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Comparing Electricity Technologies

• ‘‘98 US Electrical Consumption98 US Electrical Consumption

3.6 million Gwh3.6 million Gwhee

• 35% of US Primary Energy 35% of US Primary Energy ConsumptionConsumption

• 2,200 million Mg of CO2,200 million Mg of CO22 emissions emissions

• ~5,500 million Mg of CO~5,500 million Mg of CO22 total US total US

emissionsemissions

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1998 Electricity Mix

52%52%

14%14%

20%20%<0.05%<0.05%

<0.05%<0.05%Others:Others:

HydroHydroOilOil

GeothermalGeothermalBiomassBiomass

CoalCoal

Natural GasNatural Gas

NuclearNuclear

SolarSolar

WindWind

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Construction• Manufacturing of plant components, Manufacturing of plant components,

including:including:– mining materials (ie: iron)mining materials (ie: iron)– processing materials (ie: steel)processing materials (ie: steel)– construction of components (ie: solar cells)construction of components (ie: solar cells)– energy for transportationenergy for transportation

• Site construction includes energy for:Site construction includes energy for:– heavy machineryheavy machinery

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Construction(tons of CO2 per GWhe)

1.31.3

1.31.3

1.91.91414

1313

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Fuel Production

• Exploration:Exploration:– energy required to find fossil fuel or uranium energy required to find fossil fuel or uranium

resourcesresources

• Mining, Processing & RefiningMining, Processing & Refining– energy and equipment requires to mine energy and equipment requires to mine

resources and convert it to usable fuelresources and convert it to usable fuel

• Transportation & StorageTransportation & Storage– energy requiredenergy required– possible leaks (ie: natural gas)possible leaks (ie: natural gas)

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Fuel Production(tons of CO2 per GWhe)

17.417.4

7777

9.59.500

00

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Fuel Consumption

• Burning fossil fuels is the biggest direct Burning fossil fuels is the biggest direct contributor contributor

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Fuel Consumption(tons of CO2 per GWhe)

956956

376376

0000

00

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Operation & Maintenance

• Electrical power is needed to keep Electrical power is needed to keep plant running reliablyplant running reliably

• Energy is needed to perform Energy is needed to perform maintenance on the plantmaintenance on the plant

• Equipment may need to be replaced Equipment may need to be replaced – this new equipment has all the same this new equipment has all the same

GHG emissions as the new equipment GHG emissions as the new equipment (ie. Construction)(ie. Construction)

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Operation & Maintenance(tons of CO2 per GWhe)

44

44

2.22.288

4.14.1

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Decommissioning• Energy required to dismantle power Energy required to dismantle power

plantplant• Energy required to destroy or dispose Energy required to destroy or dispose

of used componentsof used components• Energy required to reclaim landEnergy required to reclaim land

– heavy equipment for earth movingheavy equipment for earth moving– reforestationreforestation– etc...etc...

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Decommissioning(tons of CO2 per GWhe)

0.20.2

0.10.1

1.41.40.70.7

0.60.6

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Total(tons of CO2 per GWhe)

980980

460460

15152323

1818

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Assumptions• Coal:Coal:

– Based on 1000 MWe baseload coal stationBased on 1000 MWe baseload coal station

• Gas:Gas:– Based on 450 MWe baseload equivalent gas stationBased on 450 MWe baseload equivalent gas station

• Nuclear:Nuclear:– Based on 1000 MWe baseload nuclear stationBased on 1000 MWe baseload nuclear station

• Solar:Solar:– Based on 100 MWe facility located in the Southwest USBased on 100 MWe facility located in the Southwest US– GHG emissions for decommissioning are based on known values GHG emissions for decommissioning are based on known values

for wind and estimated for solar through a comparison of solar for wind and estimated for solar through a comparison of solar and wind construction costsand wind construction costs

• Wind:Wind:– Based on 25 MWe wind farm without storageBased on 25 MWe wind farm without storage– storage would increase emissions in construction and O&M storage would increase emissions in construction and O&M

(slightly in decomm.)(slightly in decomm.)