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{{Short description|Power produced with lower carbon dioxide emissions}}
'''Low carbon power''' comes from sources that produce fewer ] than do traditional means of power generation. It includes zero carbon power generation sources, such as ] and ], as well as sources with lower-level emissions such as ], and technologies that prevent carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere, such as carbon capture and storage. These power-generation techniques emit significantly less carbon dioxide than a traditional ].
{{About|electricity generation that aims to minimise greenhouse gas emissions|broader concepts|sustainable energy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
]
<noinclude>{{sustainable energy}}</noinclude>


'''Low-carbon electricity''' or '''low-carbon power''' is ] produced with substantially lower ] over the entire lifecycle than ] using ]s.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The ] to low-carbon power is one of the most important actions required to ].<ref name=":0" />
Low carbon power stems from the idea that to reduce carbon emissions, no single technology or solution can handle the problem alone, but the sum of all the possibilities across the transportation, industry, power, agriculture & waste, forestry and buildings sectors, makes the necessary change viable.<ref></ref> Low carbon power goes a step beyond renewable energy to include such methods as carbon capture, nuclear energy and natural gas. It is not limited to zero-emissions technologies, but to those that over time drastically reduce the amount of current emissions from each sector.


Low carbon power generation sources include ], ], ] and most ].<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00472.x | volume=16 | title=Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Nuclear Electricity Generation | journal=Journal of Industrial Ecology | pages=S73–S92 | last1 = Warner | first1 = Ethan S.| year=2012 | s2cid=153286497 | doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/energy/publications/doc/2010_setplan_brochure.pdf|title=The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan SET-Plan Towards a low-carbon future|date=2010|quote=... nuclear plants ... currently provide 1/3 of the EU’s electricity and 2/3 of its low-carbon energy.|page=6|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211100220/http://ec.europa.eu/energy/publications/doc/2010_setplan_brochure.pdf|archive-date=11 February 2014}}</ref> The term largely excludes conventional ] sources, and is only used to describe a particular subset of operating fossil fuel power systems, specifically, those that are successfully coupled with a ] ] (CCS) system.<ref name="gov.uk">{{Cite web |date=2016-09-13 |title=Innovation funding opportunities for low-carbon technologies: 2010 to 2015 |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/innovation-funding-for-low-carbon-technologies-opportunities-for-bidders |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> Globally almost 40% of electricity generation came from low-carbon sources in 2020: about 10% being nuclear power, almost 10% wind and solar, and around 20% hydropower and other renewables.<ref name=":0" /> Very little low-carbon power comes from fossil sources, mostly due to the cost of CCS technology.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=Yuting |last2=Jackson |first2=Christopher |last3=Krevor |first3=Samuel |date=2024-08-28 |title=The feasibility of reaching gigatonne scale CO2 storage by mid-century |journal=Nature Communications |language=en |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=6913 |doi=10.1038/s41467-024-51226-8 |issn=2041-1723 |pmc=11358273 |pmid=39198390}}] Text was copied from this source, which is available under a ]</ref>
==History==


== History ==
Over the past 30 years, significant findings regarding global warming highlighted the need to curb carbon emissions. From this, the idea for low carbon power was born. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by the ] (WMO) and the ] (UNEP) in 1988, set the scientific precedence for the introduction of low carbon power. The IPCC has continued to provide scientific, technical and socio-economic advice to the world community, through its periodic assessment reports and special reports.<ref></ref>
]
<br /><br />
During the late 20th and early 21st century significant findings regarding ] highlighted the need to curb carbon emissions. From this, the idea for low-carbon power was born. The ] (IPCC), established by the ] (WMO) and the ] (UNEP) in 1988, set the scientific precedence for the introduction of low-carbon power. The IPCC has continued to provide scientific, technical and socio-economic advice to the world community, through its periodic assessment reports and special reports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipcc.ch/about/about.htm|title=Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Web site|website=IPCC.ch|access-date=1 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825110811/http://www.ipcc.ch/about/about.htm|archive-date=25 August 2006}}</ref>
Internationally, the most prominent early step in the direction of low carbon power was the signing of the ], which came into force on February 16, 2005, under which most industrialized countries committed to reduce their carbon emissions. The historical event set the political precedence for introduction of low carbon power technology.<ref>] Misplaced Pages Entry on “Carbon Economy”</ref>
<br /><br />
On a social level, perhaps the biggest factor contributing to the general public’s awareness of climate change and the need for new technologies, including low carbon power, came from the documentary ], which clarified and highlighted the problem of global warming.


Internationally, the most prominent{{According to whom|date=October 2017}} early step in the direction of low carbon power was the signing of the ], which came into force on 16 February 2005, under which most industrialized countries committed to reduce their carbon emissions. The historical event set the political precedence for introduction of low-carbon power technology.
==What is low carbon power?==
===Differentiating attributes===
There are many options for lowering current levels of carbon emissions. Some options, such as wind power and solar power, produce no carbon emissions, using entirely renewable sources. Other options, such as nuclear power, produce no carbon emissions, but come from non-renewable sources (]). The term low carbon power can also include power that continues to utilize the world’s natural resources, such as natural gas and coal, but employs techniques that reduce carbon emissions from these sources when burning them for fuel.
<br /><br />
As the single largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the United States, the electric-power industry accounted for 39% of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in 2004, a 27% increase since 1990.<ref></ref> Because the cost of reducing emissions in the electricity sector appears to be lower than in other sectors such as transportation, the electricity sector may deliver the largest proportional carbon reductions under an economically efficient climate policy.<ref name=issues></ref>
<br /><br />
Technologies to produce electric power with low-carbon emissions are already in use at various scales. Together, they account for roughly 28% of all U.S. electric-power production, with nuclear power representing the majority (20%), followed by hydroelectric power (7%).<ref name=issues /> However, demand for power is increasing, driven by increased population and per capita demand, and low carbon power can supplement the supply needed.<ref></ref>


== Power sources by greenhouse gas emissions ==
==Examples of low carbon technology==
{{Excerpt|Life-cycle_greenhouse_gas_emissions_of_energy_sources|Global warming potential of selected electricity sources}}
===]===
)]]


== Differentiating attributes of low-carbon power sources ==
By capturing emissions and burying them in non-atmospheric reservoirs, coal-fired plants can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 percent. The process of stripping out carbon dioxide leaves hydrogen to power modified generators and can even be used to flush additional oil and gas reserves from dormant oil fields.<ref></ref>
]
There are many options for lowering current levels of carbon emissions. Some options, such as wind power and solar power, produce low quantities of total life cycle carbon emissions, using entirely renewable sources. Other options, such as nuclear power, produce a comparable amount of carbon dioxide emissions as renewable technologies in total life cycle emissions, but consume non-renewable, but sustainable<ref>{{cite web|url=http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph241/chowdhury2/|title=Is Nuclear Energy Renewable Energy?|website=large.Stanford.edu|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> materials (]). The term ''low-carbon power'' can also include power that continues to utilize the world's natural resources, such as natural gas and coal, but only when they employ techniques that reduce carbon dioxide emissions from these sources when burning them for fuel, such as the, as of 2012, pilot plants performing ].<ref name="gov.uk"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/05/120522-carbon-capture-and-storage-economic-hurdles/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525084232/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/05/120522-carbon-capture-and-storage-economic-hurdles/|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 May 2012|title=Amid Economic Concerns, Carbon Capture Faces a Hazy Future|date=23 May 2012|website=NationalGeographic.com|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>


Because the cost of reducing emissions in the electricity sector appears to be lower than in other sectors such as transportation, the electricity sector may deliver the largest proportional carbon reductions under an economically efficient climate policy.<ref name=issues>{{cite web|url=http://www.issues.org/23.3/apt.html|title=Promoting Low-Carbon Electricity Production - Issues in Science and Technology|website=www.Issues.org|access-date=1 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927013232/http://www.issues.org/23.3/apt.html|archive-date=27 September 2013}}</ref>
In countries with some of the highest levels of emissions, carbon capture stands to benefit economies the most. Another economic implication is that the higher the price of oil, the more valuable the captured CO<sub>2</sub>. Captured CO<sub>2</sub> can often be sold to an oil company that injects it into oil fields to squeeze out more oil.<ref></ref>


Technologies to produce electric power with low-carbon emissions are in use at various scales. Together, they accounted for almost 40% of global electricity in 2020, with wind and solar almost 10%.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Global Electricity Review 2021|url=https://ember-climate.org/project/global-electricity-review-2021/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Ember|date=28 March 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In California, a hydrogen-fueled power plant is in the works that is designed to generate 500MW of electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for some 325,000 homes and businesses in southern California.<ref></ref> The proposed project would combine a number of existing industrial processes to provide a new option for generating electricity without significant CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. They would first convert petroleum coke produced at California refineries to hydrogen and CO<sub>2</sub> gases with around 90% of the CO<sub>2</sub> captured and separated. The hydrogen gas stream would then fuel a gas turbine to generate electricity. The captured CO<sub>2</sub> would be transported via pipeline to an oilfield and injected into reservoir rock formations thousands of feet underground, both stimulating additional oil production and permanently trapping the CO<sub>2</sub>.<ref></ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; clear: right; margin: 0em 0em 1.5em 1em;"
===] and ] gas turbines===
|-
While it may seem counterintuitive that natural gas is a source of low carbon power, of all the fossil fuels used in power generation, it emits the least carbon dioxide.<ref></ref>


! colspan="2" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal; font-size: 0.85em; " | Source:<ref name="sciencedirect.com">{{cite journal |title=Energy intensities, EROIs (energy returned on invested), and energy payback times of electricity generating power plants. | doi=10.1016/j.energy.2013.01.029 | volume=52 |journal=Energy |pages=210–221 | last1 = Weißbach | first1 = D.|year=2013 }}</ref>
Through the combined cycle process, a ] generator generates electricity and the waste heat from the gas turbine is used to make steam to generate additional electricity via a ]; this last step enhances the efficiency of ].<ref>Misplaced Pages Entry on “Combined Cycle” (])</ref>
|}


== Technologies ==
===]===
Hydroelectric power currently supplies about 19% of world electricity and can be very cost-effective at a large scale. However, most of the sites suitable for large-scale hydroelectric plants in developed countries are either already in use or are unsuitable due to environmental concerns.
Although hydroelectric power generators produce no carbon dioxide emissions, there can be significant emissions of carbon dioxide and methane from the decay of the flooded plant life behind the dam. Small-scale hydropower operations do not create this kind of environmental impact but are much more expensive.


The 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report identifies nuclear, wind, solar and hydroelectricity in suitable locations as technologies that can provide electricity with less than 5% of the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of coal power.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 7: Energy Systems |work=AR5 Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change - Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ipcc_wg3_ar5_chapter7.pdf |first1=Thomas |last1=Bruckner |first2=Igor Alexeyevich |last2=Bashmakov |first3=Yacob |last3=Mulugetta |first4=Helena |last4=Chum |first5=Angel de la Vega |last5=Navarro |first6=James |last6=Edmonds |first7=Andre |last7=Faaij |first8=Bundit |last8=Fungtammasan |first9=Amit |last9=Garg |first10=Edgar |last10=Hertwich |first11=Damon |last11=Honnery |first12=David |last12=Infield |first13=Mikiko |last13=Kainuma |first14=Smail |last14=Khennas |first15=Suduk |last15=Kim |first16=Hassan Bashir |last16=Nimir |first17=Keywan |last17=Riahi |first18=Neil |last18=Strachan|first19=Ryan |last19=Wiser |first20=Xiliang |last20=Zhang |editor1=O. Edenhofer |editor2=R. Pichs-Madruga |editor3=Y. Sokona |editor4=E. Farahani |editor5=Susanne Kadner |editor6=Kristin Seyboth |editor7=A. Adler |editor8=I. Baum |editor9=S. Brunner |editor10=P. Eickemeier |editor11=B. Kriemann |editor12=J. Savolainen |editor13=Steffen Schlömer |editor14=Christoph von Stechow |editor15=T. Zwickel |editor16=J.C. Minx |publisher=] |location=], Switzerland |year=2014 |access-date=2024-10-02}}</ref>
===]===
Wind power supplies roughly the same amount of electricity as ], and new wind facilities are being built at a rapid pace. Since the fuel cost for wind is zero, the total cost per kilowatt-hour is roughly competitive with other low-carbon sources, such as new nuclear power plants. <ref name="issues" />


=== Hydroelectric power ===
The claim is sometimes made that manufacturing wind turbines and building wind plants creates large emissions of carbon dioxide. This is false. Several studies have found that even when these operations are included, wind energy’s CO<sub>2</sub> emissions are quite small—on the order of 1% of coal or 2% of natural gas per unit of electricity generated. Or in other words, using wind instead of coal reduces CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by 99%, using wind instead of gas by 98%.<ref></ref>
] when completed in 1936 was both the world's largest electric-power generating station and the world's largest concrete structure.]]


] plants have the advantage of being long-lived and many existing plants have operated for more than 100 years. Hydropower is also an extremely flexible technology from the perspective of power grid operation. Large hydropower provides one of the lowest cost options in today's energy market, even compared to ] and there are no harmful emissions associated with plant operation.<ref name="IEA">International Energy Agency (2007).
===]===
(PDF), OECD, p. 3.</ref> However, there are typically low greenhouse gas emissions with ]s, and possibly high emissions in the tropics.
The amount of solar energy that reaches the United States each year is equivalent to approximately 4,000 times the nation’s total electric power needs, but tapping that energy is relatively expensive. Costs for solar ] (PV) cells are five to 10 times higher than those of other low-carbon technologies, and the average power produced at even the best sites is less than a quarter of the energy produced at noon on a sunny day. Significant research efforts are underway in basic science to improve the performance of PV cells, which may lead to cost reductions in the near future.<ref name="issues" />


Hydroelectric power is the world's largest low carbon source of electricity, supplying 15.6% of total electricity in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lowcarbonpower.org/type/hydro|title = Understand Hydropower energy through Data &#124; Low-Carbon Power}}</ref> ] is by far the world's largest producer of ] in the world, followed by ] and ].
===]===
Nuclear power is the largest deployed technology among current low-carbon energy sources, but the capital cost of building a nuclear station is considerably larger than that of a coal-fired plant with conventional pollution control. If nuclear power is to keep its present 20% share of electricity production—from 103 plants now operating—30 new nuclear plants must be brought into service by 2020 to keep up with increasing demand. After 2020, many existing nuclear plants may have to close because of age, and construction will have to reach very high levels if market share is to be maintained.<ref name="issues" />


However, there are several significant social and environmental disadvantages of large-scale hydroelectric power systems: dislocation, if people are living where the reservoirs are planned, release of ] during construction and flooding of the reservoir, and disruption of aquatic ecosystems and birdlife.<ref>Duncan Graham-Rowe. ''New Scientist'', 24 February 2005.</ref> There is a strong consensus now that countries should adopt an integrated approach towards managing water resources, which would involve planning hydropower development in co-operation with other water-using sectors.<ref name="IEA"/>
===]===
Geothermal electricity generation technology uses naturally occurring hot water, such as geysers and hot springs, to generate power, and has been in use since 1904. As of November 2007, it is limited to places with hydrothermal resources and only uses a small percentage of the heat trapped in the earth. Future technologies may be able to access the heat held in rocks close to molten magma deep beneath the Earth’s surface.


===]=== === Nuclear power ===
], with a 10.6% share of world electricity production as of 2013, is the second largest low-carbon power source.<ref>http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/KeyWorld_Statistics_2015.pdf pg25</ref>
Harnessing the tides in a bay or estuary has been achieved in France (since 1966), Canada and Russia, and could be achieved in other areas with a large tidal range. The trapped water turns turbines as it is released through the tidal barrage in either direction. One possible fault is that the system would generate electricity most efficiently in bursts every six hours (once every tide). This limits the applications of tidal energy. <ref>]</ref>

Nuclear power, in 2010, also provided two thirds of the twenty seven nation ]'s low-carbon energy,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/energy/publications/doc/2010_setplan_brochure.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=17 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211100220/http://ec.europa.eu/energy/publications/doc/2010_setplan_brochure.pdf |archive-date=11 February 2014 }} The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan SET-Plan Towards a low-carbon future 2010. Nuclear power provides "2/3 of the EU's low carbon energy" pg 6.</ref> with some EU nations sourcing a large fraction of their electricity from nuclear power; for example ]. As of 2020 nuclear power provided 47% low-carbon power in the EU<ref>{{Cite web|title=Assuring the Backbone of a Carbon-free Power System by 2050 -Call for a Timely and Just Assessment of Nuclear Energy|url=http://www.snetp.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/NGO-Civil-society-on-Taxonomy-2020.pdf}}</ref> with countries largely based on nuclear power routinely achieving carbon intensity of 30-60 gCO2eq/kWh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Live CO₂ emissions of electricity consumption|url=http://electricitymap.tmrow.co/|website=electricitymap.tmrow.co|access-date=14 May 2020}}</ref>

In 2021 ] (UNECE) described nuclear power as important tool to mitigate climate change that has prevented 74 ] of {{CO2}} emissions over the last half century, providing 20% of energy in Europe and 43% of low-carbon energy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-11|title=Global climate objectives fall short without nuclear power in the mix: UNECE|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097572|access-date=2021-09-02|website=UN News|language=en}}</ref>

{{excerpt|Sustainable energy#Nuclear power}}

=== Wind power ===
]
{{Excerpt|Wind power|only=paragraphs}}

=== Solar power ===
{{Main|Solar power}}
] concentrates sunlight from a field of heliostats on a central tower.]]
Solar power is the conversion of ] into electricity, either directly using ] (PV), or indirectly using ] (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics convert light into electric current using the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Energy Sources: Solar|url=https://www.energy.gov/energysources/solar.htm|work=Department of Energy|access-date=19 April 2011}}</ref>

Commercial concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s. The 354 MW ] CSP installation is the largest solar power plant in the world, located in the ] of California. Other large CSP plants include the ] (150 MW) and the ] (150 MW), both in Spain. The over 200 MW ] in the United States, and the 214 MW ] in India, are the ] ]s. Solar power's share of worldwide electricity usage at the end of 2014 was 1%.<ref name="ren21.net">http://www.ren21.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/REN12-GSR2015_Onlinebook_low1.pdf pg31</ref>

=== Geothermal power ===
{{Main|Geothermal electricity}}
Geothermal electricity is ] from geothermal energy. Technologies in use include dry steam power plants, flash steam power plants and binary cycle power plants. Geothermal electricity generation is used in 24 countries<ref name=gea2010>Geothermal Energy Association. May 2010, p. 4-6.</ref> while ] is in use in 70 countries.<ref name="IPCC">{{Cite conference |first1=Ingvar B. |last1=Fridleifsson |first2=Ruggero |last2=Bertani |first3=Ernst |last3=Huenges |first4=John W. |last4=Lund |first5=Arni |last5=Ragnarsson |first6=Ladislaus |last6=Rybach |date=11 February 2008 |title=The possible role and contribution of geothermal energy to the mitigation of climate change |conference=IPCC Scoping Meeting on Renewable Energy Sources |editor=O. Hohmeyer and T. Trittin |location=Luebeck, Germany |pages=59–80 |url=http://iga.igg.cnr.it/documenti/IGA/Fridleifsson_et_al_IPCC_Geothermal_paper_2008.pdf |access-date=6 April 2009 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Current worldwide installed capacity is 10,715 megawatts (MW), with the largest capacity in the ] (3,086 MW),<ref name=geap7>Geothermal Energy Association. May 2010, p. 7.</ref> ], and ]. Estimates of the electricity generating potential of geothermal energy vary from 35 to 2000&nbsp;GW.<ref name="IPCC"/>

Geothermal power is considered to be ] because the heat extraction is small compared to the Earth's heat content.<ref name="sustainability">{{Citation
| last = Rybach | first = Ladislaus
| date =September 2007
| title =Geothermal Sustainability
| periodical =Geo-Heat Centre Quarterly Bulletin
| location =Klamath Falls, Oregon
| publisher =]
| volume =28
| issue =3
| pages = 2–7
| url =http://geoheat.oit.edu/bulletin/bull28-3/art2.pdf
| issn =0276-1084 | access-date =9 May 2009}}</ref> The ] of existing geothermal electric plants is on average 122&nbsp;kg of {{chem|CO|2|}} per megawatt-hour (MW·h) of electricity, a small fraction of that of conventional fossil fuel plants.<ref name="CO2">{{Citation
|last1 = Bertani
|first1 = Ruggero
|last2 = Thain
|first2 = Ian
|title = Geothermal Power Generating Plant CO<sub>2</sub> Emission Survey
|journal = IGA News
|issue = 49
|pages = 1–3
|publisher = ]
|date = July 2002
|url = http://www.geothermal-energy.org/documenti/IGA/newsletter/n49.pdf
|access-date = 13 May 2009
}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Tidal power ===
] is a form of ] that converts the energy of tides into electricity or other useful forms of power. The first large-scale tidal power plant (the ]) started operation in 1966. Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential for future electricity generation. Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power.

=== Carbon capture and storage ===
{{Main|Carbon capture and storage}}
] (CCS) captures carbon dioxide from the ] of power plants or other industry, transporting it to an appropriate location where it can be buried securely in an underground reservoir. Between 1972 and 2017, plans were made to add CCS to enough coal and gas power plants to sequester 171 million tonnes of {{chem|CO|2|}} per year, but by 2021 over 98% of these plans had failed.<ref name=":23">{{Cite journal |last=Kazlou |first=Tsimafei |last2=Cherp |first2=Aleh |last3=Jewell |first3=Jessica |date=October 2024 |title=Feasible deployment of carbon capture and storage and the requirements of climate targets |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02104-0 |journal=Nature Climate Change |language=en |volume=14 |issue=10 |pages=1047–1055, Extended Data Fig. 1 |at= |doi=10.1038/s41558-024-02104-0 |issn=1758-6798|pmc=11458486 }}</ref> Cost, the absence of measures to address long-term liability for stored CO<sub>2</sub>, and limited social acceptability have all contributed to project cancellations.<ref name=":122">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-26 |title=Net Zero Roadmap: A Global Pathway to Keep the 1.5 °C Goal in Reach – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-roadmap-a-global-pathway-to-keep-the-15-0c-goal-in-reach |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=|page=133}} As of 2024, CCS is in operation at only five power plants worldwide.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |title=Global Status Report 2024 |url=https://www.globalccsinstitute.com/resources/global-status-report/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Global CCS Institute |pages=57-58 |language=en-AU}} </ref>

== Outlook and requirements ==


== The outlook for low carbon power==
=== Emissions === === Emissions ===
for detailed breakdown]] for detailed breakdown]]
The ] stated in its first working group report that “most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in ] greenhouse gas concentrations, contribute to ].<ref></ref> The ] stated in its first working group report that "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in ] greenhouse gas concentrations, contribute to ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114144734/http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf |date=14 November 2007 }}</ref>


As a percentage of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, ] (CO<sub>2</sub>) accounts for 72 percent, <ref>]</ref> and has increased in concentration in the atmosphere from 315 parts per million (ppm) in 1958 to more than 375 ppm in 2005. <ref></ref> As a percentage of all anthropogenic ], ] (CO<sub>2</sub>) accounts for 72 percent (see ]), and has increased in concentration in the atmosphere from 315 parts per million (ppm) in 1958 to more than 375 ppm in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/co2/graphics/mlo145e_thrudc04.pdf|title=Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC), the primary climate-change data and information analysis center of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)|website=ORNL.gov|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>


Emissions from energy make up more than 61.4 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. <ref name="wri"></ref> Power generation from traditional coal fuel sources accounts for 18.8 percent of all world greenhouse gas emissions, nearly double that emitted by road transportation.<ref name="wri" /> Emissions from energy make up more than 61.4 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions.<ref name="wri">{{cite web|url=http://www.wri.org/climate/topic_content.cfm?cid=4177|title=World Resources Institute; "Greenhouse Gases and Where They Come From"|website=WRI.org|access-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714162030/http://www.wri.org/climate/topic_content.cfm?cid=4177|archive-date=14 July 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Power generation from traditional coal fuel sources accounts for 18.8 percent of all world greenhouse gas emissions, nearly double that emitted by road transportation.<ref name="wri" />


Estimates state that by 2020 the world will be producing around twice as much carbon emissions as it was in 2000.<ref></ref> Estimates state that by 2020 the world will be producing around twice as much carbon emissions as it was in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/FTPROOT/presentations/ieo99_3im/sld006.htm|title=Energy Information Administration; "World Carbon Emissions by Region"|website=DOE.gov|access-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314130415/http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/FTPROOT/presentations/ieo99_3im/sld006.htm|archive-date=14 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The mandating ] in the coming year for all 27 countries in the union.


=== Electricity usage === === Electricity usage ===
)]] ]


World energy consumption is predicted to increase from 421 quadrillion British Thermal Units (BTU) in 2003 to 722 quadrillion BTU in 2030.<ref></ref> Coal consumption is predicted to nearly double in that same time.<ref></ref> The fastest growth is seen in non-] Asian countries, especially China and India, where economic growth drives increased energy use.<ref></ref> By implementing low carbon power options, world electricity demand could continue to grow while maintaining stable carbon emission levels. ] is predicted to increase from {{convert|421|e15BTU|TWh|order=flip|abbr=unit|lk=on}} in 2003 to {{convert|722|e15BTU|TWh|order=flip|abbr=unit}} in 2030.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/figure_7.html|title=EIA - International Energy Outlook 2017|website=www.eia.DOE.gov|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> Coal consumption is predicted to nearly double in that same time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timeforchange.org/prediction-of-energy-consumption|title=Prediction of energy consumption world-wide - Time for change|website=TimeForChange.org|date=18 January 2007|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> The fastest growth is seen in non-] Asian countries, especially China and India, where economic growth drives increased energy use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/images/06-03-1.gif|title=Energy Information Administration; "World Market Energy Consumption by Region"|website=DOE.gov|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> By implementing low-carbon power options, world electricity demand could continue to grow while maintaining stable carbon emission levels.

In the transportation sector there are moves away from fossil fuels and towards electric vehicles, such as ] and the ]. These trends are small, but may eventually add a large demand to the electrical grid.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Domestic and industrial heat and hot water have largely been supplied by burning fossil fuels such as fuel oil or natural gas at the consumers' premises. Some countries have begun heat pump rebates to encourage switching to electricity, potentially adding a large demand to the grid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/air-source-heat-pumps|title=Air source heat pumps|website=EnergySavingTrust.org.uk|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>


=== Energy infrastructure === === Energy infrastructure ===
By 2015, one-third of the 2007 U.S. coal plants will be more than 50 years old.<ref name="nrdc"></ref> Nearly two-thirds of the generation capacity required to meet power demand in 2030 is yet to be built.<ref name="nrdc" /> There are currently 151 new coal-fired power plants planned for the U.S., providing 90GW of power.<ref name="netl"></ref>
)]]


Coal-fired power plants are losing market share compared to low carbon power, and any built in the 2020s risk becoming ]s<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Bertram |first1=Christoph |last2=Luderer |first2=Gunnar |last3=Creutzig |first3=Felix |author3-link=Felix Creutzig |last4=Bauer |first4=Nico |last5=Ueckerdt |first5=Falko |last6=Malik |first6=Aman |last7=Edenhofer |first7=Ottmar |author7-link=Ottmar Edenhofer |date=March 2021 |title=COVID-19-induced low power demand and market forces starkly reduce CO 2 emissions |journal=Nature Climate Change |language=en |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=193–196 |bibcode=2021NatCC..11..193B |doi=10.1038/s41558-021-00987-x |issn=1758-6798 |doi-access=free}}</ref> or ], partly because their ]s will decline.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Analysts' inaccurate cost estimates are creating a trillion-dollar bubble in conventional energy assets|url=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/analysts-inaccurate-cost-estimates-are-creating-a-trillion-dollar-bubble-i/596648/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Utility Dive|language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Viability ===
Improvements to current carbon capture technologies could reduce CO<sub>2</sub> capture costs by at least 20-30% over approximately the next decade, while new technologies under development promise more substantial cost reduction.<ref name="netl" />


=== Investment === === Investment ===
Investment in low carbon power sources and technologies is increasing at a rapid rate. Zero-carbon power sources produce about 2% of the world's energy, but account for about 18% of world investment in power generation, attracting $100 billion of investment capital in 2006.<ref></ref> Investment in low-carbon power sources and technologies is increasing at a rapid rate.{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=October 2017}} Zero-carbon power sources produce about 2% of the world's energy, but account for about 18% of world investment in power generation, attracting $100 billion of investment capital in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=512&ArticleID=5616&l=en|title=United Nations Environment Program Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment 2007|website=UNEP.org|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>
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== Advocates and practitioners== == See also ==
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==References== == References ==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


===Sources===
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* {{cite book|author=]|year=2011|url=https://www.ipcc.ch/report/renewable-energy-sources-and-climate-change-mitigation/|title=IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation |editor-first1=O. |editor-last1=Edenhofer|editor-first2=R.|editor-last2=Pichs-Madruga|editor-first3=Y. |editor-last3=Sokona|editor-first4=K.|editor-last4=Seyboth|editor-first5=P.|editor-last5=Matschoss|editor-first6=S.|editor-last6=Kadner|display-editors=4|publisher=]|isbn=978-1-107-02340-6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827115439/https://www.ipcc.ch/report/renewable-energy-sources-and-climate-change-mitigation/|archive-date=27 August 2021|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book |author=] |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg3/ |year=2014 |title=Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change: Working Group III contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |editor-first1=O. |editor-last1=Edenhofer |editor-first2=R. |editor-last2=Pichs-Madruga |editor-first3=Y. |editor-last3=Sokona |editor-first4=E. |editor-last4=Farahani |editor-first5=S. |editor-last5=Kadner |display-editors=4 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-107-05821-7 |oclc=892580682 |archive-date=26 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126121016/http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg3/ |url-status=live}}
*{{Cite book |author=] |year=2018 |title=Global Warming of 1.5&nbsp;°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5&nbsp;°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty |display-editors=4 |editor-first1=V. |editor-last1=Masson-Delmotte |editor-first2=P. |editor-last2=Zhai |editor-first3=H.-O. |editor-last3=Pörtner |editor-first4=D. |editor-last4=Roberts |editor-first5=J. |editor-last5=Skea |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/06/SR15_Full_Report_High_Res.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120190924/https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/06/SR15_Full_Report_High_Res.pdf |archive-date=20 November 2020 |url-status=live|isbn=<!-- not issued? -->}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Kutscher|first1=C.F.|last2=Milford|first2=J.B.|last3=Kreith|first3=F.|title=Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems|edition=Third|publisher=]|series=Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Series |year=2019|isbn=978-0-429-93916-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wQhpDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606195825/https://books.google.com/books?id=wQhpDwAAQBAJ}}
* {{Cite book|title=Future Energy: Improved, Sustainable and Clean Options for our Planet |edition=Third |publisher=] |year=2020|isbn=978-0-08-102886-5 |editor-last=Letcher|editor-first=Trevor M.}}
* {{Cite book|last=MacKay|first=David J. C.|author-link=David J. C. MacKay|title=Sustainable energy – without the hot air|date=2008|publisher=UIT Cambridge|isbn=978-0-9544529-3-3 |oclc=262888377 |url=https://www.withouthotair.com/ |archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828004812/http://www.withouthotair.com/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite report|last1=Morris|first1=Ellen|first2=Rose|last2=Mensah-Kutin|first3=Jennye|last3=Greene |first4=Catherine|last4=Diam-valla|url=https://seforall.org/sites/default/files/Situation-Analysis-of-Energy-and-Gender-Issues.pdf |title=Situation Analysis of Energy and Gender Issues in ECOWAS Member States |date=2015|publisher=ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency|archive-date=21 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321142125/http://seforall.org/sites/default/files/Situation-Analysis-of-Energy-and-Gender-Issues.pdf|url-status=live}}

{{refend}}

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Latest revision as of 03:57, 11 November 2024

Power produced with lower carbon dioxide emissions This article is about electricity generation that aims to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. For broader concepts, see sustainable energy.

Share of primary energy from low-carbon sources, 2018
Part of a series on
Sustainable energy
A car drives past 4 wind turbines in a field, with more on the horizon
Energy conservation
Renewable energy
Sustainable transport

Low-carbon electricity or low-carbon power is electricity produced with substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions over the entire lifecycle than power generation using fossil fuels. The energy transition to low-carbon power is one of the most important actions required to limit climate change.

Low carbon power generation sources include wind power, solar power, nuclear power and most hydropower. The term largely excludes conventional fossil fuel plant sources, and is only used to describe a particular subset of operating fossil fuel power systems, specifically, those that are successfully coupled with a flue gas carbon capture and storage (CCS) system. Globally almost 40% of electricity generation came from low-carbon sources in 2020: about 10% being nuclear power, almost 10% wind and solar, and around 20% hydropower and other renewables. Very little low-carbon power comes from fossil sources, mostly due to the cost of CCS technology.

History

Percentage of electricity generation from low-carbon sources in 2019.

During the late 20th and early 21st century significant findings regarding global warming highlighted the need to curb carbon emissions. From this, the idea for low-carbon power was born. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1988, set the scientific precedence for the introduction of low-carbon power. The IPCC has continued to provide scientific, technical and socio-economic advice to the world community, through its periodic assessment reports and special reports.

Internationally, the most prominent early step in the direction of low carbon power was the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, which came into force on 16 February 2005, under which most industrialized countries committed to reduce their carbon emissions. The historical event set the political precedence for introduction of low-carbon power technology.

Power sources by greenhouse gas emissions

This section is an excerpt from Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of energy sources § Global warming potential of selected electricity sources.
Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of electricity supply technologies, median values calculated by IPCC
Life cycle CO2 equivalent (including albedo effect) from selected electricity supply technologies according to IPCC 2014. Arranged by decreasing median (g/kWh CO2eq) values.
Technology Min. Median Max.
Currently commercially available technologies
CoalPC 740 820 910
Gascombined cycle 410 490 650
Biomass – Dedicated 130 230 420
Solar PV – Utility scale 18 48 180
Solar PV – rooftop 26 41 60
Geothermal 6.0 38 79
Concentrated solar power 8.8 27 63
Hydropower 1.0 24 2200
Wind Offshore 8.0 12 35
Nuclear 3.7 12 110
Wind Onshore 7.0 11 56
Pre‐commercial technologies
Ocean (Tidal and wave) 5.6 17 28

see also environmental impact of reservoirs#Greenhouse gases.

Lifecycle GHG emissions, in g CO2 eq. per kWh, UNECE 2020
Lifecycle CO2 emissions per kWh, EU28 countries, according to UNECE 2020.
Technology g/kWh CO2eq
Hard coal PC, without CCS 1000
IGCC, without CCS 850
SC, without CCS 950
PC, with CCS 370
IGCC, with CCS 280
SC, with CCS 330
Natural gas NGCC, without CCS 430
NGCC, with CCS 130
Hydro 660 MW 150
360 MW 11
Nuclear average 5.1
CSP tower 22
trough 42
PV poly-Si, ground-mounted 37
poly-Si, roof-mounted 37
CdTe, ground-mounted 12
CdTe, roof-mounted 15
CIGS, ground-mounted 11
CIGS, roof-mounted 14
Wind onshore 12
offshore, concrete foundation 14
offshore, steel foundation 13

List of acronyms:

Differentiating attributes of low-carbon power sources

Worldwide low-carbon electricity generation by source

There are many options for lowering current levels of carbon emissions. Some options, such as wind power and solar power, produce low quantities of total life cycle carbon emissions, using entirely renewable sources. Other options, such as nuclear power, produce a comparable amount of carbon dioxide emissions as renewable technologies in total life cycle emissions, but consume non-renewable, but sustainable materials (uranium). The term low-carbon power can also include power that continues to utilize the world's natural resources, such as natural gas and coal, but only when they employ techniques that reduce carbon dioxide emissions from these sources when burning them for fuel, such as the, as of 2012, pilot plants performing Carbon capture and storage.

Because the cost of reducing emissions in the electricity sector appears to be lower than in other sectors such as transportation, the electricity sector may deliver the largest proportional carbon reductions under an economically efficient climate policy.

Technologies to produce electric power with low-carbon emissions are in use at various scales. Together, they accounted for almost 40% of global electricity in 2020, with wind and solar almost 10%.

Source:

Technologies

The 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report identifies nuclear, wind, solar and hydroelectricity in suitable locations as technologies that can provide electricity with less than 5% of the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of coal power.

Hydroelectric power

The Hoover Dam when completed in 1936 was both the world's largest electric-power generating station and the world's largest concrete structure.

Hydroelectric plants have the advantage of being long-lived and many existing plants have operated for more than 100 years. Hydropower is also an extremely flexible technology from the perspective of power grid operation. Large hydropower provides one of the lowest cost options in today's energy market, even compared to fossil fuels and there are no harmful emissions associated with plant operation. However, there are typically low greenhouse gas emissions with reservoirs, and possibly high emissions in the tropics.

Hydroelectric power is the world's largest low carbon source of electricity, supplying 15.6% of total electricity in 2019. China is by far the world's largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world, followed by Brazil and Canada.

However, there are several significant social and environmental disadvantages of large-scale hydroelectric power systems: dislocation, if people are living where the reservoirs are planned, release of significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane during construction and flooding of the reservoir, and disruption of aquatic ecosystems and birdlife. There is a strong consensus now that countries should adopt an integrated approach towards managing water resources, which would involve planning hydropower development in co-operation with other water-using sectors.

Nuclear power

Nuclear power, with a 10.6% share of world electricity production as of 2013, is the second largest low-carbon power source.

Nuclear power, in 2010, also provided two thirds of the twenty seven nation European Union's low-carbon energy, with some EU nations sourcing a large fraction of their electricity from nuclear power; for example France derives 79% of its electricity from nuclear. As of 2020 nuclear power provided 47% low-carbon power in the EU with countries largely based on nuclear power routinely achieving carbon intensity of 30-60 gCO2eq/kWh.

In 2021 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) described nuclear power as important tool to mitigate climate change that has prevented 74 Gt of CO2 emissions over the last half century, providing 20% of energy in Europe and 43% of low-carbon energy.

This section is an excerpt from Sustainable energy § Nuclear power.
Chart showing the proportion of electricity produced by fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables from 1985 to 2020
Since 1985, the proportion of electricity generated from low-carbon sources has increased only slightly. Advances in deploying renewables have been mostly offset by declining shares of nuclear power.

Nuclear power has been used since the 1950s as a low-carbon source of baseload electricity. Nuclear power plants in over 30 countries generate about 10% of global electricity. As of 2019, nuclear generated over a quarter of all low-carbon energy, making it the second largest source after hydropower.

Nuclear power's lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions—including the mining and processing of uranium—are similar to the emissions from renewable energy sources. Nuclear power uses little land per unit of energy produced, compared to the major renewables. Additionally, Nuclear power does not create local air pollution. Although the uranium ore used to fuel nuclear fission plants is a non-renewable resource, enough exists to provide a supply for hundreds to thousands of years. However, uranium resources that can be accessed in an economically feasible manner, at the present state, are limited and uranium production could hardly keep up during the expansion phase. Climate change mitigation pathways consistent with ambitious goals typically see an increase in power supply from nuclear.

There is controversy over whether nuclear power is sustainable, in part due to concerns around nuclear waste, nuclear weapon proliferation, and accidents. Radioactive nuclear waste must be managed for thousands of years. For each unit of energy produced, nuclear energy has caused far fewer accidental and pollution-related deaths than fossil fuels, and the historic fatality rate of nuclear is comparable to renewable sources. Public opposition to nuclear energy often makes nuclear plants politically difficult to implement.

Reducing the time and the cost of building new nuclear plants have been goals for decades but costs remain high and timescales long. Various new forms of nuclear energy are in development, hoping to address the drawbacks of conventional plants. Fast breeder reactors are capable of recycling nuclear waste and therefore can significantly reduce the amount of waste that requires geological disposal, but have not yet been deployed on a large-scale commercial basis. Nuclear power based on thorium (rather than uranium) may be able to provide higher energy security for countries that do not have a large supply of uranium. Small modular reactors may have several advantages over current large reactors: It should be possible to build them faster and their modularization would allow for cost reductions via learning-by-doing.

Several countries are attempting to develop nuclear fusion reactors, which would generate small amounts of waste and no risk of explosions. Although fusion power has taken steps forward in the lab, the multi-decade timescale needed to bring it to commercialization and then scale means it will not contribute to a 2050 net zero goal for climate change mitigation.

Wind power

Wind power stations in Xinjiang, China
These paragraphs are an excerpt from Wind power.

Wind power is the use of wind energy to generate useful work. Historically, wind power was used by sails, windmills and windpumps, but today it is mostly used to generate electricity. This article deals only with wind power for electricity generation. Today, wind power is generated almost completely with wind turbines, generally grouped into wind farms and connected to the electrical grid.

In 2022, wind supplied over 2,304 TWh of electricity, which was 7.8% of world electricity. With about 100 GW added during 2021, mostly in China and the United States, global installed wind power capacity exceeded 800 GW. 32 countries generated more than a tenth of their electricity from wind power in 2023 and wind generation has nearly tripled since 2015. To help meet the Paris Agreement goals to limit climate change, analysts say it should expand much faster – by over 1% of electricity generation per year.

Wind power is considered a sustainable, renewable energy source, and has a much smaller impact on the environment compared to burning fossil fuels. Wind power is variable, so it needs energy storage or other dispatchable generation energy sources to attain a reliable supply of electricity. Land-based (onshore) wind farms have a greater visual impact on the landscape than most other power stations per energy produced. Wind farms sited offshore have less visual impact and have higher capacity factors, although they are generally more expensive. Offshore wind power currently has a share of about 10% of new installations.

Wind power is one of the lowest-cost electricity sources per unit of energy produced. In many locations, new onshore wind farms are cheaper than new coal or gas plants.

Regions in the higher northern and southern latitudes have the highest potential for wind power. In most regions, wind power generation is higher in nighttime, and in winter when solar power output is low. For this reason, combinations of wind and solar power are suitable in many countries.

Solar power

Main article: Solar power
The PS10 concentrates sunlight from a field of heliostats on a central tower.

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics convert light into electric current using the photoelectric effect.

Commercial concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s. The 354 MW SEGS CSP installation is the largest solar power plant in the world, located in the Mojave Desert of California. Other large CSP plants include the Solnova Solar Power Station (150 MW) and the Andasol solar power station (150 MW), both in Spain. The over 200 MW Agua Caliente Solar Project in the United States, and the 214 MW Charanka Solar Park in India, are the world's largest photovoltaic plants. Solar power's share of worldwide electricity usage at the end of 2014 was 1%.

Geothermal power

Main article: Geothermal electricity

Geothermal electricity is electricity generated from geothermal energy. Technologies in use include dry steam power plants, flash steam power plants and binary cycle power plants. Geothermal electricity generation is used in 24 countries while geothermal heating is in use in 70 countries.

Current worldwide installed capacity is 10,715 megawatts (MW), with the largest capacity in the United States (3,086 MW), Philippines, and Indonesia. Estimates of the electricity generating potential of geothermal energy vary from 35 to 2000 GW.

Geothermal power is considered to be sustainable because the heat extraction is small compared to the Earth's heat content. The emission intensity of existing geothermal electric plants is on average 122 kg of CO
2 per megawatt-hour (MW·h) of electricity, a small fraction of that of conventional fossil fuel plants.

Tidal power

Tidal power is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into electricity or other useful forms of power. The first large-scale tidal power plant (the Rance Tidal Power Station) started operation in 1966. Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential for future electricity generation. Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power.

Carbon capture and storage

Main article: Carbon capture and storage

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) captures carbon dioxide from the flue gas of power plants or other industry, transporting it to an appropriate location where it can be buried securely in an underground reservoir. Between 1972 and 2017, plans were made to add CCS to enough coal and gas power plants to sequester 171 million tonnes of CO
2 per year, but by 2021 over 98% of these plans had failed. Cost, the absence of measures to address long-term liability for stored CO2, and limited social acceptability have all contributed to project cancellations. As of 2024, CCS is in operation at only five power plants worldwide.

Outlook and requirements

Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions by sector. See World Resources Institute for detailed breakdown

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated in its first working group report that "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations, contribute to climate change.

As a percentage of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for 72 percent (see Greenhouse gas), and has increased in concentration in the atmosphere from 315 parts per million (ppm) in 1958 to more than 375 ppm in 2005.

Emissions from energy make up more than 61.4 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. Power generation from traditional coal fuel sources accounts for 18.8 percent of all world greenhouse gas emissions, nearly double that emitted by road transportation.

Estimates state that by 2020 the world will be producing around twice as much carbon emissions as it was in 2000.

The European Union hopes to sign a law mandating net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the coming year for all 27 countries in the union.

Electricity usage

World CO2 emissions by region

World energy consumption is predicted to increase from 123,000 TWh (421 quadrillion BTU) in 2003 to 212,000 TWh (722 quadrillion BTU) in 2030. Coal consumption is predicted to nearly double in that same time. The fastest growth is seen in non-OECD Asian countries, especially China and India, where economic growth drives increased energy use. By implementing low-carbon power options, world electricity demand could continue to grow while maintaining stable carbon emission levels.

In the transportation sector there are moves away from fossil fuels and towards electric vehicles, such as mass transit and the electric car. These trends are small, but may eventually add a large demand to the electrical grid.

Domestic and industrial heat and hot water have largely been supplied by burning fossil fuels such as fuel oil or natural gas at the consumers' premises. Some countries have begun heat pump rebates to encourage switching to electricity, potentially adding a large demand to the grid.

Energy infrastructure

Coal-fired power plants are losing market share compared to low carbon power, and any built in the 2020s risk becoming stranded assets or stranded costs, partly because their capacity factors will decline.

Investment

Investment in low-carbon power sources and technologies is increasing at a rapid rate. Zero-carbon power sources produce about 2% of the world's energy, but account for about 18% of world investment in power generation, attracting $100 billion of investment capital in 2006.

See also

References

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  10. "The 660 MW plant should be considered as an outlier, as transportation for the dam construction elements is assumed to occur over thousands of kilometers (which is only representative of a very small share of hydropower projects globally). The 360 MW plant should be considered as the most representative, with fossil greenhouse gas emissions ranging from 6.1 to 11 g CO2eq/kWh" (UNECE 2020 section 4.4.1)
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