The National Academies: What You Need To Know About Energy

The National Academies

What You Need To Know About Energy

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America’s Energy Future: Technology and Transformation (2009)

Energy touches our lives in countless ways and its costs are felt when we fill up at the gas pump, pay our home heating bills, and keep businesses both large and small running. There are long-term costs as well: to the environment, as natural resources are depleted and pollution contributes to global climate change, and to national security and independence, as many of the world’s current energy sources are increasingly concentrated in geopolitically unstable regions. The country’s challenge is to develop an energy portfolio that addresses these concerns while still providing sufficient, affordable energy reserves for the nation. The United States has enormous resources to put behind solutions to this energy challenge; the dilemma is to identify which solutions are the right ones. Before deciding which energy technologies to develop, and on what timeline, we need to understand them better. America’s Energy Future analyzes the potential of a wide range of technologies for generation, distribution, and conservation of energy. This book considers technologies to increase energy efficiency, coal-fired power generation, nuclear power, renewable energy, oil and natural gas, and alternative transportation fuels. It assesses the associated impacts and projected costs of implementing each technology and categorizes them into three time frames for implementation.

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Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States (2009)

America’s economy and lifestyles have been shaped by the low prices and availability of energy. In the last decade, however, the prices of oil, natural gas, and coal have increased dramatically, leaving consumers and the industrial and service sectors looking for ways to reduce energy use. To achieve greater energy efficiency, we need technology, more informed consumers and producers, and investments in more energy-efficient industrial processes, businesses, residences, and transportation. As part of the America’s Energy Future project, Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States examines the potential for reducing energy demand through improving efficiency by using existing technologies, technologies developed but not yet utilized widely, and prospective technologies. The book evaluates technologies based on their estimated times to initial commercial deployment, and provides an analysis of costs, barriers, and research needs. This quantitative characterization of technologies will guide policy makers toward planning the future of energy use in America. This book will also have much to offer to industry leaders, investors, environmentalists, and others looking for a practical diagnosis of energy efficiency possibilities.

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Electricity from Renewable Resources: Status, Prospects, and Impediments (2009)

A component in the America’s Energy Future study, Electricity from Renewable Resources examines the technical potential for electric power generation with alternative sources such as wind, solar-photovoltaic, geothermal, solar-thermal, hydroelectric, and other renewable sources. The book focuses on those renewable sources that show the most promise for initial commercial deployment within 10 years and will lead to a substantial impact on the U.S. energy system. A quantitative characterization of technologies, this book lays out expectations of costs, performance, and impacts, as well as barriers and research and development needs. In addition to a principal focus on renewable energy technologies for power generation, the book addresses the challenges of incorporating such technologies into the power grid, as well as potential improvements in the national electricity grid that could enable better and more extensive utilization of wind, solar-thermal, solar photovoltaics, and other renewable technologies.

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Review of Site (Point-of-Use) and Full-Fuel-Cycle Measurement Approaches to DOE/EERE Building Appliance Energy-Efficiency Standards-Letter Report (2009)

Currently, the Department of Energy (DOE) sets appliance efficiency standards using primarily "site" (or point-of-use) measurements, which reflect only the energy consumed to operate the appliance. Site measurements allow consumers to compare energy efficiency among appliances, but offer no information about other energy costs involved. This congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council recommends that DOE consider moving over time to the use of a full-fuel-cycle measure of energy consumption for assessment of national and environmental impacts. Using that metric would provide the public with more comprehensive information about the impacts of energy consumption on the environment, the economy, and other national concerns. This volume discusses these matters and offers several related findings and recommendations together with supporting information.

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Assessing Economic Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: Summary of a Workshop (2009)

Many economic models exist to estimate the cost and effectiveness of different policies for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Some approaches incorporate rich technological detail, others emphasize the aggregate behavior of the economy and energy system, and some focus on impacts for specific sectors. Understandably, different approaches may be better positioned to provide particular types of information and may yield differing results, at times rendering decisions on future climate change emissions and research and development (R&D) policy difficult. Reliable estimates of the costs and benefits to the U.S. economy for various emissions reduction and adaptation strategies are critical to federal climate change R&D portfolio planning and investment decisions. At the request of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Academies organized a workshop to consider these issues. The workshop, summarized in this volume, comprised three dimensions: policy, analysis, and economics. Discussions along these dimensions were meant to lead to constructive identification of gaps and opportunities. The workshop focused on (1) policymakers’ informational needs; (2) models and other analytic approaches to meet these needs; (3) important economic considerations, including equity and discounting; and (4) opportunities to enhance analytical capabilities and better inform policy.

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Liquid Transportation Fuels from Coal and Biomass: Technological Status, Costs, and Environmental Impacts (2009)

The transportation sector cannot continue on its current path: The volatility of oil prices threatens the U.S. economy, the large proportion of oil importation threatens U.S. energy security, and the massive contribution of greenhouse gases threatens the environment. The development of domestic sources of alternative transportation fuels with lower greenhouse emissions is now a national imperative. Coal and biomass are in abundant supply in the United States and can be converted to liquid fuels that can be combusted in existing and future vehicles. Their abundant supply makes them attractive candidates to provide non-oil-based liquid fuels to the U.S. transportation system. However, there are important questions about the economic viability, carbon impact, and technology status of these options. Liquid Transportation Fuels from Coal and Biomass provides a snapshot of the potential costs of liquid fuels from biomass by biochemical conversion and from biomass and coal by thermochemical conversion. Policy makers, investors, leaders in industry, the transportation sector, and others with a concern for the environment, economy, and energy security will look to this book as a roadmap to independence from foreign oil. With immediate action and sustained effort, alternative liquid fuels can be available for initial deployment in the 2020 time frame and beyond, if or when the nation needs them.

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Catalysis for Energy: Fundamental Science and Long-Term Impacts of the U.S. Department of Energy Basic Energy Science Catalysis Science Program (2009)

Catalysis, the process by which a substance (a catalyst) increases the rate of a chemical reaction, is essential to energy transformations and therefore integral to current and future energy solutions. At the request of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), this report presents an in-depth analysis of the investment in catalysis basic research by DOE’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences Catalysis Science Program. The report finds that investments in the program have been well directed, have led to a greater understanding of fundamental catalytic processes, and have contributed to long-term national energy goals. In fact, catalysis is central to many exciting frontiers in producing and saving energy, including converting biomass to liquid fuels; utilizing water as a source of hydrogen fuel; and capturing emissions with greater efficiency and selectivity. The report concludes that the program’s successful model for funding single investigator and small group grants should continue, with some specific recommended changes in the types of studies pursued.

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Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Goals, Strategies, and Challenges (2009)

The so-called nuclear renaissance has increased worldwide interest in nuclear power. This potential growth also has increased, in some quarters, concern that nonproliferation considerations are not being given sufficient attention. In particular, since introduction of many new power reactors will lead to requiring increased uranium enrichment services to provide the reactor fuel, the proliferation risk of adding enrichment facilities in countries that do not have them now led to proposals to provide the needed fuel without requiring indigenous enrichment facilities. Similar concerns exist for reprocessing facilities. Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle summarizes key issues and analyses of the topic, offers some criteria for evaluating options, and makes findings and recommendations to help the United States, the Russian Federation, and the international community reduce proliferation and other risks, as nuclear power is used more widely. This book is intended for all those who are concerned about the need for assuring fuel for new reactors and at the same time limiting the spread of nuclear weapons. This audience includes the United States and Russia, other nations that currently supply nuclear material and technology, many other countries contemplating starting or growing nuclear power programs, and the international organizations that support the safe, secure functioning of the international nuclear fuel cycle, most prominently the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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America’s Energy Future: Summary of a Meeting (2008)

There is a growing sense of national urgency about the role of energy in long-term U.S. economic vitality, national security, and climate change. This urgency is the consequence of many factors, including the rising global demand for energy; the need for long-term security of energy supplies, especially oil; and growing global concerns about carbon dioxide emissions. To address these concerns, in late 2007, the National Academies launched a major initiative, called "America’s Energy Future: Technology Opportunities, Risks, and Tradeoffs." The project began with a two-day summit, during which the National Academies brought together many of the most knowledgeable and influential people working on energy issues today to discuss how we can meet the need for energy without irreparably damaging Earth’s environment or compromising U.S. economic and national security. Over the two-day period, many key people working in the field made presentations summarizing and elaborating on their previous work. Videos of these presentations are available on http://www.nationalacademies.org/energy, the AEF project Web site. This report summarizes what was discussed at the workshop. It is divided according to the summit’s major themes: the current context, a look at energy supplies, a review of the uses of energy, and an examination of how we can meet the energy challenges now facing the nation.

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Transitions to Alternative Transportation Technologies—A Focus on Hydrogen (2008)

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles could dramatically reduce the nation’s dependence on imported oil and limit U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide. Research toward this end has made impressive progress over the past several years. Yet widespread use of hydrogen-fueled vehicles will require further technological developments, an adequate supply of hydrogen, and the commercialization of new automotive manufacturing technologies. In the 2005 Energy Policy Act, Congress directed DOE to request the NRC to estimate the maximum practicable number of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that could be deployed in the United States by 2020; determine the public and private resources and government actions needed to reach that goal; and assess the implications for oil consumption and CO2 emissions. This report presents the NRC’s findings and includes a discussion of the current status of hydrogen technology, alternative technologies, the role of stationary electric power, and the potential reduction of oil use and CO2 emissions that could be expected. Also included are a budget roadmap, analyses of actions to promote hydrogen vehicles, and advantages and disadvantages of this transition.

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A Review of the DOE Plan for U.S. Fusion Community Participation in the ITER Program (2008)

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) presents the United States and its international partners with the opportunity to explore new and exciting frontiers of plasma science while bringing the promise of fusion energy closer to reality. The ITER project has garnered the commitment and will draw on the scientific potential of seven international partners, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States, countries that represent more than half of the world’s population. The success of ITER will depend on each partner’s ability to fully engage itself in the scientific and technological challenges posed by advancing our understanding of fusion.

In this book, the National Research Council assesses the current U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plan for U.S. fusion community participation in ITER, evaluates the plan’s elements, and recommends appropriate goals, procedures, and metrics for consideration in the future development of the plan.

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Review of the 21st Century Truck Partnership (2008)

Heavy-duty trucks and buses now consume about 21 percent of the fuel used for surface transportation in the United States. As gasoline and diesel fuel prices have risen in the past few years, the pressure to find ways to increase fuel use efficiency by these vehicles has grown significantly. In 2000, four federal agencies and 15 industrial partners formed the 21st Century Truck Partnership (21CTP) to manage a cooperative R&D effort toward a safer and more efficient fleet of vehicles. In 2007, DOE-which now leads the partnership-asked the NRC to conduct an independent assessment of the 21CTP. This report provides a discussion of the organization and background of the Partnership; an analysis of its management strategy and priority setting; and an assessment of the Partnership’s technical goals for engine systems and fuels, heavy-duty hybrid vehicles; reduction of parasitic energy losses, engine idle reduction, and safety.

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Assessment of Technologies for Improving Light Duty Vehicle Fuel Economy: Letter Report (2008)

In 2002 the NRC released a report-Effectiveness and Impact of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards. High oil prices and recent legislation mandating a further increase in the CAFE standards have renewed interest in the current and expected technical potential for automobile fuel efficiency. Accordingly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requested the NRC to provide an objective and independent update of the 2001 study and add an assessment of technologies that have emerged since that time. This letter report presents an interim assessment of technologies to be analyzed in the study and of the computational models that will be used in that analysis. Estimated fuel-economy benefits presented in this report reflect those from existing literature and presentations to the study committee. A final report is scheduled for late spring 2008.

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Review of the Research Program of the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership: Second Report (2008)

In 2005, the DOE requested that the NRC provide biennial reviews of the progress of the research of the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership. NRC submitted Phase 1 of its review that same year. This second report presents an assessment of progress made in the research program management areas as well as the responses of program management to recommendations provided in the Phase I report. Covered in this second report are major cross-cutting issues; vehicle subsystems; hydrogen production, delivery, and dispensing; and an overall assessment of the program.

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Setting the Stage for International Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facilities: International Workshop Proceedings (2008)

In May 2003, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Academies organized an international workshop in Moscow on the scientific issues relevant to the establishment and operation of an international spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Russia. Given the broad international interest in this topic, the academies organized a second international workshop on important issues that were not on the agenda or were not adequately discussed at the first workshop. These issues included international monitoring at the facility, transportation requirements, liability and insurance concerns, and status of Russian legislation and regulations that are important in locating and operating a facility. Relevant experience from Europe, the United States, and Asia was also considered in this 2005 workshop. This book contains the papers presented at the 2005 workshop sessions, as well as proceedings from the 2003 workshop. Together they provide an overview of the issues, and useful background for those organizations and individuals involved in further development of an international spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Russia.

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Review of DOE’s Nuclear Energy Research and Development Program (2007)

There has been a substantial resurgence of interest in nuclear power in the United States over the past few years. One consequence has been a rapid growth in the research budget of DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE). In light of this growth, the Office of Management and Budget included within the FY2006 budget request a study by the National Academies to review the NE research programs and recommend priorities among those programs. The programs to be evaluated were: Nuclear Power 2010 (NP 2010), Generation IV (GEN IV), the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative (NHI), the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)/Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) facilities. This report presents a description and analysis of each program along with specific findings and recommendations. It also provides an assessment of program priorities and oversight. Overall, the report recommended that the NE program put its highest priorities on NP2010 to ensure timely and cost-effective deployment of the first new reactor plants; research in support of the commercial fleet of reactors; and research to strengthen higher education’s capabilities to educate a growing number of young professionals and scientists in areas relevant to nuclear energy research.

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Transitioning to Sustainability Through Research and Development on Ecosystem Services and Biofuels: Workshop Summary (2007)

In 2007, the NRC’s Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability hosted its first forum on issues related to sustainability research and ecosystem services, defined as "the benefits people obtain from ecosystems." This report is a summary of discussions from the forum, which focused on identifying research gaps and opportunities for collaboration among federal agencies. The underlying purpose of these discussions was to consider strategies for balancing the challenges of sustainability with the need to support the development of alternatives to conventional fossil fuels. Participants emphasized that much is already known about the natural science issues surrounding these topics; the bigger gap is in understanding the associated social, economic, political, and behavioral issues. Questions to consider include understanding which resource management approaches work and which don’t and why; the impact of changing ecosystems on communities; and an understanding of who benefits most from current efforts to expand the production of biofuels. A key theme that emerged from these discussions was the need to take a holistic approach in looking at the sustainability of biofuels and approaches to managing ecosystem services.

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The Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Projects (2007)

As wind energy development continues to expand, federal, state, and local agencies should adopt a consistent approach to evaluating the planning, regulation, and location of wind-energy projects. Although wind energy, which provided about 1% of U.S. electricity in 2006, is often considered an option for future energy development because it emits no atmospheric pollutants and is driven by a renewable source, other environmental factors need to be considered. For example, wind-energy facilities can have a negative impact on specific kinds of wildlife and whole ecosystems. In this report, the NRC proposes a framework that can help in evaluating tradeoffs between the benefits of new wind-energy projects and the risks of adverse environmental impacts before new facilities are constructed.

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Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States (2007)

National interests in greater energy independence, concurrent with favorable market forces, have driven increased production of corn-based ethanol in the United States and research into the next generation of biofuels. The trend is changing the national agricultural landscape and has raised concerns about potential impacts on the nation’s water resources. This report examines some of the key issues and concludes that the water implications are complex, difficult to monitor, and will vary greatly by region. It also identifies opportunities for shaping policies to help protect water resources, such as alternative subsidies to reduce the impact of biofuels production; policies to encourage best agricultural practices; and policies to encourage the use of other plant products, which are thought to have less impact on water quality.

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Coal: Research and Development to Support National Energy Policy (2007)

Coal provides nearly a quarter of U.S. energy and is used to generate more than half of the nation’s electricity. Although future demand will be affected by regulation of CO2 emissions, coal use is expected to remain constant or even increase over the next several decades. As a result, it is imperative that policy makers have accurate information about the amount, location, and quality of the nation’s coal resources and reserves. Equally important is an increased investment in research and development to ensure that these valuable resources are used efficiently, safely, and in an environmentally responsible manner.

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Prospective Evaluation of Applied Energy Research and Development at DOE (Phase Two) (2007)

Over the past several years, federal agencies-largely at the direction of Congress-have expanded efforts to measure the performance of their activities. Through the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and other mandates, the agencies have developed indicators of program performance. At the request of Congress, the NRC has undertaken a series of studies using quantitative indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of applied energy R&D at DOE. This is the third report in the series and presents the results of the application of benefits evaluation methodology, which was developed in the 2005 study, to six R&D programs within DOE. These programs are carbon sequestration; integrated gasification combined cycle technology R&D; natural gas exploration and production; distributed energy resources; light-duty vehicle hybrid technologies, and the industrial technologies program, with a focus on chemicals. The report also includes descriptions of enhancements of the methodology in the form of new indicators for environmental and security benefits, as well as refinements of the evaluation process based on experience with these six programs. Finally, the report’s appendix contains a detailed analysis of each program.

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Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future (2007)

In a world where advanced knowledge is widespread and low-cost labor is readily available, U.S. advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology have begun to erode. A comprehensive and coordinated federal effort is urgently needed to bolster U.S. competitiveness and pre-eminence in these areas. This congressionally requested report by a pre-eminent committee makes four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts on meeting the nation’s needs, especially in the area of clean, affordable energy:

  • Increase America’s talent pool by vastly improving K-12 mathematics and science education;
  • Sustain and strengthen the nation’s commitment to long-term basic research;
  • Develop, recruit, and retain top students, scientists, and engineers from both the U.S. and abroad; and
  • Ensure that the United States is the premier place in the world for innovation.
Some actions will involve changing existing laws, while others will require financial support that would come from reallocating existing budgets or increasing them. Rising Above the Gathering Storm will be of great interest to federal and state government agencies, educators and schools, public decision makers, research sponsors, regulatory analysts, and scholars.

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Safety and Security of Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage: Public Report (2006)

In response to a request from Congress, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Homeland Security sponsored a National Academies study to assess the safety and security risks of spent nuclear fuel stored in cooling pools and dry casks at commercial nuclear power plants. The information provided in this book examines the risks of terrorist attacks using these materials for a radiological dispersal device. Safety and Security of Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel is an unclassified public summary of a more detailed classified book. The book finds that successful terrorist attacks on spent fuel pools, though difficult, are possible. A propagating fire in a pool could release large amounts of radioactive material, but rearranging spent fuel in the pool during storage and providing emergency water spray systems would reduce the likelihood of a propagating fire even under severe damage conditions. The book suggests that additional studies are needed to better understand these risks. Although dry casks have advantages over cooling pools, pools are necessary at all operating nuclear power plants to store at least the recently discharged fuel. The book explains it would be difficult for terrorists to steal enough spent fuel to construct a significant radiological dispersal device.

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Tires and Passenger Vehicle Fuel Economy: Informing Consumers, Improving Performance-Special Report 286 (2006)

With heightened national interest in energy conservation, different proposals have been made to improve the contribution of tires to fuel economy. California has enacted legislation that may lead to a state fuel economy standard for tires. This proposed low rolling resistance standard has been resisted by industry, which has raised concerns about the possible trade-offs in safety and tire wear life that might ensue. Even within California, there is concern about how reduced tire wear life could increase the state’s large stockpile of scrap tires. Congress requested a study by the National Academies to examine these issues and trade offs. The committee finds that reducing tire rolling resistance by 10 percent is feasible and would improve vehicle fuel economy by 1-2 percent if tires are properly inflated. If a 10 percent reduction in rolling resistance among replacement tires was achieved by reducing tread depth and certain changes in tread design, however, this could have negative consequences for safety and tire wear. The committee observes that tires are already on the market that achieve a 10 percent lower rolling resistance than the average tire, meet federal traction requirements, and have the wear characteristics that consumers prefer, albeit at a modest cost premium. The committee recommends that Congress provide the U.S. Department of Transportation with resources to provide consumers information about rolling resistance.

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Geological and Geotechnical Engineering in the New Millennium: Opportunities for Research and Technological Innovation (2006)

Geoengineering, which refers to all types of engineering that deal with Earth materials, such as geotechnical and geological engineering, is at a crossroads. With the rapid expansion of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology, it is time to consider how these new approaches might come into play in developing better solutions for geotechnological problems. Aimed primarily at National Science Foundation (NSF) program managers and the geotechnical engineering community, this report presents a vision for the future in the new millennium-pointing to important changes in the practice of the field. For example, the report recommends that geoengineers should look to new technologies and approaches to solve problems more efficiently. NSF should help facilitate this process by funding programs to train researchers in new technologies through interdisciplinary initiatives, such as continuing education programs. These and other steps outlined in the report will help move the field forward, enabling geoengineers to expand their role in helping to solve some of our most pressing problems, including global climate change, emission-free energy supply, global water supply, and urban systems.

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Alternatives to the Indian Point Energy Center for Meeting New York Electric Power Needs (2006)

Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, many in the New York City area have become concerned that the Indian Point nuclear power plants-located about 40 miles from Manhattan-could be a target. As a result, closure of these plants has been considered, but any closure would require actions to replace the 2000 megawatts of power supplied by the plants. To examine this issue in detail, Congress directed DOE to request a study from the NRC exploring options for replacing the power. This report presents a detailed review of Nark’s findings, including consideration of alternative ways to supply power and financial, institutional, regulatory, and political barriers that would have to be overcome to ensure reliable service to the New York City metropolitan area. During the study, an expected increase in demand for electricity also emerged as an important factor. Taking into account all relevant factors, the NRC concluded that while replacement options exist, they should be considered carefully and cautiously in light of the complexity of the situation and the barriers that were identified.

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Trends in Oil Supply and Demand Potential for Peaking of Conventional Oil Production, and Possible Mitigations Options (2006)

Recent events and analyses have suggested that global production of oil might peak some time within the next few years to the next one or two decades. Other analyses, however, conclude that oil supply can meet global demand for some decades to come and that oil production peaking is much farther off. To explore this issue, the NRC held a workshop, funded by the Department of Energy, bringing together analysts representing these different views. The workshop was divided into four main sessions: setting the stage; future global oil supply and demand balance; mitigation options and time for implementation; and potential follow-up activities. This report provides a summary of the workshop, including the key points, issues, and questions raised by the participants. It also identifies possible topics for follow-up studies. No consensus views, conclusions, or recommendations are presented.

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Letter Report for the Committee on Prospective Benefits of DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Fossil Energy R&D Programs (2005)

In 2002, Congress directed DOE to request the NRC to develop a methodology for assessing prospective economic, environmental, and energy security benefits of its conservation and fossil energy R&D programs. The first phase of this project-development of the methodology-began in December 2003 and resulted in the report, Prospective Evaluation of Applied Energy Research and Development at DOE (Phase One): A First Look Forward. Phase two is designed to develop the methodology more completely and apply it to several DOE R&D programs. As part of this effort, the NRC held a workshop to obtain feedback on its proposed methodology and the DOE programs that have been selected for review. This letter report presents a discussion of the principal comments made during the workshop, the case studies intended to be performed during Phase two, and changes in the process and methodology since Phase one’s completion.

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Sustainability in the Chemical Industry: Grand Challenges and Research Needs-A Workshop Report (2005)

Based on a workshop held in 2005, this study identifies a set of "Grand Challenges for Sustainability" in chemistry. The focus of the report is on laying the groundwork for a path forward that allows people to meet current environmental and human health, economic, and societal needs without compromising the progress and success of future generations. Among the Challenges are discovering ways to carry out fundamentally new chemical transformations utilizing green and sustainable chemistry and engineering; developing life cycle tools to compare the total environmental impact of products generated from different processing routes and under different operating conditions; deepening our understanding of the formation and emission of toxins during chemical processes; and continuing research on deriving chemicals from biomass.

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Decreasing Energy Intensity in Manufacturing: Assessing the Strategies and Future Directions of the Industrial Energy Technologies Program (2005)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has supported the Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) for more than a decade. This program funds R&D into energy efficiency technologies designed to decrease the energy intensity of the U.S. industrial sector. The focus is on seven energy-intensive industries-aluminum, chemicals, forest products, glass, metal casting, mining, and steel-known as the Industries of the Future (IOF). DOE asked the NRC for a review of this program, including an evaluation of the ITP strategic plan, an evaluation of the technical quality of individual subprogram plans, and the prospective value of the multiyear program plan. This report presents the results of that review. It contains an assessment of the ITP strategy, how effectively it is being implemented, and the likelihood of achieving program goals. Overall, the NRC found the program to be well managed and effective, successful at leveraging its resources through a large and growing number of partnerships with industry, industry associations, and academic institutions. Because these strategies have worked well, the NRC recommends that they be applied to ITP’s subprograms and regional offices.

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Review of the Research Program of the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership: First Report (2005)

The FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership is a collaborative effort among the Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), and five major energy companies. The purpose of this collaboration is to manage research to realize the vision of "a clean and sustainable transportation energy future." The program is working toward change on many fronts, including a transition from more efficient internal combustion engines (ICEs) to advanced ICE hybrid electric vehicles and facilitating a private-sector decision on hydrogen-fueled vehicle development by 2015. This report, which builds on an earlier NRC report, The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and R&D Needs, presents an evaluation of the Partnership’s research efforts on hydrogen-fueled transportation systems and provides findings and recommendations about technical directions, strategies, funding, and management. The report concludes that the Partnership is a challenging program facing many technical barriers, making it difficult to assess whether the program will achieve its long-term vision.

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Prospective Evaluation of Applied Energy Research and Development at DOE (Phase One): A First Look Forward (2005)

Based on the findings of the NRC’s 2001 report Energy Research at DOE: Was It Worth It?, Congress directed DOE to request the NRC to develop a methodology for assessing prospective benefits. The first phase of this project-development of the methodology-began in December 2003. The methodology includes a rigorous definition of benefits to be used consistently for all programs; scenarios about future world states that are common to all technologies; a "decision tree framework" for ensuring that the role of government support, key technology, and market uncertainties are considered in the benefits calculation; a results matrix that summarizes the data and estimated benefits; and simplified models for calculating benefits at pivotal stages of each project. This report presents the results of phase one, revealing some weaknesses in the methodology that need to be addressed and the importance of allocating some resources to support the use of the methodology. Phase two will work on making the methodology more robust and explore related issues, and subsequent phases will apply the methodology to review the prospective benefits of different DOE fossil energy and energy efficiency R&D programs.

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The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and R&D Needs (2004)

With President Bush’s announcement of a hydrogen fuel initiative during his 2003 State of the Union speech, interest in hydrogen as a key element in the nation’s long-term energy future increased substantially. A year earlier, DOE had begun to lay the groundwork for this possibility by asking the NRC to examine technical issues related to hydrogen fuel, including assessment of the current state of technology; future cost estimates; CO2 emissions; distribution, storage, and end use considerations; and the DOE Research, Development and Dissemination (RD&D) program. The report provides an assessment of hydrogen as a fuel in the nation’s future energy economy and describes a number of important challenges that must be overcome if it is to make a major energy contribution. Topics covered include cost effectiveness and efficiency of current fuel cell vehicle technology, hydrogen production technologies, the need for an infrastructure for delivery of hydrogen fuel, end-use technologies, and transition issues related to building a hydrogen economy. These findings provide a framework for RD&D directions, priorities, and strategies.

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Burning Plasma: Bringing a Star to Earth (2004)

Significant advances have been made in fusion science, and a point has been reached when we need to decide if the United States is ready to begin a burning plasma experiment. A burning plasma in which at least 50 percent of the energy to drive the fusion reaction is generated internally is an essential step to reach the goal of fusion power generation. The Burning Plasma Assessment Committee was formed to provide advice on this decision. The committee concluded that there is high confidence in the readiness to proceed with the burning plasma step. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), with the United States as a significant partner, was the best choice. Once a commitment to ITER is made, fulfilling it should become the highest priority of the U.S. fusion research program. A funding trajectory is required that both captures the benefits of joining ITER and retains a strong scientific focus on the long-range goals of the program. Addition of the ITER project will require that the content, scope, and level of U.S. fusion activity be defined by program balancing through a priority-setting process initiated by the Office of Fusion Energy Science.

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Charting the Future of Methane Hydrate Research in the United States (2004)

Methane hydrate is a natural form of clathrate—a chemical substance in which one molecule forms a lattice around a “guest” molecule with chemical bonding. In this clathrate, the guest molecule is methane and the lattice is formed by water to form an ice-like solid. Methane hydrate has become the focus of international attention because of the vast potential for human use worldwide. If methane can be produced from hydrate, a reasonable assumption given that there are no obvious technical or engineering roadblocks to commercial production, the nation’s natural gas energy supply could be extended for many years to come. This report reviews the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program, the project selection process, and projects funded to date. It makes recommendations on how the DOE program could be improved. Key recommendations include focusing DOE program emphasis and research in 7 priority areas; incorporating greater scientific oversight in the selection, initiation, monitoring, and assessment of major projects funded by the DOE; strengthening DOE’s contribution to education and training through funding of fellowships, and providing project applicants with a set of instructions and guidelines outlining requirements for timely and full disclosure of project results and consequences of noncompliance.

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Letter Report on Review of Research Proposals on Carbon Management (2003)

Following NRC’s report Novel Approaches to Carbon Management: Separation, Capture, Sequestration, and Conversion to Useful Products, which summarized the results of a workshop on promising lines of research, DOE then requested NRC to follow up in two ways: by providing ratings and a summary technical assessment of proposals on novel approaches to carbon management received by the DOE Office of Fossil Energy. This letter report presents a discussion of the proposal review process that the NRC committee used, along with the ratings and summary assessments.

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Novel Approaches to Carbon Management: Separation, Capture, Sequestration, and Conversion to Useful Products-Workshop Report (2003)

Growing concern about climate change as a result of the buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has led to increased interest in strategies for managing CO2 emissions. Before awarding grants for carbon management research, DOE asked the NRC to help in this effort. As a first step, the NRC held a workshop to identify promising lines of research. This report, a summary of that workshop, presents a discussion of research areas in advanced sequestration, or storage, technologies; advanced subsurface technologies, or ways to store CO2 underground; advanced geochemical methods, which involve capturing CO2 from production facilities and injecting it into rock formations; and novel approaches for converting CO2 to useful products.

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Alternatives and Strategies for Future Hydrogen Production and Use: Letter Report (2003)

Hydrogen is a flexible energy carrier that can be produced from a variety of resources. If an economic hydrogen energy system could be developed, it would present a number of environmental and security advantages to the nation. To help the Department of Energy plan for and carry out its hydrogen R&D program, the NRC was asked to evaluate the cost and status of hydrogen energy carrier technologies and to review the DOE hydrogen R&D and deployment strategy. This letter report is an interim report to DOE that provides an early review and recommendations to assist with FY2005 research planning.

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Review of DOE’s Vision 21 Research and Development Program, Phase 1 (2003)

DOE’s Vision 21 program is an ambitious effort for converting fossil fuel into electricity, process heat, fuels and/or chemicals with high efficiency and very low emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. The long-term goal is to use these technologies in future "Vision 21" plants, which would eliminate many of the environmental concerns currently associated with the use of fossil fuels. In 2000, the NRC published a report that reviewed the program in its initial stages. Two years later, the DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coal and Power Systems requested that the NRC review Vision 21’s progress. The current report identifies significant progress that has been made in the program since the last NRC review and makes recommendations for enhancement of the program. In particular, the NRC recommends that the program sharpen its focus, with a concentration primarily on the development of cost-competitive, coal-fueled systems for large-scale (200-500 megawatts) electricity production using gasification technologies that permit the storing, or sequestering, of carbon dioxide, thereby reducing other emissions to near zero.

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Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska’s North Slope (2003)

This book identifies accumulated environmental, social, and economic effects of oil and gas leasing, exploration, and production on Alaska’s North Slope. Economic benefits to the region have been accompanied by effects on the roads, infrastructure, and activities of oil and gas production on the terrain, plants, animals, and peoples of the North Slope. While attempts by the oil industry and regulatory agencies have reduced many of the environmental effects, they have not been eliminated. The book makes recommendations for further environmental research related to environmental effects.

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Summary of a Workshop on U.S. Natural Gas Demand, Supply, and Technology: Looking Toward the Future (2003)

The workshop examined the following three questions: (1) What projections have been made by government agencies for the U.S. supply of and demand for natural gas over the next 10 to 20 years? (2) Where are the current natural gas reserves and resources? (3) By what means and by how much can future reserves, resources, and production be increased?

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Partnerships for Solid-State Lighting: Report of a Workshop (2002)

"Solid-state lighting," which refers to light-emitting diodes (LED), devices similar to those in computer chips, have the potential to revolutionize the cost and delivery of lighting. This report reviews the current and potential applications of solid-state lighting, as well as the potential advantages of its widespread use. The report also discusses three core challenges facing the solid-state lighting industry in bringing this technology to the market: research and development issues, infrastructure development, and consumer acceptance. To help overcome some of these challenges, the report recommends establishing a consortium-based organization composed of government, academia, and industry to educate the public and Congress about the potential of this technology; reduce the electric lighting load in the U.S., and exploit previous R&D efforts.

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Effectiveness and Impact of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards (2002)

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 established the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, which required automobile manufacturers to increase the average fuel economy for passenger cars to 27.5 miles per gallon (mpg) by model year 1985. As authorized by the act, the Department of Transportation set the fuel economy for the light-duty truck fleet at 20.7 mpg. In this report, the NRC assesses the impact of the current CAFE system, as well as potential impacts of modified standards. The NRC reviewed much of the technical literature and heard from many experts before conducting its own analysis, which resulted in a range of estimates of fuel economy improvements and associated costs. The report’s conclusions acknowledge the need for the federal government to ensure fuel economy standards beyond those expected to result from market forces alone and emphasize the importance of research into breakthrough technologies and the relationship between fuel economy and highway safety.

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Coal Waste Impoundments: Risks, Responses, and Alternatives (2002)

On October 11, 2000, a breakthrough of Martin County Coal Corporation’s coal waste impoundment released 250 million gallons of slurry near Inez, Kentucky. The 72-acre surface impoundment for coal processing waste materials broke through into a nearby underground coal mine. Although the spill caused no loss of human life, environmental damage was significant, and local water supplies were disrupted. This incident prompted Congress to request the National Research Council to examine ways to reduce the potential for similar accidents in the future. This book covers the engineering practices and standards for coal waste impoundments and ways to evaluate, improve, and monitor them; the accuracy of mine maps and ways to improve surveying and mapping of mines; and alternative technologies for coal slurry disposal and utilization. The book contains advice for multiple audiences, including the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Office of Surface Mining, and other federal agencies; state and local policymakers and regulators; the coal industry and its consultants; and scientists and engineers.

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The Disposition Dilemma: Controlling the Release of Solid Materials from Nuclear Regulatory Commission-Licensed Facilities (2002)

Establishing a new policy to control the release of solid material from civilian nuclear facilities has been problematic for almost three decades. Under the current system, such materials may be released from the control of a licensed nuclear facility-a power reactor, research facility, hospital, etc.-if the radionuclide concentrations can be shown to be very small. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) has tried several times to improve the current policy under which slightly radioactive solid material is released from the control of licensed facilities. To assist in this effort, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission asked the National Research Council to recommend changes to the decision-making process for disposition of slightly radioactive solid material, and determine whether the technical studies of the health impacts were sufficient to support the Commission’s future decisions. This report presents the results of that study.ÿ It describes the fate of materials released from a facility, problems with the current release system, and recommendations about how to create a new policy.

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Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism (2002)

Vulnerabilities abound in U.S. society. The openness and efficiency of our key infrastructures-transportation, information and telecommunications systems, health systems, the electric power grid, emergency response units, food and water supplies, and others-make them susceptible to terrorist attacks. The report discusses technical approaches to mitigating the vulnerabilities to a number of systems including energy systems. There are recommendations on how to immediately apply existing knowledge and technology to make the nation safer and on starting research and development programs that could produce innovations that will strengthen key systems and protect us against future threats. The book also discusses issues affecting the government’s ability to carry out the necessary science and engineering programs and the important role of industry; universities; and states, counties, and cities in homeland security efforts. A long term commitment to homeland security is necessary to make the nation safer, and this book lays out a roadmap for how science and engineering can assist in countering terrorism.

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Letter Report: Critique of the Sargent and Lundy Assessment of Concentrating Solar Power Cost and Performance Forecasts (2002)

This letter report is the result of a brief but intensive study by the National Research Council (NRC) Committee for the Review of a Technology Assessment of Solar Power Energy Systems.ÿ Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE&RE), this report critiques an assessment by Sargent & Lundy LLC (S&L), also contracted by the DOE, of the cost and performance forecasts for parabolic trough and power tower concentrating solar power (CSP) technology. The report reviews an analysis of the technical opportunities to reduce the cost of generating electricity using CSP technologies out to 2020, the reasonableness of the assumptions for achieving these estimated costs, and the key technical challenges in achieving them. The report comments on the assumptions, quality, strengths, weaknesses, objectivity, and credibility of the S&L analysis. The report includes consideration of multiple technology pathways, potential technology advances to 2020, and the possible benefits accruing from economies of scale and learning under various scenarios of manufacturing scale up and large-scale deployment.

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Energy Research at DOE: Was It Worth It? Energy Efficiency and Fossil Energy Research 1978 to 2000 (2001)

In a comprehensive review of federal Research & Development (R&D) efforts to advance energy-efficient and fossil-fuel technologies, the National Academies' National Research Council (NRC) found that these programs have yielded significant economic, environmental, and national security benefits. Their examination included 17 R&D programs dating back as far as 1978. These programs yielded $40 billion from an investment of $13 billion. Three energy-efficiency programs, costing about $11 million, produced nearly three-quarters of this benefit. Significant advances were made in compressors for refrigerators and freezers, energy-efficient fluorescent lighting components, and heat-resistant window glass. Market incentives, such as new standards and regulations, ensured that they would be adopted nationwide, compounding their impact. Other benefits from DOE research were in the form of environmental gains, such as new technologies for a cleaner way to burn coal and controls to reduce emissions from nitrogen oxides. Other programs, however, were judged to have been costly failures in which large R&D expenditures did not result in a commercial energy technology. Based on these findings, the NRC recommended steps to improve the management and evaluation of DOE’s research program, including objectives to support economic, environmental, and national security goals and the identification of clear performance targets and milestones at the onset of each project as a way to measure its success.

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Review of the Research Program of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles: Seventh Report (2001)

This is the last report of the National Research Council’s Standing Committee to Review the Research Program of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), which has conducted annual reviews of the PNGV program since it was established in late 1993. The PNGV is a cooperative R&D program between the federal government and the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR, whose members are DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors) to develop technologies for a new generation of automobiles with up to three times the fuel economy of a 1993 midsize automobile. The reports review major technology development areas (four-stroke direct-injection engines, fuel cells, energy storage, electronic/electrical systems, and structural materials); the overall adequacy of R&D efforts; the systems analysis effort and how it guides decisions on R&D; the progress toward long-range component and system-level cost and performance goals; and efforts in vehicle emissions and advanced materials research and how results target goals. Unlike previous reports, the Seventh Report comments on the goals of the program, since the automotive market and U.S. emission standards have changed significantly since the program was initiated.

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Review of the Research Program of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles: Sixth Report (2000)

This is the sixth of seven annual reports by the National Research Council Standing Committee to Review the Research Program of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). The PNGV program is a cooperative research and development (R&D) program between the federal government and the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), whose members are DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation (GM). A major objective of the PNGV program is to develop technologies for a new generation of vehicles with fuel economies up to three times (80 miles per gallon) those of comparable 1994 family sedans. At the same time, these vehicles must be comparable in terms of performance, size, utility, and cost of ownership and operation and must meet or exceed federal safety and emissions requirements. The intent of the PNGV program is to develop concept vehicles by 2000 and production prototype vehicles by 2004. In this report, the committee continues to examine the overall adequacy and balance of the PNGV research program to meet the program goals and requirements (i.e., technical objectives, schedules, and rates of progress). The committee also discusses ongoing research on fuels, propulsion engines, and emission controls to meet emission requirements and reviews the USCAR partners' progress on PNGV concept vehicles for 2000.

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Renewable Power Pathways: A Review of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Programs (2000)

The goal of this study was to assess the Department of Energy (DOE) research initiatives underway at the Office of Power Technologies (OPT), part of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Some of these programs are focused on photovoltaic, wind, solar thermal, geothermal, biopower, and hydroelectric energy technologies, while others are focused on energy storage, electric transmission (including superconductivity), and hydrogen technologies. The NRC found that while most of DOE’s goals and objectives for cost and technical performance for renewable energy technologies have been met or exceeded, and the advantages and disadvantages of the various technologies are now well understood, the agency has been less successful in meeting its goals for deployment. As a result, the recommendations in the report stress the need for OPT to work on this problem by taking several steps, including initiating a strategic plan development process and formulating a robust rationale for its portfolio of renewable energy technology projects. The long-term goal is to develop a sustainable, cost-effective energy supply system for domestic and international markets.

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Vision 21: Fossil Fuel Options for the Future (2000)

This report reviews the goals of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Vision 21 Program (DOE’s vision for the future of coal-based power generation) and recommends systems and approaches for moving from concept to reality. Vision 21 is an ambitious, forward-looking program for improving technologies and reducing the environmental impacts of using fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, and coal) to lead to a new class of technologies to efficiently produce electricity, process heat, transportation fuels, and chemicals. The overall goal of the Vision 21 Program is to develop flexible components and subsystems for modular-designed plants capable of using multiple feedstocks or producing multiple products. The general directions and goals of the Vision 21 Program are intended to ensure that fossil fuels can be used well into the twenty-first century. The committee’s review was based primarily on the Vision 21 Program Plan: Clean Energy Plants for the 21st Century published by DOE in April 1999, as well as on the views and comments of experts from government, industry, and academia on the technical challenges and other issues facing the Vision 21 Program.

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America’s Energy Future

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Thirsty for Energy: Biofuels and Water

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Making Solar Energy Economical: A Grand Challenge of Engineering

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Underground Power

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What do you know about energy?

True or False: Burning biofuels does not release carbon dioxide.

  • Sorry, that’s incorrect.
    Biofuels contain carbon and although they may burn “cleaner” than oil-derived fuels, they do not avoid generating carbon dioxide emissions.
  • Correct!
    Biofuels contain carbon and although they may burn “cleaner” than oil-derived fuels, they do not avoid generating carbon dioxide emissions.

Energy Defined

Ampere
A unit of measure for electric current that refers to the amount of electric charge passing a point per unit of time. Ampere is frequently abbreviated to “amp.”

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