NRC: U.S. Energy Tech Development to Determine Future Energy Options
August 24, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
Actions taken by the U.S. between now and 2020 to develop and demonstrate energy technologies will determine the nation's energy options in the future, according to a report from the National Research Council (NRC).
The report, America's Energy Future: Technology and Transformation, says the U.S. could obtain energy-efficiency improvements, new sources of energy and reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the accelerated deployment of existing and emerging energy technologies.
Deploying energy-efficiency technologies in buildings alone could eliminate the growth in U.S. electricity demand, according to the report.
Deploying energy efficiency in all sectors, including industry and transportation, could reduce projected U.S. energy use by 30% in 2030, experts said.
The report pointed out that a portfolio approach, supporting basic research through the demonstration stage, will be more effective than targeted efforts aimed at identifying technology winners and losers.
At the demonstration stage, high-priority technologies include carbon capture and storage, evolutionary nuclear technologies, cellulosic ethanol and advanced light-duty vehicles.
The more long-term research and development needs include new technologies for producing liquid fuels from renewable resources, advanced batteries and fuel cells, large-scale electricity storage, enhanced geothermal power and advanced solar photovoltaic technologies.
In addition, because barriers exist that could delay or prevent technology deployment, the report recommends that sustained policy and regulatory actions, as well as other forms of incentives, be employed to drive adoption.
As part of the study, the NRC also issued a report in June that examines renewable power.
The report found that renewable energy could meet a significant portion of U.S. electricity needs, but taking advantage of the potential for renewable energy will require enhanced technologies, increased deployment, greater financial investments and the implementation of policies to drive the increased adoption of renewable electricity.
With accelerated deployment, increases in transmission capacity and other electric-grid improvements, the report found that non-hydroelectric renewable sources could contribute up to 10% of U.S. electricity by 2020 and 20% or more by 2035.
However, scientific advances and changes to the way the U.S. generates, transmits and uses electricity will be needed before renewable energy can contribute the majority of U.S. electricity, experts wrote.
According to the report, necessary improvements include the development of two-way electric grids, large-scale and distributed electricity storage and enhanced, yet cost-effective, long-distance electricity transmission.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Vehicle Technologies Program.