Research and Future
Professional Skills Needed to
Meet Energy Supply
Challenges in the 21st Century
Ashok Kumar
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Toledo
Air Pollution Research Group
Examination of Energy Strategy
Energy Gap = Supply – Demand
* Research is needed both on supply and
demand sides.
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World Energy Supply

Natural Gas: 40 years
(Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA), DOE, USA/ Oil & Gas Journal, Dec. 24, 2001)

Coal: 180 years
(Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA), DOE, USA)

Oil: 30 years
(Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA), DOE, USA/World Petroleum Assessment, 2000,
US Geological Survey)

More than 80% of the world energy demand is
still projected to be met by fossil fuels in 2030 !
(Source: IEA World Energy Outlook 2003 , Jan. 2003 )
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Energy Consumption
2005 US Energy Consumption
2005 World Consumption
98.4 Quad BTU
460 Quad BTU
Geothermal
Biomass
Solar
Wind
Hydro
Geothermal
Wind
Coal
Nuclear
Solar
Biomass
Coal
Hydro
Nuclear
Gas
Oil
Gas
Oil
Source: EIA, 2005
Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2005, Wikipedia,
WEC Survey of En ergy Resources
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Major Periods of Energy Research
Current
Research Efforts
Research in
Transition
Long-term Future
Research
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Research Challenges Based on Current Efforts

Increase mileage for transportation sources: What about developing
cars giving 50-miles-per-gallon?


Increase production of cellulosic ethanol
Improve efficiency of new power plants: 30 to 60 percent more
efficient


Develop power plants with almost zero environmental impact
Encourage smart buildings that emit no pollution and use almost net
zero energy

Develop technologies for alternative fuels and engines for daily use

Encourage development of tar sands and oil shale (?)
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Research During Energy Transition

Introduction of hybrid cars

Expansion of wind energy production

Use of solar energy

Use of hydrogen fuel cells

Natural gas and biofuels

Conversion of renewables to get liquid fuels
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Wind Energy
Nantucket Sound Wind
Farm, MA
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Solar Energy
Solar Heating Systems
Photovoltaic Systems
Concentrating Solar
Power Systems
Solar Lighting Systems
(Parabolic
Troughs)
Air
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Bye-Bye, Batteries?
Toshiba develops
fuel cell
prototypes for
portable music
players
Jadoo Fuel Cell Power Unit
Hitachi Methanol Fuel Cell
Powered Portable Devices
Hydrogen Fuel
Cell Car
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Research on Energy Future
•
To find a catalyst that could convert coal into
hydrogen
•
To produce hydrogen on-board
•
To produce hydrogen from bio-mass
•
Fuel cell technology
•
Hydrogen Storage
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Lignocellulosic Biomass
Yield of Ethanol
Corn: 416 gal /acre
Biomass: 800 gal/acre
USDA estimates ~1.4
billion tons biomass
can be produced,
yielding ~ 80 billion
gallons ethanol
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Biomass Today
48% of biomass energy
goes to pulp and paper
industry
•Ethanol + Diesel
•Biodiesel
I-71 between Columbus and Cleveland Ohio. exit 151
Ethanol and biodiesel, made from plant matter
instead of petroleum, can be blended with or directly
substituted for gasoline and diesel, respectively
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Ethanol from Biomass
Cellulose
Biomass
Saccharification Reaction
Hydrolysis to Glucose
Pretreatment
Hemicellulose
Lignin
Hemicellulose
hydrolysis
Lignin
Processing
Critical Steps
Fermentation
of
Glucose
Xylose
Arabinose
Galactose
Ethanol
for Fuel
Pretreatment & Cellulose Hydrolysis
Fermentation of C6 and C5 Sugars together
Efficient Separation of ethanol from Fermentation broth
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Hydrogen Production Research at The
University of Toledo
Natural Gas
Jet Fuel
Diesel
Biofuel
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Schematic Diagram of Hybrid Car with Natural
Gas/Jet Fuel Tank Instead of Hydrogen Tank
Electricity
Fuel Cell
Stacks
H2
Gas
Cleaning
H2,
CO2
Reformer/
Catalyst
Steam
Natural Gas/
Jet Fuel
Air
Water
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Areas of Research for a Clean Energy Future
•Renewable technologies
wind, solar, geothermal, waves, biofuels
•Electrochemical energy storage and conversion
•Core enabling science and technology
superconducting & cryogenic components,
nanotechnology & materials, transport
phenomena
• Nuclear fusion
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Manpower Needs

Comprehensive programs covering theory, energy planning and
management, technologies, environmental considerations,
renewable energy resources, infrastructure, and politics are not
available.

Ph.D. level
* Development of new program in alternative energy

M.S. level
* Enhancing current programs
* Availability of fellowships

B.S. level
* Courses in engineering includes elements of power generation,
and cover mainly conventional sources of energy
* Revision of current courses and introduction of new electives
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Role of Different Departments in
Alternative Energy Areas
Department
Photovoltaic
Physics
Major
Chemistry
Fuel Cells
Biomass
Transportation
Major
Major
Major
Major
Electrical
Engineering
Major
BioEngineering
Mechanical
Engineering
Business
Hybrid
Vehicles
Major
Civil
Engineering
Chemical
Engineering
Wind
Energy
Major
Major
Major
Major
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Conclusion

North American universities are prepared to
conduct future energy research.

North American universities are already
producing manpower needed in
ENERGY area.
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Acknowledgement



Dr. S. Varanasi, University of Toledo
Dr. P. Ayyappan, University of Toledo
Graduate students from Chemical and Civil
Engineering, University of Toledo

Web sites for clip art and graphs
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Questions
??
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References

http://www.mitsaudi.org/images/armstrong_pres.ppt

http://cba.mit.edu/events/06.05.energy/moniz.ppt

http://www.gei.it/EVENTI/Momigliano/convegno2002_Cattier.ppt

http://regents.ohio.gov/capital/labs21/Columbus_randy_corbin_ES
w42607.ppt
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World Energy Supply and Demand

450 EJ/year (14.2 TW)/16 T kWh-electric/year

Projected doubling of energy use and tripling of
electricity use by 2050 in business as usual

1.4 Billion people without electricity in 2030

50 year time scale for major shifts in energy
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US Energy Supply since 1850
100%
90%
80%
Renewables
Nuclear
Gas
Oil
Hydro
Coal
Wood
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
Source: EIA
0%
1850
1880
1910
1940
1970
2000
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Renewable Energy Materials and Technologies
•Biomass technologies
•Building Technologies
•Solar Energy Technologies
•Wind & Hydropower Technologies
•Geothermal Technologies
•Hydrogen, fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies
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Potential Biomass Fuel Sources





Agriculture: Residues from agriculture
production and agro-industry activities
Forestry: Primary and forestry wood processing
residues
Energy crops: Potential annual or perennial
dedicated energy crops
Waste: The organic fraction of municipal solid
waste
Sewage: Potential biogas production from
sewage treatment
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