The future of energy?

Summary

The video script addresses the urgent challenge of global energy consumption, predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, contributing to climate change. It highlights the growth of wind power as a sustainable, low-carbon energy source, discussing technological advancements and the economic viability of onshore and offshore wind farms. The script also explores carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a means to reduce emissions from coal and gas power stations, emphasizing the need for large-scale demonstration projects. Lastly, it underscores the potential for significant energy and material efficiency improvements in various sectors, advocating for behavior change and innovative approaches to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, and gas, account for approximately 85% of global energy consumption and are a major source of CO2 emissions, contributing to climate change.
• 📈 The global demand for energy is growing by about 2% each year, indicating a continued reliance on fossil fuels for the foreseeable future.
• 💨 Wind power has become a significant source of electricity generation, with advancements in turbine technology making it more affordable and reliable.
• 💡 Onshore wind farms are nearing economic viability without subsidies, while offshore wind farms offer greater potential but at a higher cost.
• 🔌 The variability of wind power requires effective integration into the electrical grid and the development of electricity storage solutions.
• 🛠️ Research at universities is focused on reducing the cost and increasing the reliability of wind turbine equipment, particularly in the area of generators.
• 🔄 Electricity accounts for only one-third of total energy consumption, suggesting the need to consider the electrification of other energy uses like heating and transport.
• 🔒 Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology that can reduce CO2 emissions from coal and gas-fired power stations by capturing and storing the gas underground.
• 🏭 The industrial sector is the largest energy user, and efficiency improvements in material production could significantly reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
• 🏢 Strategies such as designing buildings for longer life spans, using less material in construction, and deconstructing buildings for material reuse can reduce the demand for new materials and energy.
• 🚗 Opportunities exist to use energy more efficiently in transportation by increasing the intensity of car usage and implementing more efficient designs.
• 🌱 The transition to a low-carbon energy system will involve a combination of supply-side innovations, such as renewable energy and CCS, and demand-side changes, including behavior shifts and material efficiency.

Q & A

What is the primary source of global energy consumption?

Approximately 85% of the global energy consumed comes from fossil fuels, which include oil, coal, and gas.

What is the main environmental concern associated with burning fossil fuels?

Burning fossil fuels produces large volumes of CO2, which is released into the atmosphere, contributing to environmental damage and the significant risk of man-made climate change.

How is the demand for energy expected to change in the coming years?

The demand for energy is expected to grow globally by about 2% each year, indicating a continued reliance on fossil fuels to meet this demand.

What is one form of sustainable low-carbon energy mentioned in the script?

Wind power is highlighted as a sustainable low-carbon energy source that has developed into a major source of electrical power generation over the last 25 years.

Why is wind power becoming more economical without subsidies?

Wind turbine equipment is becoming cheaper and more reliable, and the integration of wind power into the grid has been effectively mastered, making onshore wind farms economical without subsidies.

What challenges are associated with the placement of wind turbines?

The placement of wind turbines must consider areas of great beauty and landscape preservation, as well as finding enough suitable sites to generate the required power.

How does the variability of wind affect power generation?

The variability of wind is currently manageable within the normal operation of a grid, but as the proportion of power from wind increases, there is a need for electricity storage solutions to even out the output.

What are the advantages and challenges of offshore wind farms?

Offshore wind farms have the advantage of more wind and more space, but they are currently more expensive than onshore farms, presenting a challenge in reducing costs for wider adoption.

What is the focus of the university's research on wind turbines?

The research focuses on reducing the cost and increasing the reliability of wind turbine equipment, specifically by developing a new type of generator that does not use carbon brushes.

How does carbon capture and storage (CCS) work in reducing emissions from coal and gas-fired power stations?

CCS involves removing CO2 from the waste gas produced by burning coal, compressing it into a high-pressure liquid, and storing it deep underground in rock formations, similar to fluid moving through a sponge.

What are some of the risks and considerations associated with storing CO2 underground?

Risks include potential slow leakage to the surface or more dramatic release during geological events like earthquakes. Understanding the processes involved helps minimize the risks of leakage.

What is the role of CCS in the future energy supply system?

CCS can play a major role in reducing CO2 emissions associated with fossil fuels, especially as the energy supply system evolves towards renewable energy sources.

What are some strategies mentioned for using less material in construction?

Strategies include designing buildings for longer lifespans, using lighter weight materials without loss of performance, and deconstructing buildings to reuse materials like steel from old buildings.

How can behavior change contribute to reducing energy demand?

Behavior change can involve using goods more intensively, such as driving fewer cars more often, which reduces the need for new materials and energy, as well as emissions.

What is the potential of renewable energy technologies in the future energy system?

Renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biofuels, and nuclear, offer exciting opportunities for innovation and have a role to play in transforming the energy supply system to be more sustainable.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Energy Challenges and Wind Power Development

The script addresses the significant challenge of energy consumption, predominantly fueled by fossil fuels, which contribute to approximately 85% of global energy use and are a major source of CO2 emissions. It highlights the urgency of addressing climate change by either finding carbon-neutral energy sources or reducing energy consumption. Wind power is presented as a sustainable, low-carbon energy solution that has grown substantially over the past 25 years, now contributing a significant percentage to the world's electricity. The script discusses the economic and technological advancements in wind turbine equipment, the importance of strategic placement of wind farms, and the challenges of wind's variability. It also touches on the potential of offshore wind farms and the need for electricity storage solutions. The university's research is focused on improving wind turbine generators by eliminating carbon brushes to enhance reliability and reduce costs, which could make wind power an even more effective and economical solution for low-carbon energy production.

05:01

🌿 Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in Combating Climate Change

This section delves into the technology of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as a method to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions from coal and gas-fired power stations, which are responsible for about a quarter of the world's CO2 emissions. The process involves capturing CO2 from exhaust gases, compressing it into a high-pressure liquid, and injecting it underground into rock formations. The script discusses research aimed at understanding how CO2 spreads in subsurface storage sites, the effects of surface tension, and the behavior of CO2 in sandstone beds and clay layers. It mentions ongoing projects in the Norwegian North Sea and the Sahara Desert, where large volumes of CO2 are being injected annually. The potential risks of CO2 leakage and the importance of understanding these processes for safe storage are also highlighted. The script emphasizes the need for a commercial environment that supports the economic viability of large-scale CCS projects and suggests that CCS can play a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, which are expected to remain a major part of the energy supply for decades.

10:01

🏭 Reducing Material Use and Energy Demand in Industry

The final paragraph shifts focus to the demand side of the energy equation, emphasizing the opportunities for reducing energy use in buildings and transportation. It points out that while industry uses the largest share of the world's energy, there are already high levels of efficiency, with over half of industrial energy going into the production of just five materials: steel, cement, paper, plastic, and aluminum. The script discusses various strategies for using less material, such as designing buildings to last longer, using materials more intensively, and employing more precise construction techniques to reduce material use without compromising performance. It also touches on the potential for deconstructing buildings at the end of their life to reuse materials like steel. The narrative concludes with a call to action for significant reductions in CO2 emissions, suggesting that a combination of technological innovation, policy changes, and behavioral shifts are necessary to address the serious threat of man-made climate change and transition towards a low-carbon future.

Keywords

💡Energy Consumption

Energy Consumption refers to the amount of energy used by humans in various activities, primarily from burning fossil fuels. In the video, it is highlighted that about 85% of global energy comes from fossil fuels, which has significant environmental impacts due to CO2 emissions. The script emphasizes the growing demand for energy and the need for sustainable alternatives.

💡Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels include oil, coal, and gas, which are the primary sources of energy for the current global energy system. The script points out that burning these fuels releases large volumes of CO2, contributing to climate change and environmental damage, thus necessitating a shift towards cleaner energy sources.

💡CO2 Emissions

CO2 Emissions are the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, primarily from burning fossil fuels. The video discusses the harmful effects of these emissions on the environment and the urgent need to reduce them to mitigate the risk of man-made climate change.

💡Wind Power

Wind Power is a form of renewable energy harnessed by wind turbines to generate electricity. The script describes the growth of wind power over the last 25 years, its increasing affordability and reliability, and the challenges of integrating it into the energy grid due to its variable nature.

💡Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a technology that captures CO2 emissions from industrial processes and stores them underground. The video explains how CCS can help reduce emissions from coal and gas-fired power stations, a significant contributor to global CO2 emissions.

💡Sustainable Energy

Sustainable Energy refers to energy sources and systems that can be used without depleting natural resources or causing long-term environmental damage. The script identifies wind power as a sustainable, low-carbon energy source that is growing rapidly and has the potential to become a major energy supplier.

💡Energy Demand

Energy Demand is the quantity of energy required by society for various needs, including electricity, heating, and transportation. The video mentions that global energy demand grows by about 2% each year, emphasizing the challenge of meeting this demand with sustainable energy sources.

💡Electricity Generation

Electricity Generation is the process of creating electricity from various sources, such as fossil fuels, nuclear power, or renewable sources like wind. The script discusses the growth of wind power as a major source of electricity generation and the technological advancements that make it more efficient and cost-effective.

💡Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency refers to the measures taken to reduce the amount of energy required to provide the same level of service. The video suggests that improving energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry can significantly reduce overall energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

💡Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy is energy derived from natural processes that are replenished at a rate equal to or faster than the rate at which they are consumed. The script highlights solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biofuels, and nuclear as alternative sources of energy that can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

💡Behavior Change

Behavior Change is the shift in human actions and habits to adopt more sustainable practices. The video discusses the need for behavior change on the demand side, such as using materials more efficiently and reducing waste, to complement technological and policy solutions on the supply side.

Highlights

Energy consumption is a major global challenge, with 85% of it coming from fossil fuels, contributing to CO2 emissions and climate change.

Global energy demand grows by about 2% annually, indicating a continued reliance on fossil fuels for the foreseeable future.

Wind power has developed into a significant source of electrical power generation, with potential for further growth.

Wind turbine equipment is becoming more affordable and reliable, nearing economic viability without subsidies.

The placement of wind turbines requires careful consideration of environmental impact and landscape aesthetics.

Offshore wind farms offer more wind and space but are currently more expensive than onshore counterparts.

Research is focused on reducing wind turbine costs and increasing reliability, particularly through generator innovation.

Electricity accounts for only one-third of total energy consumption, suggesting a need to consider other energy usage sectors.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology that can significantly reduce CO2 emissions from coal and gas power stations.

CCS involves capturing CO2 from waste gas and storing it underground, where it spreads like fluid through a sponge.

Demonstration projects of CCS are underway in Norway and Algeria, with a focus on understanding and improving the technology.

Risks associated with CO2 storage include potential leakage and the impact of geological events on containment.

Creating a commercial environment for CCS is crucial for its large-scale implementation and reducing CO2 emissions.

Opportunities for reducing energy demand exist in buildings through better insulation and efficient design.

The industry sector, which uses 36% of the world's energy, has potential for efficiency improvements and material conservation.

Innovative approaches to construction, such as variable-depth beams, can reduce material use without compromising performance.

Deconstruction of buildings can enable the reuse of materials, promoting a circular economy in construction.

Behavior change and policy interventions are necessary to drive demand-side energy efficiency and emissions reduction.

The long-term energy supply will likely evolve towards alternative and renewable sources, with innovation in new energy technologies.

The debate on energy and emissions reduction must consider both supply-side technological solutions and demand-side behavior changes.

The urgency of addressing man-made climate change calls for the continued development of low carbon technologies.

Transcripts

[Music]

one of the biggest challenges we face

today is energy we use a lot of energy

and most of it comes from burning fossil

fuels in fact about 85% of the global

energy consumed comes from fossil fuels

which is oil coal and gas

we know that burning these fossil fuels

produces large volumes of CO2 which is

being released into the atmosphere

damaging the

environment and we know that releasing

carbon Dark Side runs a significant risk

of man-made climate

change the problem is compounded by the

fact that demand for energy grows

globally by about 2% each

year it's likely that over the next few

decades

we're going to continue using large

amounts of fossil fuels to meet a good

part of the energy demand so to respond

to global warming either we need an

energy Supply that has no carbon release

or we need to find ways to use less

[Music]

energy one form of sustainable low

carbon energy is is wind power wind

power in the last 25 years has developed

into a major source of electrical power

generation already generating several

per of the world's total electricity

output and in many countries it's the

fastest growing form of electrical power

generation wind turbine equipment is

becoming cheaper it's becoming more

reliable and we've leared how to

integrate wind power effectively into a

grid onshore wind farms are now

approaching the point of being

economical without subsidy which is very

good for the industry we've got to think

very carefully where we put our wind

turbines clearly there are areas of

great Beauty where the landscape simply

cannot accommodate wind turbines

nevertheless we want to generate low

carbon P so we have to make some

compromises we have to find enough sites

to generate the power we

need a further issue is the wind is

variable at the moment the variation in

output is easily accommodated within the

normal operation of a grid however if we

look into the future where a very large

proportion of our power might come from

wind then we've got to think of some way

of electricity storage to even the

output one way round the difficulty of

finding enough suitable sites on land is

to build wind farms

offshore the attraction is there's more

wind offshore and there's a lot more

space the problem is that to date

they're considerably more

expensive if we can find a way of put

putting them offshore at reasonable cost

then we can Harvest a lot more

energy our research at the university

has been very much focused on trying to

reduce the cost of wind turbine

equipment and increase reliability

specifically we're working on the

generator most contemporary wind

turbines use a form of generator which

relies on carbon brushes to make contact

to its moving part these are own

reliability issue and they add to the

cost of the generator we're working on a

new type of generator which doesn't have

brushes and thereby eliminates these

problems so our technology could well be

a cheaper and more effective

approach we've got to remember that

electricity only accounts for about 1/3

of our total energy consumption so what

we must think about is whether other

energy usage such as Home Heating or

transport can be transferred to Electric

Supply and then we can of course

generate that electricity cleanly this

would be a good way of reducing CO2

emissions although at present windar

accounts for only about 1% of overall

Global energy production it is growing

rapidly and I think in the foreseeable

future that it will become a major

producer of low carbon energy

most of the world's electricity is

derived from coal and gas fired power

stations about a quarter of the world's

carbon dioxide emissions come from the

burning of coal in order to reduce the

emissions of carbon dioxide at CF fired

power stations it's possible to use

carbon capture and storage or

CCS this is a technology in which carbon

dioxide is removed from the waste gas

produced by the burning of the coal and

is then stored deep

underground once the carbon dioxide is

captured from the exhaust gas it's then

compressed and turned into a high press

liquid which is pumped a couple of Miles

underground in the rock it spreads out

between the grains rather like fluid

moving through a

sponge our research is aimed at looking

at how the carbon dioxide spreads

through these subsurface storage sites

we've been looking at the flow of car

dioxide on the scale of the grains in

the Rock looking at the effects of

surface tension we've then been looking

at the flow on larger scales as the CO2

moves through the Sandstone beds we've

also been interested in understanding

the effect of layers of clay which can

cause the CO2 to spread out in unusual

ways there are projects where CO2 is

being injected into large subsurface

reservoirs there's one in the Norwegian

North Sea

and one in southern Algeria in the

Sahara Desert at each of these sites

about a million cubic meters of CO2 is

being injected every year into the

subsurface and we're using some of our

models to try to understand the

observations being collected at each of

these

locations there are risks associated

with storing CO2 when assessing the

potential for CO2 to remain trapped for

thousands of years there are potential

for slow leakage the surface or in the

event of geological events such as

earthquakes more dramatic release to the

surface understanding these processes

helps to minimize the risks of

leakage one of the main challenges is to

create a commercial environment in which

it's economically viable to build large

CCS projects over the last 10 years

there's been an enormous advance in our

understanding of CCS however we're now

at a stage where many more large scale

demonstration projects are needed to

learn about the Practical challenges of

the engineering involved in

CCS fossil fuels are likely to be a

major part of the energy Supply system

for several decades to come and our work

on CCS as well as the pilot plants and

other research around the world suggests

CCS can have a major role in reducing

CO2 emissions associated with these

fossil

fuels it would be great if we could find

a solution to the energy and Emissions

problem on the supply side but it's

difficult there are no easy solutions

for carbon free energy system so we have

to look at demand as well the great news

is that there are a lot of opportunities

for using less energy in buildings we

can use less energy because we can build

well insulated sealed houses and we know

how to do that for cars we can make

lightweight cars that use much less

energy the current world record for cars

is 14,000 m per gallon compared to just

35 on average in the UK at the moment

but the challenge that we're looking at

here is about the industry sector the

largest amount of energy is used in

industry 36% of the world's energy is

used in industry and it's amazingly

efficient already over half of

industrial energy is used to make just

five materials steel cement paper

plastic and aluminium and those

Industries have paid heavily for energy

for 100 years so they're using it

efficiently because they're already

motivated to do so so if we can't make

them with less energy the implication is

that we have to use less new material

and that's what's driving us here to be

Reon it turns out there are many ways

that we can use less material without

any real economic pain simple example is

that new Office Buildings put up in

European cities at the moment are

designed for 100 years but typically

replaced after just 40 if we could keep

them for 100 or 500 years as we do here

in Cambridge then we'd be able to reduce

the total amount of material required to

provide offices and

accommodation using things for longer is

great in many cases we could make them

lighter weight most buildings we found

could use a third less material with no

loss of performance whatsoever just if

we made them more precise

equally we could use Goods more

intensively we know that in the UK we've

got one car for every two people we

drive it for 4 hours per week and it

only has one and a half people in it so

if we use fewer cars more intensively

we'd need less material and of course as

a benefit we'd use less petrol and

therefore emit less

carbon all new office buildings are made

with columns and beams the horizontal

beams are typically a constant depth all

the way across the building but actually

they shouldn't be they should be deeper

in the middle and less deep at the edges

and if we made them like that we could

use about a third less steel with no

loss of performance so one of the things

we've been working on in the lab is to

invent a new process for making variable

depth

beams when the buildings are taken down

at the end of their life at the moment

we demolish them but if we instead

deconstructed them the steel in Old

buildings is perfectly ready to be used

again so we could unbolt the old steel

frame clean up the steel and then use it

in a new

building so there's a whole range of

strategies for using less material

without any significant reduction in the

service that we take from having that

material

around we make materials so efficiently

that they're cheap and that means that

we've developed an economy where we

assume that we can use materials

abundantly we need to move into a

different system now so our work has

been to try to find ways to live with

less new material and perhaps to our

surprise we found there are a whole

range of options for doing so and now

we're working with businesses and with

policy makers to try to bring that about

in reality

[Music]

ultimately it comes down to how

seriously we see the threat of man-made

climate

change if we do see it as a serious

threat as many of us do then we must

look at significant reductions in CO2

emissions and that means a big change to

our Energy System and that could be on

the supply side or the demand side over

the longer term the energy Supply will

evolve towards alternative sources of

energy including including solar wind

Hydro geothermal biofuels and nuclear

and there are exciting opportunities for

innovation in new Energy Technologies

all or at least many of these have a

role to play but they need to be

assessed against local conditions

technology such as CCS provides a means

of reducing the CO2 emissions associated

with burning these fossil fuels as we

transform the energy Supply system to

renewable energy on the demand side what

we've seen is that we can use a lot less

energy without much loss of service but

doing so does require Behavior

change that's where the debate now is on

the supply side we could do technology

and policy and on the demand side we can

do Behavior change despite considerable

financial and technical difficulties I

believe if we're going to avoid the

significant risks of man-made climate

change that we must continue to the

development of low carbon Technologies

[Music]

oh

[Music]