An ECIU (European Consortium of Innovative Universities) Micromodule on Global Warming, Renewable Energy, and Decarbonization

Abstract

A “micromodule” on Global Warming, Renewable Energy, and Decarbonization has been offered several times via the Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal participation in the ECIU. The original intent of the ECIU was to offer it to everyone including students at any university and those in industry seeking continuing education. The course begins with an examination of global energy sources (petroleum, natural gas, coal, renewables, and nuclear) matched to energy consuming sectors (transportation, industrial, residential and commercial, and electric power). A realistic assessment of where we are and where we need to go is provided. Technologies for reducing net CO2 emissions can be placed into three categories: 1) those that reduce “future” emissions from continued use of fossil fuels; and 2) those that can remove CO2 “already” in the air; and 3) renewable (no net change in atmospheric CO2. A windmill built today will reduce emissions from the generation of an equivalent amount of electricity from a natural gas or coal fired power plant in the future but will not reduce CO2 already in the air. Bioethanol from corn is often listed as renewable. Bioethanol itself is renewable. However, the bioethanol process also produces CO2 as a byproduct. If captured, this could add a Category 2 contribution. However, few US corn ethanol plants currently capture this CO2. Since complete elimination of fossil fuels will not be possible while supplying the energy needs of a growing population, techniques in the second category are needed. Technology details in all categories are discussed, including methodology, current capacity, growth, limits to their contribution to total energy, advantages, and challenges. Those in the first category include: biofuels, EV’s, wind, solar, hydrogen (blue and green), “cleaner” coal, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), batteries, cement, steel and aluminum, biomass fast pyrolysis for bio-oil feed to refineries, and bioenergy with CCS (BECCS)). Those in the second category include Direct Air Capture (DAC), enhanced rock weathering, adding minerals like olivine to reverse ocean acidification, biochar, and Terrestrial Storage of Biomass (TSB, also known as Biomass Burial).

Keywords: ECIU, European Consortium of Innovative Universities, Global Warming, Renewable Energy, Decarbonization, Climate Change, Carbon Dioxide