Transitions & Global Energy Flashcards by Alyssa Brown

What does the World Economic Forum define an ‘effective energy transition’?

It must be…
Timely
Inclusive
Sustainable
Affordable
Secure

Providing solutions to global energy-related challenges WHILE creating value WITHOUT compromising the balance of energy

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When does energy transition project to take over?

From fossil-based to zero carbon by the second half of this century (2050)

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How much can renewable energy and energy efficiency measure achieve of required carbon reduction?

90 %

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What is energy transition enabled by

IT
Smart technology
Policy frameworks
Market instruments

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What does ‘mitigation’ compromise?

Reducing the flow of heat-trapping GHG by reducing sources OR enhancing the sinks

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From 1990-2019, what anthropogenic emissions have risen?

Fluorinated gases: 2%
Nitrous oxide (n20): 4%
Methane: 18%
Co2 from land use & forestry: 11%
Co2 from fossil fuel industry: 64%

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Pathways that limit warming to 2C (>67%) involve what?

Rapid and deep and immediate GHG emission reductions in all sectors

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What does modelling mitigation strategies to reduce emissions include?

Transitioning from fossil fuels to zero-carbon energy sources

Demand side measures and improving efficiency

Reducing non-CO2 emissions

Deploying Co2 removal methods to counterbalance residual GHG emissions

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What are some feasible transition scenarios?

Direct electricity reaching 65-70 % final energy demand vs 19 % today

Hydrogen accounting for 15-20 % final energy demand - of hydrogen-based fuels (ammonia, synfuels)

Use of biomass as bioenergy/bio-feedstock (constrained by sustainable supply)

A carbon capture role and storage or use in applications that ensure long-term sequestration

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What are the three pinnacles of the ‘Energy Transition Index’?

Equitable
Sustainable
Secure

Core enablers: regulations & political commitment + finance & investment

Given an ETI Score.

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What countries share of primary energy is from low-carbon sources? (nuclear/renewable)

Brazil, Scandinavia, Canada, and New Zealand

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The ‘carbon intensity of electricity’ is the number of what?

Grams of Co2 it takes to make 1 unit of electricity at 1 kw/hr

Kuwait, Iran, and Russia are the leading carbon intensive countries as of 2021

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What regions have leading ETI scores?

Europe, lead by Sweden at 78.5, followed by USA and UK

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What leading mitigation energy solution will provide the greatest contribution to emission reduction?

Solar energy at >4 GtCO2-eq / year
Followed by wind energy at >3.5 GtCO2-eq / year

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What has enabled the falling of unit cost of low-emission technologies since 2010?

Innovation policy packages, supporting global adoption.

Such as batteries for EV, solar cells, on/offshore wind and concentrating solar power.

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From 2010 to 2019, what percentage decrease in unit costs of solar energy, wind energy, and lithium-ion batteries have occured?

Solar energy: 85 %
Wind energy: 55 %
Lithium-ion batteries: 85 %
With large increase in their deployment (10x for solar and 100x for EVs)

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What country/region has the leading electricity share of renewable generation?

European Union

More than how much of global ELECTRICITY comes from low-carbon sources BUT less than total energy?

1/3 at 36.7 %
84.3 % of total energy from fossil fuels

What are two sectors hard to decarbonise?

Transport (heavily reliant on oil) and heating (heavily reliant on gas)

What Australian state is set to be the first to run on 100% renewables?

South Australia

What sector is the biggest source of Co2 globally?

Industry

12Gt of Co2 per annum

Progress towards net zero will be enabled by new production process using low/zero GHG electricity, hydrogen, fuels, and carbon management.

40% less emissions from heavy industry by shifting to circular economy

What sector is the second biggest source of Co2 globally?

Transport

8Gt of Co2 per annum
ROAD: 20% of energy related CO2 emissions

250% expected growth in heavy-duty transport volumes
Requires low-emission liquid fuels from bio or syntenic sources

__ __ powered by low-emission electricity offer the ___ decarbonisation potential for land-based transport?

Electric Vehicles
Largest

NSW introduced a new seven-star energy standard for homes. How much in cost will be subject to the new planning policy?

Renovations valued at more than >$50,000

How is primary energy is calculated?

Based on the 'substitution method'. Converts non-fossil energy into the energy inputs required if they had the same conversion losses as fossil fuels. Gives a better approximation of final energy consumption.

What is the average growth per annum of energy consumption? What is that due to?

1 - 2 % Population growth and affluence

AUSTRALIA: What are some energy consumption by type statistics?

Energy consumption fell 0.1 % 2021-22 Average growth increased 0.2 % pa 2010-20 92 % of primary energy is fossil fuels (Oil 36.5 %, Coal 27.5 %, Gas, 27 %) Renewables only 8.9 %

AUSTRALIA: What is the energy consumption by sector?

Electricity 25 % Transport 24 % Manufacturing 18 % Mining 15 % Residential 8 % Commercial 5 % Agriculture 2.1 %

AUSTRALIA: What is the most used energy production fuel type?

Black coal

AUSTRALIA: How much petajewles does it take for coal to be exported?

10,196 Pj

What countries consume the most in primary energy?

United States, China, & India at >10,000 terawatt-hours (Twh)

What countries have the largest energy consumption use per person? How much?

Iceland, Norway, Canada, USA, and wealth Middle East nations. 100x more than average person

The share of energy consumption by source is largest in what type for the world?

Oil at 0.9% growth rate / yr from 2016-21

What share of energy comes from coal and where? Is global coal demand set to remain high?

China. Used for power generation and industrial application. Yes. A continued strong growth in Asian countries offsetting the declines in Europe and North America. In 2022: 3.3 % rise in coal consumption.

How much in % of primary energy come from low-carbon sources (2019)?

16 %. 84.3% comes from fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas)

How much did renewable capacity grow in 2022? What technology broke deployment record?

13 % Solar panels were the only technology that broke a deployment record in 2022 at 33 % increase from 2021.

What is the conundrum being faced by the global energy sector at the moment?

Energy consumption is outstripping the growth of renewables.

Milestones to 1.5C are being achieved due to what technologies?

Solar installations Electric car sales

THE IEA finds that what three transitions are fully on track in 2022 to meet their 2030 milestones? Laid our by what Scenario?

Solar installations Electric vehicles Lightning Net Zero by 2050 scenario

How much less than of the total investment would be enough to secure universal access to electricity & clean cooking fuels?

2 %

How much post COVID-19 did global clean energy investment rise?

USD 1.7T in 2022 (1 on fossil fuels:1.7 USD on clean energy)