11 comments on SER-2 [02] Memo on the Security and Solidarity Action Plan
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11 comments on SER-2 [02] Memo on the Security and Solidarity Action Plan
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Western Europe in particular doesn't have good energy security options. No fossil fuels at all and bad sun. USA can build all the solar power we want for teen cents per KWh if we don't mind coverring Arizona with panels. Solar power for 50 euros a kWh might be the best option France, Germany has but that's a large price tag.
Re energy security options.
For Europe the reduction of energy consumption by energy efficiency is far the cheapest, and fastest option, with the least impact on society in general.
Conservation, energy efficiency; energy productivity, saving, doing more with less - you name it. It works.
Several investigations -fx. from McKinsey shows that saving is much cheaper than spending on new power. In Construction, saving measures may even be cost negative.
See here: (Vattenfall / McKinsey) http://lightbucket.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/carbonabatement800.jpg
One example from the area of LCA. ( Wolkswagen)http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/de/publications/2007/01/Golf_A4__Sachbilanz.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/golfa4_german.pdf
1 kilo car cost approx 5 liters of diesel oil ( a 36 mJ/l) energy to produce. 1 ton car = small EU car = 5000 liters fuel oil. 2 ton car = US SUV =10.000 liters. Then add the consumption. EU car 20 km/liter diesel. US SUV 10 km/liter diesel.
100.000 miles. Small EU car 13.000(5.000+8000 liter diesel); US SUV 26.000 (10.000+ 16.000 liter diesel. Same job,half energy cost.
Similar calculations can be seen from food production to industry- to construction.
kind regards/ And1
Well, theoretically, the EU needs to cover a mere 1% of it's territory with 20% efficient solar panels, or 2% with 10% efficient panels, or 20% with 1% efficient biofuels, to replace projected energy needs for 2020 (I'm sorry I don't have a reference, this number was cited to me a by univ professor who was lecturing on the subject of solar power).
The advantage the EU has with respect to the US, is a modern grid already in place and a more frugal culture. So we only have to cover parts of southern Spain with solar panels :)
If we did a similar exercise with the USA, we have 3.5 million square miles of which we have to panel over 10,000 square miles with panels to produce all of our electricity. Maybe twice as much to produce all of our energy needs, skipping over how does the electricity propel the car. I don't doubt Europe could do it if they want to. They just have to pay three times as much for the electricity as a similar exercise in the USA.