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This overview discusses the critical energy challenges faced by the U.S., particularly regarding rising oil and natural gas prices, their economic impacts, and future energy policies. With insights from Dr. Sam V. Shelton, it draws on historical context, including the influence of the 1960s U.S. Space Initiative. Key issues include the U.S.’s reliance on foreign oil, the long-term implications of energy technology advancements such as nuclear and renewable sources, and the urgent need for energy policy reform to ensure national security and economic stability.
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Energy Challenge:Overview & Technology Issues National Space Grant Directors Meeting 27 October 2008 Sam V. Shelton, Ph.D. Strategic Energy Institute Georgia Institute of Technology
1960’s U.S. Space Initiative • Created Generation of Engineers & Scientiest • I am a Product of Sputnik: • Graduate School on National Defense Education Act • First Career Position • Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Research Engineer
Oil Price Increase • 01 Jan 2002 to 27 Oct 2008 • 22 Percent per Year Average
Coal Price Increase • 01 Jan 2002 to 27 Oct 2008 • 20 Percent per Year Average
Natural Gas Price Increase • 01 Jan 2002 to 27 Oct 2008 • 15 Percent per Year Average
Energy Burden on Economy • US Energy Expenditures as % of GDP • 2004: 3% • 2008: 7% • Energy Costs Created Current Economic Crisis? • “The Oil Factor”, 2004, Stephen Leeb
Energy Drivers Working Together • Economics • Environment • Fossil Fuel Production Limitations • National Security
Imports Production US Oil Production & UtilizationEIA Annual Energy Report (1949-2006) Consumption Production
Actual Projected U.S. Oil Production with ANWR
World Oil Peaking is Driving Oil Prices UP 2006 Predictions: $100 per Barrel Oil Predicted by end of 2010
U.S. Dependence on Foreign OilNational Security& Economic Issues
Saudi Arabia 20% Canada 14% Iran 10% Iraq 9% Kuwait 8% UAE 7% Venezuela 6% Russia 5% Libya 3% Nigeria 3% Kazakhstan 2% U.S. 2% U.S. 25% China 8% Japan 7% Germany 3% Russia 3% India 3% Canada 3% South Korea 3% Brazil 3% France 2% Mexico 2% Italy 2% Have Oil Use Oil EIA 2007 CIA Factbook 2007 The U.S. uses more than the next 5 highest consuming nations combined.
Foreign Energy Tax • National Balance of Payments • $1 Billion per DAY Going Out of US for Oil • U.S. Energy Policy Could be Stated As: “Leave No Saudi Prince or Iranian Mula Behind.”
Transportation is the Oil Issue • Very Large Transportation Fleet • Huge Investment in Fleet • Evolves Very Slowly • 17 Years to Replace 50% of Vehicles
Vehicle Efficiency Improvements • Change Vehicle Culture • Smaller Cars • Hybrid Vehicles • Turbo Diesels Engines • Plug In Hybrids • All Electric Cars • ALL HAVE IMPACT IN ~2025 • IF WE START SELLING THEM NOW
Natural Gas Supplies N. American Gas Demand Exceeding N. American Gas Production
Importing Natural Gas • LNG Imports • Liquified • -260F • Same as Oil Imports • Paid with Foreign Held Debt • National Security • Costly to Transport
Electricity Uses Very Little Oil Fuel Type Use for Electric Power
Oil & Electric Power • New Nuclear/Wind/Solar Electric Power Will Save No Significant Oil • Oil Use is 2% of Current Electric Fuel • Electric Cars can be Charged from Current Non-Oil Night Base Load Plants
Conventional Power Plant Issues • Coal Fired Power Plants • Coal Mining Environmental Impact • Air Quality • Nuclear Power Plants • Economics: High Construction Cost • High Level Radioactive Waste • Hydro • Environmental Impact - Permitting Issues • Natural Gas Power Plants • Environmentally Relatively Clean • High Cost of Natural Gas-Economics • National Security: Importing LNG
New Power Plant Technologies • New Generation Nuclear Plants • Permits being Prepared for 2017 Start Up • Capital Cost is Uncertain • Waste Fuel Disposal is Issue: Yucca Mountain??? • Coal Gasification with Combined Cycle • Higher Efficiency use of Coal (40% vs 35%) • Coal Strip Mining Environmental Impact • A Winning Coal Technology with CO2 Limits
(cont) New Power Plant Technologies • Wind Energy • Cost can be Competitive with Conventional: • 6 to 8 cents/kWhr • Permitting is Issue • Solar Photovoltaics (PV) • High Cost: • Silicon Technology:30 to 50 cents/kWhr • Better Economics predicted since 1970’s • Good for Off Grid
“Change” PV Technology • Thin Film PV Technology • First Solar • www.spectrum.ieee.org • Nanosolar • www.nanosolar.com • Reduced PV Power into Grid from $0.40/kW to $0.25/kW?
(cont) Conclusions • Oil is Near Term Problem: • Supply vs. Demand • Electric Power Technology will Not Impact Oil • Economics is Prime Technology Driving Force • PV has Potential for Change Technology
Technology is Core • Solutions are Diverse • Thousands of Technology Improvements • Public Policy to Avoid Disruptions • Economic, Social, International
Long Term Electric Power Space Power Recent Thin Film PV Technolgy Moves the Ball Forward