Shaping the Global Governance of Renewables a Comparative Institutional Analysis
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Oil Depletion and the Energy Efficiency of Oil Production
Sustainability 2011, 3, 1833-1854; doi:10.3390/su3101833 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Article Oil Depletion and the Energy Efficiency of Oil Production: The Case of California Adam R. Brandt Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Green Earth Sciences 065, 367 Panama St., Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-2220, USA; E-Mail: [email protected]; Fax: +1-650-724-8251 Received: 10 June 2011; in revised form: 1 August 2011 / Accepted: 5 August 2011 / Published: 12 October 2011 Abstract: This study explores the impact of oil depletion on the energetic efficiency of oil extraction and refining in California. These changes are measured using energy return ratios (such as the energy return on investment, or EROI). I construct a time-varying first-order process model of energy inputs and outputs of oil extraction. The model includes factors such as oil quality, reservoir depth, enhanced recovery techniques, and water cut. This model is populated with historical data for 306 California oil fields over a 50 year period. The model focuses on the effects of resource quality decline, while technical efficiencies are modeled simply. Results indicate that the energy intensity of oil extraction in California increased significantly from 1955 to 2005. This resulted in a decline in the life-cycle EROI from ≈6.5 to ≈3.5 (measured as megajoules (MJ) delivered to final consumers per MJ primary energy invested in energy extraction, transport, and refining). Most of this decline in energy returns is due to increasing need for steam-based thermal enhanced oil recovery, with secondary effects due to conventional resource depletion (e.g., increased water cut). -
Urban Aquaculture
Urban Aquaculture Water-sensitive transformation of cityscapes via blue-green infrastructures vorgelegt von Dipl.-Ing. Grit Bürgow geb. in Berlin von der Fakultät VI Planen Bauen Umwelt der Technischen Universität Berlin zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades Doktor der Ingenieurwissenschaften - Dr.-Ing. - genehmigte Dissertation Promotionsausschuss: Vorsitzende: Prof. Undine Gisecke Gutachter: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Heiland Gutachterin: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Angela Million (Uttke) Gutachterin: Prof. Dr. Ranka Junge Tag der wissenschaftlichen Aussprache: 25. November 2013 Berlin 2014 Schriftenreihe der Reiner Lemoine-Stiftung Grit Bürgow Urban Aquaculture Water-sensitive transformation of cityscapes via blue-green infrastructures D 83 (Diss. TU Berlin) Shaker Verlag Aachen 2014 Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available in the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de. Zugl.: Berlin, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2013 Titelfoto: (c) Rayko Huß Copyright Shaker Verlag 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. Printed in Germany. ISBN 978-3-8440-3262-8 ISSN 2193-7575 Shaker Verlag GmbH • P.O. BOX 101818 • D-52018 Aachen Phone: 0049/2407/9596-0 • Telefax: 0049/2407/9596-9 Internet: www.shaker.de -
01 Front–054
Energy Myths and Realities Energy Myths and Realities: Bringing Science to the Energy Policy Debate Vaclav Smil The AEI Press Publisher for the American Enterprise Institute WASHINGTON, D.C. Distributed by arrangement with the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706. To order call toll free 1-800-462-6420 or 1-717-794-3800. For all other inquiries please contact AEI Press, 1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 or call 1-800-862-5801. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Smil, Vaclav. Energy myths and realities : bringing science to the energy policy debate / Vaclav Smil. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8447-4328-8 ISBN-10: 0-8447-4328-3 1. Renewable energy sources. 2. Energy policy. I. Title. TJ808.S639 2010 333.79'4—dc22 2010009437 14 13 12 11 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 © 2010 by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Wash- ington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or repro- duced in any manner whatsoever without permission in writing from the American Enterprise Institute except in the case of brief quotations embodied in news articles, critical articles, or reviews. The views expressed in the publications of the American Enterprise Institute are those of the authors and do not neces- sarily reflect the views of the staff, advisory panels, officers, or trustees of AEI. Printed in the United States of America Homines libenter quod volunt credunt Men believe what they want to —Publius Terentius v Contents LIST OF FIGURES xi KEY TO UNITS OF MEASURE xiii INTRODUCTION 1 Lost Opportunities 2 Persistent Myths 6 Challenging the Myths 11 PART I: LESSONS FROM THE PAST 15 1. -
CARBON CAPITALISM and the PROBLEM of ENERGY* John Urry
CARBON CAPITALISM AND THE PROBLEM OF ENERGY* John Urry This paper examines how contemporary mobile societies are built upon the energy resource of oil. This dependence sets up many difficulties and con- flicts. And it is especially highlighted in the new century as oil supplies would appear to be getting more uncertain and expensive. Capitalist societies face many problems because of their dependence upon a single and limited energy resource. Keywords: oil energy, cars, infrastructure, systems taxation. Places of high carbon excess have mushroomed in the past 30 or so neo-liberal years. The speculative development of places like Dubai was made possible by large infra- structural projects involving celebrity architects. The associated new transport systems are typically paid for out of public money. Building such places often involves the prof- ligate consumption of water, power and building materials in order to build on re- claimed land (Macao, Dubai) or in deserts (Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi). Such sites are highly commercialized with many simulated environments, more ‘real’ than the original from which they are copied. Gates, often digitized, prevent the entry and exit of local people and those visitors who do not have signs of good credit. Norms of behavior are unregulated by family/neighborhood. They are beyond neighborhood with liminal modes of consumption and only pleasure and no guilt unless insufficient consumption occurs. Moreover, many such places lie on or near beaches (and/or deserts). In Dubai mas- sive construction projects have enlarged the ‘beach’ through many ‘artificial’ islands. On occasions whole islands provide secure sites for such excess consumption. -
Concentrated Pain, Widespread Gain DYNAMICS of LOWER OIL PRICES February 2015
CONCENTRATED PAIN, WIDESPREAD GAIN DYNAMICS OF LOWER OIL PRICES FEBRUARY 2015 BLACKROCK INVESTMENT INSTITUTE Summary Oil prices are on a slippery slope. The pain of lower prices is acute and concentrated among oil-exporting nations and energy companies. The gains are widely dispersed and will likely be felt for a long time by oil importers and global consumers. The massive wealth transfer is set to boost developed economies to varying degrees. And it is sure to amplify economic and market divergences in the emerging world. We debated the prospects for the oil price, winners and losers, and risks and opportunities in asset markets. Our main conclusions: Jean Boivin } The crude crash is dramatic—but not unprecedented. Falls of similar magnitude Deputy Chief Investment Strategist, in the past stimulated consumer spending, helping to reinvigorate global economic BlackRock Investment Institute growth. We think crude prices are bottoming and see them modestly higher next year. Poppy Allonby } It would only take a moderate shift in demand to restore balance to the oil market. Portfolio Manager, BlackRock Spare production capacity amounts to just 4% of total demand, versus around Natural Resources Equities Team 18% in the mid-1980s, Energy Information Administration (EIA) data show. Ewen Cameron Watt } Soft demand and a strong U.S. dollar have helped bring down the oil price, but Chief Investment Strategist, ample supply is the root cause of the decline. New technologies such as hydraulic BlackRock Investment Institute fracking unearthed plentiful supplies of U.S. shale oil while the Middle East kept up production despite conflicts ravaging the region. -
Renewable Energy
Our Planet Volume 16 No 4 The magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme Renewable eneRgy P. J. Patterson Abundant Potential Takashi Tomita Ultimate Energy amory b. lovins Small is Powerful Hermann Scheer Prima Donna Power Marcelo Poppe & Isaías Macedo Sugar Solution elena Merle-béral Waking the Giant Our Planet Our Planet www.ourplanet.com 24 Sugar Solution Marcelo Poppe, former Secretary of State for Energy Development of Brazil and Isaías Macedo, former Director, Sugar Cane Technology Centre Helmut Clever/UNEP/Still Pictures 26 Climbing the Ladder Okwy Iroegbu, Head of the Environment/Property Desk, NewAge Newspapers, Lagos, 3 Editorial 11 People Nigeria Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director, UNEP 12 Ultimate Energy 28 Clearing Away Carbon Takashi Tomita, Corporate Director Peter Read, Massey University, 4 Abundant Potential and Group General Manager of Solar New Zealand P.J. Patterson, Systems Group, SHARP Corporation Prime Minister of Jamaica 30 Evolve with us! 13 Books & Products Elissa Smith, President, 6 The Energy Numbers Game Canadian Youth Environmental Monique Barbut, Director, UNEP 14 At a Glance: Renewables Network and North American Division of Technology, Industry and Representative, TUNZA Youth Economics 16 Prima Donna Power Advisory Council Hermann Scheer, President of 8 Small is Powerful EUROSOLAR and General Amory B. Lovins, co-founder and Chairman of the World Council for CEO, Rocky Mountain Institute Renewable Energy (WCRE) 18 Falling Water, Rising Power Richard Taylor, Executive Director, International Hydropower Association 20 Waking the Giant Elena Merle-Béral, analyst, International Energy Agency Joerg Boethling/Still Pictures 22 Blowing in the Wind Also available on the internet at Kalpana Sharma, Deputy Editor and www.ourplanet.com Chief, The Hindu, Mumbai Bureau Jose Roig Vallespir/UNEP/Still Pictures The contents of this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or the editors, nor are they an official record. -
A Very Stable Relationship: Oil Intensity and the Timing of Peak Oil
A Very Stable Relationship: Oil Intensity and the Timing of Peak Oil By Christof Rühl and Tit Erker I. Introduction Discussions of peak oil are not new. Historically, they have focussed on the supply side. Fear of “running out” has been a faithful companion to the 160-year history of oil markets and, for that matter, to the history of coal preceding it.1 Humankind, however, has never exhausted a primary energy resource. Just the opposite. Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, every primary fuel has been growing. Fuel shares have shifted but global energy demand was strong enough to entice absolute growth in all of its components. That such an outcome was possible, without “running out”, is testament to the power of price incentives and the human capacity to innovate. The credit for having predicted it accurately goes to economic reasoning. Over the last decade or so, this debate has tilted toward peak energy demand. Partially, this reflects the historic record: Coal consumption, for example, has started to come down recently. This may or may not be permanent. But even if it were, it would not have been triggered by a lack of supplies.2 For the most part, however, the new focus on demand appears to be motivated by the ‘Energy Transition’, i.e. the need to explore the consequences of transforming the world’s fossil energy system into one that minimizes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To conceptualize peak fuel demand in the context of the Energy Transition is not complicated: It means to accept the proposition that the binding constraint on fossil fuel consumption need not be the human ability to find, process and burn hydrocarbons. -
Peak Oil Strategic Management Dissertation
STRATEGIC CHOICES FOR MANAGING THE TRANSITION FROM PEAK OIL TO A REDUCED PETROLEUM ECONOMY BY SARAH K. ODLAND STRATEGIC CHOICES FOR MANAGING THE TRANSITION FROM PEAK OIL TO A REDUCED PETROLEUM ECONOMY BY SARAH K. ODLAND JUNE 2006 ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED AS A MASTER’S THESIS TO THE FACULTY OF THE DIVISION OF BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING, MERCY COLLEGE IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MAY 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND CHARTS v LIST OF TABLES vii PREFACE viii INTRODUCTION ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM 1 PART I THE BIG ROLLOVER: ONSET OF A PETROLEUM DEMAND GAP AND SWITCH TO A SELLERS’ MARKET CHAPTER 1 WHAT”S OIL EVER DONE FOR YOU? (AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT STOPPED DOING IT?) 5 Oil: Cheap Energy on Demand - Oil is Not Just a Commodity - Heavy Users - Projected Demand Growth for Liquid Petroleum - Price Elasticity of Oil Demand - Energy and Economic Growth - The Dependence of Productivity Growth on Expanding Energy Supplies - Economic Implications of a Reduced Oil Supply Rate CHAPTER 2 REALITY CHECK: TAKING INVENTORY OF PETROLEUM SUPPLY 17 The Geologic Production of Petroleum - Where the Oil Is and Where It Goes - Diminishing Marginal Returns of Production - Hubbert’s Peak: World Oil Production Peaking and Decline - Counting Oil Inventory: What’s in the World Warehouse? - Oil Resources versus Accessible Reserves - Three Camps: The Peak Oilers, Official Agencies, Technology Optimists - Liars’ Poker: Got Oil? - Geopolitical Realities of the Distribution of Remaining World -
THE BACKGROUND the Crude Market from As Recently As 2015, Saudi Energy Officials Competing Suppliers” Dismissed Suggestions That the Kingdom
FEATURE ENERGY ENERGY FEATURE BEYOND What are the implications of an increase in Saudi crude oil production capacity? BY JIM KRANE COMBINATION OF FACTORS IS encouraging Saudi Arabia A to consider raising crude oil production capacity beyond the current ceiling of 12.5 million barrels per day. The kingdom has managed to maintain a constant share of global crude oil markets, even as it copes with growing domestic demand for oil and a spate of investments in refineries, inside and outside the kingdom. Longer term, the threat of peak global oil demand – perhaps in response to climate change “Saudi Arabia finds itself – enhances the attractions of a shorter time horizon to depletion. However, an oscillating between increase in Saudi crude oil production cutting crude oil would have consequences for markets and competing forms of energy, as well production to prop up as for the kingdom's geopolitical stature. prices and maintaining The wide range of potential outcomes suggests that a major capacity increase is high levels of exports a risky strategy. to defend its share of THE BACKGROUND the crude market from As recently as 2015, Saudi energy officials competing suppliers” dismissed suggestions that the kingdom 40 Vol. 18/31, September 2017 anbusiness.com 41 FEATURE ENERGY ENERGY FEATURE would seek to raise its crude oil production “Even though costs based on what we see as projection and capacity above its theoretical maximum are among the world’s call on Saudi oil, we don’t see anything of 12.5 million barrels per day (m b/d). like that, even by 2030 or 2040. -
Considering Oil Production Variance As an Indicator of Peak Production
CONSIDERING OIL PRODUCTION VARIANCE AS AN INDICATOR OF PEAK PRODUCTION Project Fellowship BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHRISTOPHER M. FLEMING United States Army DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for Public Release. Distribution is Unlimited. USAWC CLASS OF 2010 This SSCFP is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements imposed on Senior Service College Fellows. The views expressed in this student academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Civilian Research Senior Service College U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013-5050 Form Approved REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202- 4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 07-06-2010 Civilian Research Paper August 2009 – June 2010 4. -
Environmentally Themed Books for Adults*
Environmentally Themed Books for Adults* *The City of Roanoke does not endorse any books on this list; they are provided merely as a starting point for your own investigation. Collected from various sources, 2015. NON-FICTION Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness by Edward Abbey Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World - Told from Inside by the Man Who Ran It by Ken Alibek The Bleeding of the Stone by Ibrahim al-Koni Enviro-Capitalists: Doing Good While Doing Well by Terry Lee Anderson and Donald R. Leal Free Market Environmentalism by Terry L. Anderson and Donald R. Leal Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo by Lawrence Anthony and Graham Spence Earth from the Air by Yann Arthus-Bertrand Our Angry Earth: A Ticking Ecological Bomb by Isaac Asimov and Frederik Pohl State of the World 2010: Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism to Sustainability by Erik Assadourian et al Wild Solutions: How Biodiversity is Money in the Bank by Andrew Beattie and Paul R. Ehrlich Environmental Principles and Policies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction by Sharon Beder Global Spin: The Corporate Assault on Environmentalism by Sharon Beder Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems by Michael Begon et al The Coming Global Superstorm by Art Bell and Whitley Strieber Fundamentals of Stack Gas Dispersion (4th edition) by Milton R. Beychok Aqueous Wastes from Petroleum and Petrochemical Plants by Milton R. Beychok Putting Biodiversity on the Map: Priority Areas for Global Conservation -
Global Oil Depletion
Cover:Example_Design 23/09/2009 10:38 Page 1 An assessment of the evidence for a near-term peak in global oil production global oil in peak near-term for a evidence the assessment of An Global Oil Depletion An assessment of the evidence for a near-term peak in global oil production UK Energy Research Centre September 2009 UK ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE 58 Prince’s Gate Exhibition Road London SW7 2PG tel: +44 (0)20 7594 1574 email: [email protected] www.ukerc.ac.uk UK ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE Cover:Example_Design 23/09/2009 10:38 Page 2 An assessment of the evidence for a near-term peak in global oil production A report produced by the Technology and Policy Assessment function of the UK Energy Research Centre Steve Sorrell Jamie Speirs Roger Bentley Adam Brandt Richard Miller August 2009 ISBN number 1-903144-0-35 Prelims_Intro:UKERC 23/09/2009 10:31 Page i Preface This report has been produced by the UK Energy Research Centre’s Technology and Policy Assessment (TPA) function. The TPA was set up to address key controversies in the energy field through comprehensive assessments of the current state of knowledge. It aims to provide authoritative reports that set high standards for rigour and transparency, while explaining results in a way that is useful to policymakers. This report summarises the main conclusions from the TPA’s assessment of evidence for global oil depletion. The subject of this assessment was chosen after consultation with energy sector stakeholders and upon the recommendation of the TPA Advisory Group, which is comprised of independent experts from government, academia and the private sector.