CO₂ emissions necessary to achieve stabilization of global atmospheric CO₂ concentrations present major technical, economic, regulatory and policy challenges. Reconciling these challenges with the continued growth in energy demand highlights the need for a diverse, economy-wide approach. Our analysis shows that the technological potential exists for the U.S. electricity sector to significantly reduce its CO₂ emissions over the next several decades. In particular, advances in CO₂ capture and storage, nuclear power,"smart" electric power grids, and energy efficiency can enable a low-cost, low-carbon portfolio of electricity technologies that can enable more rapid and efficient decarbonization of the U.S. economy, and significantly reduce the costs of climate policy. However, we show that no one technology will be a "silver bullet" – a portfolio of these technologies will be needed. In fact, much of the needed technology isn't available yet, and substantial new research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities will be required. Given the lag time between technology RD&D and commercial deployment, it will be critical for decisionmakers and the U.S. electric industry to define priorities and initiate activities with urgency if significant reductions in CO₂ emissions are desired by mid-century.
UR: http://epri- reports.org/DiscussionPaper2007.pdf
DE: 0322 Constituent sources and sinks
DE: 1600 GLOBAL CHANGE
DE: 6300 POLICY SCIENCES (7964)
DE: 6304 Benefit-cost analysis
DE: 6615 Legislation and regulations (6324)
SC: Union [U]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting