1. Realizing a Clean Energy
Future
World Renewable Energy
Forum 2012
Dr. Dan E. Arvizu
Laboratory Director
NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.
3. National Energy Imperatives
Reducing Stimulating
dependence on clean-energy
foreign sources companies and
job growth
Protecting
resources and
reducing global
warming
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5. Shares of renewable energy sources in total global
primary energy supply is still small
Source: IPCC Special Report Renewable Energy Sources (SRREN)
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6. Renewable energy costs are still higher than existing
energy prices, but in various settings renewable
energy is getting competitive
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7. Ranges of global technical potentials of renewable
energy sources is enormous
Source: IPCC Special Report Renewable Energy Sources (SRREN)
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8. Global renewable energy primary energy supply from 164 long- 8
term scenarios versus fossil and industrial CO2 emissions.
Modeling suggests many outcomes.
Source: SRREN SPM, Figure SPM.9
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9. Many expect electricity demand to grow
faster than renewable energy generation
Source: ExxonMobile
http://www.exxonmobil.com/corporate/files/news_pub_eo_2010.pdf
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11. A Profound Transformation is Required
Today’s Energy Sustainable Energy
System System
TRANSFORMATION
• Dependent on non-domestic sources • Carbon neutral
• Subject to price volatility • Efficient
• Increasingly vulnerable energy
• Diverse supply options
delivery systems
• 2/3 of source energy is wasted • Sustainable use of natural resources
• Significant carbon emissions • Creates economic development
• Role of electricity increasing • Accessible, affordable and secure
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12. Energy Sector Challenges
R&D Investment
Drives Innovation Asset Utilization
Capital Intensive with Long National Strategies Driving
Shaping the Market Energy Market
Life Cycles
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14. RE has achieved varying degrees of penetration
Country % Renewable Generation (2010)
Australia 8%
China 19% Highest
penetration on
Denmark 34% annual basis
Germany 18%
India 15%
Ireland 13%
Mexico 18%
Spain 34%
Thailand 8%
United Kingdom 7%
United States 11%
Source: U.S. EIA, International Energy Statistics
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15. As a result, different settings for RE integration
Percentage of Electricity Generation by Type, 2010
Australia Denmark Germany
Australia Nuclear
Hydroelectric
Geothermal
Wind
Ireland Spain United States
Solar, Tide and
Wave
Biomass and
Waste
Total Conventional
Thermal
Source: U.S. EIA, International Energy Statistics
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17. Renewable Share of Total Generation by State
Up Across the United States
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-923, Power Plant Operations Report.
Notes: Non-hydroelectric renewables include generation from wind, solar, geothermal, and other renewable sources
such as wood and wood wastes, municipal solid wastes, landfill gas, etc. Data for 2011 are preliminary.
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18. Specific Implementation Challenges
• Legal, market, and institutional barriers—Increasing power system
flexibility needed to integrate variable RE (e.g., through larger balancing
areas, new market rules) may require significant ecosystem-wide
changes
• Coordination—Due to the involvement of multiple agencies and
jurisdictions, developing and implementing a shared vision could be
challenging
• Public support—The public may not understand or support actions
necessary to integrate renewables
• Customizing solutions—There is no one-size-fits-all solution to
integrating variable renewables; countries need to determine the most
appropriate combination of approaches
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20. All regions of the country could contribute substantial
renewable electricity supply in 2050
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21. Innovation, Integration, & Adoption
Reducing Investment Risk
• Enable basic and applied clean
energy technology innovation
• Accelerate technology market
introduction and adoption
• Integrate technology at scale
• Encourage collaboration in unique
research and testing “partnering”
facilities
• Provide analysis and expertise to
inform decisions
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23. Multiple Promising PV Technologies
20x-100x 500x Cu(In,Ga)Se2 ~ 1-2 um c-Si ~ 180 um
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24. Wind Technology Innovation
• Modular large components –
blades, drivetrains, and tall towers
• Advanced drivetrain power conversion
systems – superconducting direct drive
generators
• Flexible, ultra-large rotors and systems
• Active controls for structural load
reduction, improved wind plant
performance, and grid-friendly operation
• Floating offshore wind turbines
• Airborne wind power systems
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25. Biofuels Innovation
New conversion technologies are being developed, offering the
possibility of revolutionary, high volume methods for producing biofuel
hydrocarbon fuels for our trucks, trains, ships, and aircraft . . .
Biological Chemical Catalytic Pyrolysis/Bio-Oil
Conversion Conversion Pathways
Heterotrophic Algae Conversion Hybrid Conversion Technologies
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26. Transportation Innovation
Portfolio of technologies leading to 54.5 mpg
Low rolling resistance tires
Degree of electrification Start/stop Regenerative braking
(power electronics &
energy storage )
8 speed
transmissions
Electric infrastructure Electric powered steeringLight weighting
Variable Improved Diesel powered & or
cylinder mgmt aerodynamics Alternative Fuels, H2
Turbocharging, direct fuel injection, advanced combustion
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27. Buildings Innovation
High Performance Buildings BIPV Products & PV-T Array Compressorless Cooling
Electrochromic Windows Polymer Solar Water Heaters Computerized optimization &
simulation Tools
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28. Efficiency/Integration Innovation
Buildings
• Whole building systems integration
• Computerized building energy optimization tools
• Advanced HVAC (Heating Ventilating and air
conditioning)
• Cost effective ultra energy efficient retrofits
Grid Integration
Interconnection Standards
• IEEE Standards Development
• Standards Testing and Validation
Smart-Grid Data Hub
RE Grid Integration
• Power Electronics for Interconnection monitoring and
control
• Grid-to-vehicle interface
Advanced Vehicles
• Fuels utilization
• Component technologies
• Electric vehicle-to-grid interface
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29. To achieve a clean energy vision, we must…
• Invest in innovation
• Invent the future we desire
• Improve access to capital
• Partner on a global scale
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The format of this session will be a series of brief presentations, followed by a moderated Q&A session with speakers forming a panel. The Renewable Electricity Futures Study (RE Futures) is an initial investigation of the extent to which renewable energy supply can meet the electricity demands of the contiguous United States over the next several decades. The analysis examines the implications and challenges of renewable electricity generation levels—from 30% up to 90%, with a focus on 80%, of all U.S. electricity generation from renewable technologies—in 2050. At such high levels of renewable electricity penetration, the unique characteristics of some renewable resources, specifically geographical distribution and variability and uncertainty in output, may pose challenges to the operability of the nation’s electric system. The study focuses on key technical implications of this environment, exploring whether the U.S. power system can supply electricity to meet customer demand on an hourly basis with high levels of renewable electricity, including variable wind and solar generation. The study also begins to address the potential economic, environmental, and social implications of deploying and integrating high levels of renewable electricity in the United States. The bulleted list below summarizes the major topics summarized from the Renewable Electricity Futures study and to be presented by the speakers:- The study structure and methodology, including detailed electric sector modeling.- Overview of renewable electricity technologies, current deployment levels, technical potential, and grid integration characteristics.- Future electricity demand and possibilities for energy efficiency and demand-side flexibility options.- Modeled scenarios with up to 80% renewable electricity by 2050. The scenarios include multiple deployment pathways that transition away from fossil consumption to high renewable generation levels. Hourly operation is also modeled to explore the grid challenges associated with integration variable generation.- Economic and environmental implications of the high renewable generation scenarios.
Upper Right: NREL designed and built a Net Zero Energy Habitat for Humanity House about 5 miles from the NREL campus. Over the two years that NREL monitored the building it actually produced 3000 kWh more than it used (accounting for gas use). Key energy features of the building are: a) Highly Insulated R-30 Walls and R-60 roof, b) passive solar window design, c) energy recovery ventilation system, e) 4kW PV array, f) Solar domestic hot water system backed up by an instantaneous gas water heater. Upper Middle: NREL has collaborated with industry to develop a number of Building Integrated PV (BIPV) systems that can work with shingle style roofs, standing seam metal roofs, and flat “built-up” roofs. NREL has also partnered with industry to develop a combined PV-Thermal system (shown on the house) that simultaneously cools the PV array, and preheats the solar thermal array providing electricity and hot water while reducing the roof area needed for the panels.Upper Right: NREL has collaborated with industry to produce a variety of evaporative and desiccant based coolers that are more efficient than vapor compression technology. NREL has also developed a revolutionary concept “DEVap” that combines desiccant and evaporative cooling in a single element making it possible to do highly efficient evaporative cooling anywhere in the country. Analysis for a DEVap unit in Phoenix showed 80% energy savings compared to a typical vapor compression air conditioner (even accounting for the 1 to 2 month humid monsoon period in the summer).Bottom Left: NREL has collaborated with industry to develop electrochromic windows that can be controlled to darken when the sun is not wanted, and lighten when the sun is beneficial.Bottom Middle: NREL has collaborated with industry partners to develop two low-cost polymer based solar hot water systems. The system in a box can be purchased at Home Depot and installed as a do-it-yourself project for about $1000.Bottom Right: NREL has developed building energy simulation and optimization tools that enable the most cost effective package of efficiency and renewable technologies to be determined for any given savings level, in any building type, in any climate. Other NREL developed tools assist developers to design energy efficient community layouts accounting for trees and other buildings.
