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Primary & Final Energy.
Primary energy (TPES) is criticised because it overestimates the qty of C-free energy req& #39;d to replace that generated by thermal energy. This because thermal energy generation is relatively inefficient at ave ~38%.
Primary energy (TPES) is criticised because it overestimates the qty of C-free energy req& #39;d to replace that generated by thermal energy. This because thermal energy generation is relatively inefficient at ave ~38%.
It& #39;s therefore perceived as consequently causing the global transition to C-free energy appear more difficult than need be. Fair call.
Primary Energy *does* measure the qty of thermal energy that has been displaced by C-free energy. Maybe it "looks back rather than forward"?
Primary Energy *does* measure the qty of thermal energy that has been displaced by C-free energy. Maybe it "looks back rather than forward"?
Total Final Consumption (TFC) below displays how the world uses energy, which seems to have labelled & #39;Final Energy& #39;. Here I& #39;ve included electricity generation, but it& #39;s a complicated diagram & not concise.
But the 3 pie-charts above can be combined, by considering only the C-free forms of energy and including @mzjacobson& #39;s specification for the greater efficiency of a 100% WWS energy system.
E.g.: SolarPV Final Energy = 1.7%*83%*20.8/42.9% = 0.7%.
E.g.: SolarPV Final Energy = 1.7%*83%*20.8/42.9% = 0.7%.
Surprisingly the shares displayed in the Primary and Final Energy charts are very similar. This seems to be because the energy accounting for each divides respective qtys by similar numbers: Primary Energy divides by 38%, and Final Energy 42.9%.
Changes in Primary Energy are therefore informative and indicative of changes to final energy.
Opinions of primary energy often seem overly critical, usually associated with a Pollyanna attitude towards tech and the non-linear growth of renewable energy. How to be +ve *and* realistic?
Notes:
1. Yes I applied the efficiency of WWS to nuclear (maybe crude but is elec and a small %)
2. I could create a single Final Energy chart for 2018 using BP& #39;s data and assuming a % for biofuel.
3. Unless BECCS comes to fruition at scale, I doubt biofuels should be pursued.
1. Yes I applied the efficiency of WWS to nuclear (maybe crude but is elec and a small %)
2. I could create a single Final Energy chart for 2018 using BP& #39;s data and assuming a % for biofuel.
3. Unless BECCS comes to fruition at scale, I doubt biofuels should be pursued.
