Florida Energy Problems, Options, and
Suggested Solutions
The following is a brief summary of the main
energy related problems and issues to be dealt with over the next few years,
and policy options and solutions to deal with the problems and needs. Recent
trends in energy use have been unsustainable and have led to major
environmental and economic problems including climate change, energy
dependency, and export of economic capital and falling
value of the dollar. Rapid advances in technology of alternative energy options
like thin-film solar PV, concentrators, dye-sensitized
solar cells, energy storage
equipment, wind turbines, ocean and tidal power, CHP, etc. appear likely to make such
options more cost effective, as well as cleaner, than traditional generation
technologies within 5 years. Some of
these options including energy efficiency options and combined heat and power(CHP)
applications are already more cost effective than traditional generation
technologies, as well as reducing global warming and pollution effects. Many experts expect some solar PV and concentrator options to be more cost effective than traditional fossil fuel and
nuclear options within 5 years, since technology is advancing rapidly and
production costs are declining rapidly. Based on current experience and
projections of CdTe and CIGS thin film companies,
solar panel production costs are expected to be in the 50 cents per watt range
by 2014. The panel production cost of
the lowest cost companies such as First Solar is currently less than $1 per
watt, with a total installed cost of a little over $2 per watt.
Nuclear power and coal plant capital cost have been rapidly
increasing in recent years due to rapidly rising costs for steel, concrete,
copper, other materials, and specialty labor. Total capital and operating costs for all
of the major fossil fuel and nuclear power options are currently of similar
magnitude, but fossil fuel plants have significant health and environmental externality cost
and nuclear plants have questions about future decommissioning and radioactive
waste cost plus proliferation and security issues.
Energy is
a major issue in Florida for the next decade. There are several
reasons for this:
(1) Energy is a major
economic factor in the Florida economy.
(2) Fla. is currently
almost totally dependent on imported fuel, which leaves the Fla. economy
vulnerable and at risk. The significance of this is increased since U.S. oil
reserves are rapidly declining; this is a major factor in the record U.S. trade
deficit that is responsible for exporting our capital and reducing U.S. wealth;
and emissions from coal are causing widespread environmental and health
problems through acid pollutants, mercury, and other toxic emissions. At
current production and consumption rates, proven U.S. oil reserves would be
greatly depleted in 10 years. Both the U.S. and Florida are importing a higher
percent of oil than ever before.
(3) Importing over $50
billion per year in fuel and energy is a major capital drain on the state
economy (and federal) making
us forever poorer. Increased fertilizer
imports and rapidly increasing world fertilizer prices, strongly impacted by
rising fuel prices adds to this total.
(4) There is
scientific consensus that global
warming is occurring and that the ozone
layer is declining over the U.S. The
1990 s was the warmest decade in recorded history prior to the current decade, and
most of the warmest years in history were all since 1980. NOAA buoy monitoring
sites off the U.S. coast have documented significant increases in ocean surface temperatures over the
last 20 to 30 years. The average global temperature has been progressively
increasing, with melting icecaps, major vegetation and growing season impacts
in northern areas, rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion, increased droughts
and decertification,
increased severity of storms,
insect borne diseases, water table draw down, crop losses, etc. Due to the declining ozone layer, exposure to
ultraviolet radiation is increasing with increased skin cancers and other
immune conditions. These could have
immense impacts on Florida’s coastal areas and tourist
industries.
(5) The
largest source of atmospheric pollution such as mercury, toxic metals, acid
rain, and some of the most serious water pollution in the state are from energy
production and use. Food
chain impacts on fish, animals, and human health appear very serious
already.
(6) The Federal Health
Agency, Center for Disease Control, indicates that many thousands of Fla. children each year are having
their health or learning ability significantly adversely affected by toxic
metals. Based on blood tests, over 10% of women of childbearing age have
levels of mercury high enough to cause developmental effects in infants.
Preliminary results of nationwide hair test program found that over 20% of the
women of childbearing age had dangerous levels of mercury, and over 30% in Florida. A study by the Mobile Register of people who eat Gulf
coast fish at least once per week found a significant percentage had dangerous
levels of mercury and that almost 30% of the sample ate fish at least once per
week. Dangerous levels of mercury
resulting in fish consumption warnings have been found in the freshwater fish
in over 50% of lakes and streams tested in all parts of the state have been
documented to be serious problems made worse by acidity and acid pollutants; 27
species of saltwater fish and shellfish have been found to commonly have
dangerous levels of mercury in Florida coastal waters. Coal power plants and incinerators have
been found to be the main source of the mercury, which studies in other areas
have found to have contaminated over 100 thousand lakes in most states and
Canadian provinces to levels requiring fish consumption bans or warnings.
However dental amalgam (mercury)
fillings have been found to be the largest source of mercury in sewers which
are a significant source of mercury in water bodies and fish, as well as having
significant air emissions from out-gassing from sewer sludge and from
crematoria.
Dangerous
levels of lead in drinking water,
soil, paint, etc. and arsenic
from treated wood of decks and playgrounds, as well as from shellfish have been
documented to be significant sources affecting large numbers of people,
especially children. Mercury, dioxins,
PCBs, PAHs, PDBEs, and pesticides are having catastrophic effects on bird and animal populations at the
top of the food chain in Florida and elsewhere. Dioxins and PAHs appear
similarly widespread like mercury in Florida and are even more toxic and
carcinogenic.
(7)
Inefficient transportation systems and congestion are wasting large amounts
of energy. More efficient and effective mass
transportation options, park and ride facilities, more availability of bicycle
and walking facilities, energy efficient community design, and electric
vehicles using more efficient and long-lasting battery options recently
developed can make a big difference. EcoloCap claims its battery technology more than 98%
efficient - The Nano Lithium X Battery by EcoloCap offers over 98 percent efficiency and has
"the world’s highest energy density output per mass". The battery was
also found to have the "fastest recharge time of any comparable commercial
battery" together with the "lowest cost per energy output". (GizMag; March 24, 2010)
# # #
These circumstances together mean that Fla. faces
some serious issues for the 2000s on energy related issues. However there are
known options and methodologies that can go a long way toward alleviating all
of these problems, while consensus is developed on alternative long-range
options for Fla.( & U.S. & world) compatible
with Florida's economic and environmental situation.
Coal plants are the number one
source of mercury emissions in Florida and the U.S. Scrubbers
with activated carbon systems installed to control mercury, dioxins, etc. are
the most effective method identified so far in reducing mercury emissions, but
mercury taken out in ash remains a problem and much of it vaporizes out of the
ash pile and creates a dangerous working environment. Requirements on incinerator emissions during
the previous federal Administration have been successful at reducing extremely
high mercury levels in South Florida where incinerators were the main mercury
source for mercury in the everglades. However there are still significant toxic
and acid pollutant emissions from coal plants and incinerators which are
documented to be having significant consequences in Florida. Currently the value of the health and environmental effects of
incinerators still appear to far exceed the value of the benefits. Major adverse health effects from coal plant
emissions related to mercury,
other toxic metals, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, etc.
have been documented to affect millions in the U.S.
Another
type of incinerator that is currently getting a lot of attention is biomass plants. Although they are
being promoted and advertised as being a clean green source of power, this is
not accurate and biomass plants
produce more pollution emissions than coal plants and are not carbon neutral as
commonly advertised.
Given
the high and increasing prices for the fuels that Florida imports, there is a
huge amount of proven, cost-effective technology improvements and energy
efficiency measures in all sectors of the economy that are not being sufficiently
pursued or encouraged by the political leadership. More attention needs to be
given to conservation ,
cogeneration (combined heat and power) (CHP) , energy efficiency, highly efficient natural gas heat pumps and chillers, fuel
cells, landfill and sewer gas
recovery, and environmental or
health effects of energy choices in the near term; and other alternative
energy options including offshore wind and ocean wave power and river power without dams. Investments
in energy efficiency and renewable energy keep our economic capital
invested in local economies and reduce energy dependency, with economic multiplying
effects. A new report explores the magnitude of the efficiency and
renewable resources that are available to the state, and suggests some specific
policies that could be implemented to reduce future energy demands. If all the
policies recommended were implemented, the state could reduce its projected
future use of electricity from conventional sources (i.e., natural gas, coal,
oil, and nuclear fuels) by about 29% in the next 15 years. Energy efficiency
accounts for about two-thirds of the 2023 total 102,513 million kWh electricity
reductions, with the renewable energy provisions accounting for the balance.
Recycling
metals, bottles, plastic, electronic equipment, manufacturing and construction waste,and organics also conserves
both resources and large amounts of energy.
Florida has fallen behind many other states in recycling and resource
conservation programs and initiatives. Rooftop farming is also a rapidly
growing means for urban farming- adding efficiency benefits and a means of
using process waste heat, hydroponics, and solar greenhouses.
In the near future Fla.
needs to continue the process of developing a comprehensive state energy
policy, which takes into account both long term economic and quality of life
factors. We need to implement least cost utility planning that takes into
account all effects and costs, like many other progressive or energy dependent
states already have, where the adverse effects on environment, climate, and
health are explicitly taken into account in energy decisions and choices. This
would allow equal consideration of conservation, energy efficiency,
cogeneration, natural gas, load sharing, alternative energy sources, and new
power plants to satisfy future energy needs. Recently we seem to be moving in
the opposite direction, and that is a dangerous path to take.
Given the high and ever
increasing fuel prices, there are a very wide range of proven cost effective
conservation, energy efficiency measures, and renewable energy sources already
known and used in other states that can make the Fla. economy more efficient
and productive while saving money and lowering pollution.
Proven solutions to most aspects of
the world energy/atmospheric pollution crisis.
Top 100 Energy Technologies - A prioritized listing by the New Energy Congress of the leading energy technologies according to ten criteria including: renewable, environmentally safe, affordable, feasible, credible, reliable, developed, safe, etc.
Sewer
Gas and Landfill Gas Energy Recovery:
www.flcv.com/sewerlf.html
Renewable Energy: Solar,
Wind, Micro-Hydro
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that offshore wind power in U.S. coastal waters less than 100 deep could supply around 90,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. New England, the mid-Atlantic and the Great Lakes have the most potential.
GE’s
Gigantic Offshore Wind Turbine is 25% More Efficient - Rather than
increasing the size to generate more power, GE is designing longer blades and a
more efficient drive train. Investing $453 million in order to mass produce
these next gen 4 MW turbines which will be 300 feet tall and have a rotor
diameter of 360 feet, GE hopes to release them in 2012 for offshore use in
Europe. (Inhabitat; March 30, 2010)
Solar water heaters and solar pool
heaters are cost effective throughout most of Florida. There have also been some promising
breakthroughs recently in solar collectors, solar photovoltaics,
energy efficient and low polluting fuel cells, heat pipes, desiccant cooling
systems, storage batteries, and vehicles powered by fuel cells, natural gas,
methane, batteries charged by electricity or solar photovoltaics
or hydrogen, etc. Solar photovoltaics with battery backup are cost effective in
supply of electricity to locations isolated from the electric grid.
Hydro Power and Wave/Tidal Energy
Hydro Power Directory : http://www.peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Hydro
Ocean Wave Energy Directory: http://www.peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Ocean
Tidal Power Directory: http://www.peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Tidal_Power
Run of River Hydro Companies and Projects: http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:River_Energy#Companies
World’s Largest Working Hydro-Electric
Wave Energy Device Launched
Known as Oyster, the device has been officially launched by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond MP, MSP at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney. It is currently one of the world's few hydro-electric wave energy device producing power and is now producing power by pumping high pressure water to its onshore hydro-electric turbine. This will be fed into the National Grid to power homes in Orkney and beyond. A farm of 20 Oysters would provide enough energy to power 9,000 three bedroom family homes.
Construction has begun off Oregon's coast on the first commercial U.S. wave-energy farm, planned to supply power to about 400 homes. The first buoy will measure 150 feet tall by 40 feet wide, weigh 200 tons and cost $4 million, according to Phil Pellegrino, spokesman for New Jersey-based developer Ocean Power Technologies, which is developing the project. He says in the story that nine more buoys are planned to deploy at a site in Reedsport, Ore., by 2012, at a total cost of $60 million.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/02/oregon-gets-first-us-wave-power-farm/1 & http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/reedsport.htm
In December 2009, Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
deployed one of its PowerBuoys® at the US Marine
Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) at Kaneohe Bay. The Oahu PowerBuoy
was launched under the Company's ongoing program with the US Navy for ocean
testing and demonstration of PowerBuoys. This PowerBuoy is unique in that it incorporates advanced design
features into OPT’s proprietary PowerBuoy platform
for improved efficiency. The sea trials have produced power in accordance with
the system’s specifications for local wave conditions. http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/projects.htm
2 New & Innovative Ocean Wave Energy Devices - ANSYS Inc is a global trend setter of simulation software and technologies to assist in converting the persistent forces of ocean waves into electricity. Green Ocean Energy Ltd, an Aberdeen based company, is developing mechanisms to harness energy from the Earth’s oceans, focusing on things such as the economic viability and sustainability of their products. (Alt Energy News; Oct. 5, 2009)
Directory: Wave Power http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Ocean_Wave_Energy
Sea Dog Pump www.inri.us/index.php/SEADOG
www.mindfully.org/Energy/2004/Wave-Power-Trinidad4aug04.htm
Hydro Green kinetic energy projects
- ocean, tidal, river, spillway, power plant outlets
Home
page: http://www.hgenergy.com/
Current Projects: http://www.hgenergy.com/hydrogreenenergyprojects.html
they have
several projects and contracts
Hydro
Green Energy Hydrokinetic Technology Proves Fish Friendly
Published: January 8, 2010 Houston, United States [HydroWorld.com]
The first and only direct fish survival study performed on a hydrokinetic turbine shows that the technology is exceedingly safe for fish.
this is just
one such company; another company more active in Europe
Marine Current Turbines
http://www.marineturbines.com/
Verdant
Power
East River Project http://www.verdantpower.com/rite-project-retrofit/
Free Flow
Power
The Massachusetts-based startup
has a $3 billion plan to place thousands of small electric turbines
down the Mississippi river — from St. Louis to New Orleans
— which could generate over a gigawatt of
electricity. The startup reportedly has preliminary three-year permits to study
59 sites in the Mississippi, granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
Amory Lovins, Rocky
Mountain Institute, & http://www.rmi.org/
Fuel Cells and Hydrogen: Why they
will play a big role http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid304.php
Hydrogen from Water breakthrough: Berkeley Scientists Discover Inexpensive Metal Catalyst for Generating Hydrogen from Water
http://insciences.org/article.php?article_id=8881
Sewer
Gas and Landfill Gas Energy Recovery:
http://www.flcv.com/sewerlf.html
Renewable Energy: Solar, Wind, Micro-Hydro
Profitable
Climate Protection
Winning the Oil Endgame & How
to Kick the Oil Habit & What’’s New?
The first and most cost
effective step in energy independence is taking advantage of the huge amount of
cost effective energy efficiency and conservation measures currently available,
along with the huge amount of cost effective CHP applications. However, there is a large supply of
natural gas in the U.S. and our neighboring trading partner Canada augmented by
liquefied natural gas and new more difficult to collect natural gas and tar
sand fuel reserves which can be used for
many years in modern, reliable, efficient, and clean burning combined cycle gas
generating plants, cogeneration plants, fuel cells, gas heat pumps, heating systems and chillers
for commercial applications. However the
supply is not enough to meet ever increasing demand for more energy and prices
are increasing so there is an urgent need to use energy more efficiently. As the future gas supplies become
questionable or expensive, proven and cost effective coalbed
methane is already available and new technologies for thin-film solar PV, wind,
improved energy storage options are advancing rapidly. There is more energy
available as methane hydrates than from all of the fossil sources combined;
however there are environmental issues to be resolved if it is to be considered
for use.
Higher energy prices have
made use of methane from old landfills
and sewer facilities cost effective, but Florida is increasingly lagging
behind in promotion and use of such measures that reduce pollution, global
warming, capital outflow, etc. while saving money. The methane can also be used
as an economic fuel for vehicle
fleets (which require conversion but can be done economically for school
bus fleets, Gov't fleets, etc.) While Florida in general does not have much
wind energy potential, the economics of wind energy on offshore platforms to
take advantage of the day/night sea breeze patterns need to be considered.
Likewise use of energy is showing promise in test projects in
other countries.
Solar water heaters and solar pool
heaters are cost effective throughout most of Florida. There have also been some promising
breakthroughs recently in solar collectors, solar photovoltaics,
concentrating solar collectors,
energy efficient and low polluting fuel
cells, heat pipes, desiccant cooling systems, storage batteries, and
vehicles powered by fuel cells, natural gas, methane, batteries charged by
electricity or solar photovoltaics or hydrogen, etc. Solar photovoltaics with battery backup are
cost effective in supply of electricity to locations isolated from the electric
grid.
Florida has both serious
energy problems and many possible options to deal with the problems. The task
is to develop consensus on policies and incentives which allow the most societally beneficent choices to be made by government
policy makers, government agencies, utilities, and the public; while
coordinating with and encouraging similar initiatives at the Federal and
International levels. One option that has been documented to be a cost
effective measure to save money, reduce fuel imports, reduce export of capital,
reduce the need for new power plants, and reduce pollution emissions of most
types is a measure to increase energy efficiency standards for appliances. (See Energy Efficiency links)
Other Sources of
Information:
Energy
Conservation www.floridapsc.com/general/publications/aug02jaber.pdf
Water
Conservation www.floridapsc.com/general/publications/sept02jaber.pdf
Florida Energy Patterns and Energy Efficiency Benefits:
http://floridapirg.org/reports/EnergyEfficientFlorida03.pdf
Link for more technical information: www.flcv.com/indexat.html
The
Road to a New Energy Future 10/26/2006 Executive Summary
http://aceee.org/pubs/e072.htm